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Kek Huuygens #4
The Wager
A reckless bet in a New York club draws Kek Huuygens into a deadly game
As rain pummels Manhattan, two men play blackjack in one of New York’s most exclusive clubs. After an evening of comfortable low-stakes play, Kek Huuygens makes an outlandish bet: $10,000 on the next hand. He can afford it. The most accomplished smuggler in Europe, Huuygens never makes a bet unless he is sure to win. He is a lucky man, but his luck is about to be tested.
In the shadows, Victor Girard—a French gangster who gambles not just with money, but with people’s lives as well—watches him place the bet. Like his opponent, Girard prefers sure things. He knows Huuygens’ reputation, and offers him $50,000 to bring a certain priceless item through United States customs. Huuygens has made a career humiliating border agents, but he will find that Americans are not so easy to fleece—and that this is a wager that he cannot afford to lose.
As rain pummels Manhattan, two men play blackjack in one of New York’s most exclusive clubs. After an evening of comfortable low-stakes play, Kek Huuygens makes an outlandish bet: $10,000 on the next hand. He can afford it. The most accomplished smuggler in Europe, Huuygens never makes a bet unless he is sure to win. He is a lucky man, but his luck is about to be tested.
In the shadows, Victor Girard—a French gangster who gambles not just with money, but with people’s lives as well—watches him place the bet. Like his opponent, Girard prefers sure things. He knows Huuygens’ reputation, and offers him $50,000 to bring a certain priceless item through United States customs. Huuygens has made a career humiliating border agents, but he will find that Americans are not so easy to fleece—and that this is a wager that he cannot afford to lose.
- GenresMystery
182 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1974
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About the author
Robert L. Fish
128 books13 followersRobert Lloyd Fish was an American writer of crime fiction. His first novel, The Fugitive, gained him the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Allan Poe Award for best first novel in 1962, and his short story "Moonlight Gardener" was awarded the Edgar for best short story in 1972. His 1963 novel Mute Witness, written under the pseudonym Robert L. Pike, was filmed in 1968 as Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 23, 2025
Solid story, but doesn't offer a lot. It's quite short. A few entertaining twists or turns, but nothing mind blowing. No "whoaaa" moments to be seen. The protagonist, Kek Huuygens is quite likable, most of the characters are. Reminds me of a Nancy Drew story but for adults. I love cruise ship settings, but it doesn't leverage the environment a ton which was disappointing. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. Time will tell but I think it will be pretty forgettable.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews