Austin Blues

By: Gary A. Keith
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Publication Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN: 979-8-89132-636-1
Reviewed by: Tripti Kandari
Review Date: April 21, 2025

Gary A. Keith paints Austin Blues on the canvas of Texas culture, spicy courtroom drama, and nasty political corruption, with tints of blues, soulful music, and gritty heroes.

Sandy Eden is a PTSD-affected Vietnam vet and hot-headed lawyer, anchored only by his loyal friends and the comfort of blues music. Sandy’s life takes a sharp turn when Dean Keaton, an accountant from the Texas Comptroller’s Office, approaches him as a whistleblower, exposing fraud committed by Texas Comptroller Louis James. Everyone knows that going up against James and his powerful allies is political suicide, but Sandy’s decision to enter this battle sets the stage for intrigue and danger in Austin Blues— a game entangled with media leaks, legal risks, and public exposure.

As the story deepens, the canvas darkens. For Sandy, it becomes a descent into a corrupt system filled with ghost employees, fake contracts, and budget scams. But the war outside isn't his only fight, he must also navigate the chaos within: the demons of PTSD and his volatile anger, all while handling intense courtroom drama, relentless media scrutiny, and political schemes that even threaten his family.

Told in a raw and gritty style with non-linear storytelling, the narrative is driven by a backdrop of blues music, irony, and satire. The unfiltered tone gives the text an authentic local flavor, while flashbacks shed light on Sandy’s present dilemmas. The motif of blues music doesn’t just set the scene, it mirrors the emotional states of the characters.

The theme of trauma and redemption leaves a lasting mark. Sandy's life is still trapped in the bloody jungles of the Vietnam War, haunted by PTSD, risky addictions, and deep-seated anger—but it is his fight for justice that becomes his path to healing. Sandy’s redemption comes through his journey of self-forgiveness and the search for purpose. He finds direction in his pain by fighting for justice on behalf of people like Keaton. The story emphasizes that trauma may shape a person, but it doesn’t define him. Redemption, it reminds us, isn’t about being perfect but about accepting one’s brokenness and having the courage to fight through it.

Quill says: Austin Blues by Gary A. Keith is a raw, legal thriller blending the corrupt political system of 2000s Texas with the soulful depth of blues music and the resilience of flawed but passionate heroes.

For more information about Austin Blues, please visit the publisher’s website at: atmospherepress.com/books/austin-blues-by-gary-a-keith