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Paydirt
Bobby Gallagher has it all...a great job, a loving wife, and an adoring son... Then he’s fired; his wife divorces him; and he goes bankrupt... Now, to reclaim his life, all he has to do is rig the Super Bowl, win a huge bet, and avoid getting killed. “A sizzling caper with suspense, laughs, thrills, some football, and a touch of romance!”– The Daily Review Bobby Gallagher, general counsel of the Dallas Mustangs, “America’s Team,” has lost his job, the people he loves, even his own self-respect. Now, he risks his life to get everything back. PRAISE FOR EDGAR NOMINEE PAUL LEVINE "A breathless thriller." - Atlanta Constitution "Mystery writing at its very, very best." - Larry King, USA TODAY "Irreverent...genuinely clever...great fun." - New York Times Book Review "Genuinely chilling." - Washington Post Book World "Cracking good action-mystery." - Detroit Free Press “Levine’s prose gets leaner, meaner, better with every book. –Miami Herald “Filled with smart writing and smart remarks.”– Dallas Morning News “High suspense with innovative twists.” – Chicago Tribune
338 pages, Paperback
First published December 18, 2011
About the author
Paul Levine
83 books560 followersMIDNIGHT PATRIOTS
Germany wants Einstein alive. Chaplin dead. Spies, assassins, a femme fatale board the Super Chief. Destination: danger.
It's 1940. Europe is in flames. Germany occupies much of the continent, and the Blitz rains terror on London. Fritz Duquesne, a German spy straight from the history books, plots to kidnap Einstein and steal America's nuclear secrets. Enraged by Chaplin's mockery in The Great Dictator, Adolf Hitler dispatches an SS assassin to silence the man who ridiculed him. The story features Charles Lindbergh, Lena Horne, and J. Robert Oppenheimer—along with a beautiful German spy on a mission of her own. As Nazi agents and FBI operatives close in, all roads lead Einstein and Chaplin to a deadly showdown aboard the Santa Fe Super Chief as it races from Chicago to Los Angeles.
ORDER FROM AMAZON HERE
MIDNIGHT BURNING
Award-winning author Paul Levine weaves historical figures into a gripping, true-to-life plot to overthrow the U.S. government in this sizzling historical thriller.
Named "Historical Thriller of the Year" by Best Thrillers Book Review and one of the "Favorite Books of 2025" by Bookreporter.
“Ingeniously pairs real-life friends Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin on a roller coaster ride to save America from a fascist threat within its borders.” – Jacqueline Winspear, author of the Maisie Dobbs series.
It's 1937 and clouds of war gather over Europe, and American fascists march at home. While the FBI chases suspected communists, Nazi agents plot an armed insurrection. When the world’s two most famous men–Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin–uncover the scheme, which includes the assassination of Hollywood’s biggest stars, they fight back with nothing but their ingenuity, raw courage, and the fierce resolve of Georgia Ann Robinson, LAPD’s first Black female officer.
Levine—praised by The New York Times for his “realistic, gritty, and fun” novels—delivers a breathtaking thriller laced with humor and a larger-than-life cast, including Charles Lindbergh, Douglas Fairbanks, William Randolph Hearst, and Joseph Goebbels.
"This could be Levine's masterpiece." - Lee Goldberg, New York Times #1 Bestselling Author
ORDER FROM AMAZON HERE.
ORDER FROM BARNES & NOBLE HERE.
ORDER FROM BOOKSHOP HERE.
**********************************************;
Jake Lassiter tackles high school football and becomes the most hated man in Miami in EARLY GRAVE, Paul Levine's sizzling legal thriller.
Named PenCraft "Book of the Year" and the third best legal thriller of the 21st Century by Best Thrillers Book Review.
"An extraordinary hero stars in a legal tale as believable as it is riveting." - Kirkus Reviews
"Levine scores with this complex and witty legal thriller. This winner works even for those new to the series." - Publishers Weekly (★starred review★)
When his godson suffers a catastrophic injury in a high school football game, lawyer Jake Lassiter sues to abolish the sport and becomes Public Enemy Number One. The former NFL linebacker also battles CTE, the fatal brain disease caused by repetitive head injuries. His personal life, too, hits a rocky patch. He's in couple's therapy with fiancée Dr. Melissa Gold and vows to live long enough to fix his relationship and achieve justice for his godson.
Germany wants Einstein alive. Chaplin dead. Spies, assassins, a femme fatale board the Super Chief. Destination: danger.
It's 1940. Europe is in flames. Germany occupies much of the continent, and the Blitz rains terror on London. Fritz Duquesne, a German spy straight from the history books, plots to kidnap Einstein and steal America's nuclear secrets. Enraged by Chaplin's mockery in The Great Dictator, Adolf Hitler dispatches an SS assassin to silence the man who ridiculed him. The story features Charles Lindbergh, Lena Horne, and J. Robert Oppenheimer—along with a beautiful German spy on a mission of her own. As Nazi agents and FBI operatives close in, all roads lead Einstein and Chaplin to a deadly showdown aboard the Santa Fe Super Chief as it races from Chicago to Los Angeles.
ORDER FROM AMAZON HERE
MIDNIGHT BURNING
Award-winning author Paul Levine weaves historical figures into a gripping, true-to-life plot to overthrow the U.S. government in this sizzling historical thriller.
Named "Historical Thriller of the Year" by Best Thrillers Book Review and one of the "Favorite Books of 2025" by Bookreporter.
“Ingeniously pairs real-life friends Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin on a roller coaster ride to save America from a fascist threat within its borders.” – Jacqueline Winspear, author of the Maisie Dobbs series.
It's 1937 and clouds of war gather over Europe, and American fascists march at home. While the FBI chases suspected communists, Nazi agents plot an armed insurrection. When the world’s two most famous men–Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin–uncover the scheme, which includes the assassination of Hollywood’s biggest stars, they fight back with nothing but their ingenuity, raw courage, and the fierce resolve of Georgia Ann Robinson, LAPD’s first Black female officer.
Levine—praised by The New York Times for his “realistic, gritty, and fun” novels—delivers a breathtaking thriller laced with humor and a larger-than-life cast, including Charles Lindbergh, Douglas Fairbanks, William Randolph Hearst, and Joseph Goebbels.
"This could be Levine's masterpiece." - Lee Goldberg, New York Times #1 Bestselling Author
ORDER FROM AMAZON HERE.
ORDER FROM BARNES & NOBLE HERE.
ORDER FROM BOOKSHOP HERE.
**********************************************;
Jake Lassiter tackles high school football and becomes the most hated man in Miami in EARLY GRAVE, Paul Levine's sizzling legal thriller.
Named PenCraft "Book of the Year" and the third best legal thriller of the 21st Century by Best Thrillers Book Review.
"An extraordinary hero stars in a legal tale as believable as it is riveting." - Kirkus Reviews
"Levine scores with this complex and witty legal thriller. This winner works even for those new to the series." - Publishers Weekly (★starred review★)
When his godson suffers a catastrophic injury in a high school football game, lawyer Jake Lassiter sues to abolish the sport and becomes Public Enemy Number One. The former NFL linebacker also battles CTE, the fatal brain disease caused by repetitive head injuries. His personal life, too, hits a rocky patch. He's in couple's therapy with fiancée Dr. Melissa Gold and vows to live long enough to fix his relationship and achieve justice for his godson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 6, 2013
Clicking red sparkling pump heels together "I wish I liked football more, I wish I liked football more, I wish I liked football more."
No, I take that back and wait for a better wish because I don't care a whit about football. I do, however, understand the basics of the game but pour into the mix betting, point spread, bookies and man, oh, man am I lost.
Paul Levine (attorney turned writer) is one of my very favorite living authors and has been for years reading everything he's written (except one which was published last year.)
Great series, Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord, two attorneys located in Miami who originally have a terrible rapport which makes their relationship much fun to read and Jake Lassiter, also a Miami lawyer and a great character, just fun to be around!
So is there a genre for men like chick lit? Nominations are now open. And to set the record straight, I'm not a fan of chick lit or it's polar opposite.
No, I take that back and wait for a better wish because I don't care a whit about football. I do, however, understand the basics of the game but pour into the mix betting, point spread, bookies and man, oh, man am I lost.
Paul Levine (attorney turned writer) is one of my very favorite living authors and has been for years reading everything he's written (except one which was published last year.)
Great series, Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord, two attorneys located in Miami who originally have a terrible rapport which makes their relationship much fun to read and Jake Lassiter, also a Miami lawyer and a great character, just fun to be around!
So is there a genre for men like chick lit? Nominations are now open. And to set the record straight, I'm not a fan of chick lit or it's polar opposite.
May 20, 2012
Fun story that could have earned 4 stars were it not for the excessive (and as always unnecessary) foul language. Especially taking the Lord's name in vain. It also had several crude sexual inuendos. Those points aside it was entertaining with some comedy, some action, suspense, and romance.
June 24, 2012
First and foremost there are many spelling and grammar mistakes. This is one of those books that isn't great but the reader does want to finish it. I skipped portions of it and didn't seem to miss much. I couldn't bring myself to stop reading it, however, as the storyline was interesting.
February 14, 2013
Poorly written. Skimmed through it to get to the end.
September 20, 2012
I couldnt get into this one. Maybe it was the football-ish theme. Just not for me.
August 7, 2017
This was an intense, exciting read about a football dynasty - The "Dallas Mustangs" and their over-wealthy owner. While it is a fiction book, it is easy to insert names into the right places. It is the first in a series of Superbowl Thrillers, and even though I am not a football fan, and don't even understand the intricacies of the game, it made for thrilling reading. Bobby Gallagher is married to the team owners' daughter and is the team legal counsel. After rigging trial after trial so the football players can (and do) get away with every crime under the sun, Bobby comes clean to the press. He cannot take the ill morals any more, the lies, the bribery. He thinks his beloved wife will back him up.
He finds out differently. At least he gets to still see the light of his life, his 12 year old son Scott. But the ex-father in law (and wealthy team owner) not only gets him disbarred but tries to end his ties to his son Scott.
This pushes Bobby a step too far.
I highly recommend this book. You don't have to be a fan of the game to enjoy the book! And if you are a football fan, this book will be fascinating!
Read it!
He finds out differently. At least he gets to still see the light of his life, his 12 year old son Scott. But the ex-father in law (and wealthy team owner) not only gets him disbarred but tries to end his ties to his son Scott.
This pushes Bobby a step too far.
I highly recommend this book. You don't have to be a fan of the game to enjoy the book! And if you are a football fan, this book will be fascinating!
Read it!
August 9, 2020
Paul Levine provides entertaining fiction that seldom disappoints. Paydirt is no exception. Bobby Gallagher is an extremely flawed lawyer that follows his heart instead of the law. He is the type of character that makes every page a fun ride, although often cringe-worthy at his decisions. Levine uses love triangles, mafia king pins and greedy villains to keep a very fast paced page-turner interesting. For any reader that is looking for escapism fiction, I highly recommend books by Paul Levine. Whatever is going on in the world that is frustrating, Levine’s books are the antidote by bringing fun and intrigue.
January 2, 2024
Betting on the Super Bowl
I have read most of the Lassiter series, all of the Solomon and Lord books, as well as the Bum trilogy. Bobby Gallagher is no Jake Lassiter, but the book was enjoyable. Got this years ago when Kindle offered free books, and finally got around to reading it. Obviously, the Dallas team is the Cowboys, but they are called the Mustang here. They are referred to as the Cowboys a few times in error. The story is basically how a father can keep his son, and get back his ex-wife, while trying to ruin his former father in law the owner of the Dallas Mustangs.
I have read most of the Lassiter series, all of the Solomon and Lord books, as well as the Bum trilogy. Bobby Gallagher is no Jake Lassiter, but the book was enjoyable. Got this years ago when Kindle offered free books, and finally got around to reading it. Obviously, the Dallas team is the Cowboys, but they are called the Mustang here. They are referred to as the Cowboys a few times in error. The story is basically how a father can keep his son, and get back his ex-wife, while trying to ruin his former father in law the owner of the Dallas Mustangs.
December 21, 2021
I have read several Paul Levine books recently. Some good, others not so much. This one is not so much. Plot is all too predictable and it seemed like he ran out of creative ways to repeatedly destroy his main character in order to fill page count. I kept finding myself saying, "OK, I get it already!". He also borrowed his usual down-trodden lawyer with the precocious son tropes from his other series. That said, if you want some practical information on sports betting and bookmaking, this has a few nuggets there. Some of his other books are much better; don't make this one a priority.
May 26, 2020
Just awful - couldn't even finish it. I had purchased it in 2012 when I got my first Kindle. I was looking at my library and I usually like Paul Levine but this was so bad I didn't want to waste my reading time.
March 1, 2020
This is not a typical legal thriller from this author; it is about a disgraced lawyer who becomes a sports bookie with a focus on football games. This was a disappointing read.
December 29, 2021
Good Read!!
August 24, 2012
Ah, didn't like the main character! he had some redeeming qualities at the end and in selective parts through the story but if I don't like the main character I can't really love the book I'm afraid.
The story is about a man who was the legal counsel for the Dallas Cowboys and was married to the owner's daughter. He was asked to get players off after they had done something legitimately bad and he was good at it. However, after his conscience gets to him, rather than just quitting, he talks with the media in a very vocal and public way. He looses his job (of course) and his wife leaves him.
The whole story revolves around the fact that his wife chooses her dad over him. That he wants to have her back and their teenage son. And in the meantime, he's a bookie and a limo chauffer and the owners of the football team is doing anything in his power to ruin him and leave him with nothing. The premise is good, I'd have like the main character to have a bit more moral character however. Not awful, not great, but I still read it all and I was interested. Probably won't read it again however.
The story is about a man who was the legal counsel for the Dallas Cowboys and was married to the owner's daughter. He was asked to get players off after they had done something legitimately bad and he was good at it. However, after his conscience gets to him, rather than just quitting, he talks with the media in a very vocal and public way. He looses his job (of course) and his wife leaves him.
The whole story revolves around the fact that his wife chooses her dad over him. That he wants to have her back and their teenage son. And in the meantime, he's a bookie and a limo chauffer and the owners of the football team is doing anything in his power to ruin him and leave him with nothing. The premise is good, I'd have like the main character to have a bit more moral character however. Not awful, not great, but I still read it all and I was interested. Probably won't read it again however.
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March 12, 2016"High Action"
I really enjoyed the action packed story of behind-the-scene major league football teams. It's fiction, but can be very real. In this exciting novel, Bobby Gallagher has it all. Then, he loses everything: his job as a highly successful lawyer for the Dallas Mustangs football owner (his father-in-law), his wife, and his moral compass. He has bent too many rules in the legal aspects perpetuating fraud. His father-in-law has one goal in life: win, win, win, regardless of how to accomplish it. Bobby can't follow this trail of deceit and walks away receiving strong hatred from his boss. He is now disbarred, divorced, and bankrupt. But his one best person in life is his wise, devoted 13-year-old son. This is a robust thriller which I found to be a fast page turner. And I loved reading about the Super Bowl ... even though I'm not a football fan. Very worthwhile read.
I really enjoyed the action packed story of behind-the-scene major league football teams. It's fiction, but can be very real. In this exciting novel, Bobby Gallagher has it all. Then, he loses everything: his job as a highly successful lawyer for the Dallas Mustangs football owner (his father-in-law), his wife, and his moral compass. He has bent too many rules in the legal aspects perpetuating fraud. His father-in-law has one goal in life: win, win, win, regardless of how to accomplish it. Bobby can't follow this trail of deceit and walks away receiving strong hatred from his boss. He is now disbarred, divorced, and bankrupt. But his one best person in life is his wise, devoted 13-year-old son. This is a robust thriller which I found to be a fast page turner. And I loved reading about the Super Bowl ... even though I'm not a football fan. Very worthwhile read.
July 5, 2013
Bobby Gallagher has it all. A great job, a wonderful wife and a super kid. However, he has his priorities all wrong and invests most of his time at his job as the lawyer for the Dallas Mustangs. When he crosses his father-in-law, the owner of said football team, Bobby finds himself unemployed. Worse, he finds himself divorced and broke.
He finds a job as a part-time chauffeur and bookie and vows to get it all back - including wife and son. But to do so, he concocts a scheme to fix the Superbowl so that a series of bad bets will turn in his favor. He'll need the help of his son and have to dodge the bad guys, but it's all in a days work.
A man who redefines himself and his values, a hilarious caper and a family who needs one another, Pay Dirt is a rip-roaring good time read! I highly recommend it!!
He finds a job as a part-time chauffeur and bookie and vows to get it all back - including wife and son. But to do so, he concocts a scheme to fix the Superbowl so that a series of bad bets will turn in his favor. He'll need the help of his son and have to dodge the bad guys, but it's all in a days work.
A man who redefines himself and his values, a hilarious caper and a family who needs one another, Pay Dirt is a rip-roaring good time read! I highly recommend it!!
January 30, 2014
A bit different from his other novels, but you still recognize the Levine touch. Although I did not plan it this way, reading Paydirt, a novel about football and the Super Bowl, the week of the 2014 Super Bowl, made a lot more sense. Being Canadian and not really a Football fan, this story about the sanctity of the game being destroyed by owners and criminal players protected by shady team lawyers, is food for thoughts. One of Levine's better books.
October 7, 2014
It would be a five star book,,, but for my lack of understanding the football game.
I honestly think a good understanding of the game of football would definitely enhance the enjoyment of this book. Also a little bit of knowledge concerning betting on games would also make a difference as well. That being said I still enjoyed the book a great deal. There are were lots of things I didn't see coming and I raced right through it. Its a solid book.
I honestly think a good understanding of the game of football would definitely enhance the enjoyment of this book. Also a little bit of knowledge concerning betting on games would also make a difference as well. That being said I still enjoyed the book a great deal. There are were lots of things I didn't see coming and I raced right through it. Its a solid book.
December 8, 2014
LOVED PAYDIRT!!
Great story, very original plot and well defined characters! It was fast-paced with no boring parts! A real 'page turner' - right to the end! I will definitely read more from Paul Levine, and he has quite a few books out there!
If your thing is THRILLERS you will love PAYDIRT!!
Great story, very original plot and well defined characters! It was fast-paced with no boring parts! A real 'page turner' - right to the end! I will definitely read more from Paul Levine, and he has quite a few books out there!
If your thing is THRILLERS you will love PAYDIRT!!
December 2, 2015
Paul Levine writes great football.
The Jake Lassiter character ran out of gas after a couple of outings but Levine skips the tired legal drama in this stand alone tale. The drama is just boilerplate dumpster fire, but the action on the football field saves this from being another waste of time by Paul Levine.
The Jake Lassiter character ran out of gas after a couple of outings but Levine skips the tired legal drama in this stand alone tale. The drama is just boilerplate dumpster fire, but the action on the football field saves this from being another waste of time by Paul Levine.
January 13, 2016
Not a football fan
The description read for football fans or even if you're not, but I couldn't make it through the first several pages so totally football in order to get to something I could relate to like a character. I'm a fan of this author but not gonna be able to enjoy this series
The description read for football fans or even if you're not, but I couldn't make it through the first several pages so totally football in order to get to something I could relate to like a character. I'm a fan of this author but not gonna be able to enjoy this series
June 5, 2012
Great story. It had a little bit for everyone, part love story, part mystery, part action and it was based around football, how could it possibly get better?
I totally recommend Paydirt and the author Paul Levine. I've read two of his books now and they were both very good.
I totally recommend Paydirt and the author Paul Levine. I've read two of his books now and they were both very good.
July 10, 2015
Now that's how you do it!
If you're going to take veiled shots at my favorite team, keep me entertained. This book does just that. Predictable but a help of a good read. Levine is my favorite new author. Well done!
If you're going to take veiled shots at my favorite team, keep me entertained. This book does just that. Predictable but a help of a good read. Levine is my favorite new author. Well done!
February 10, 2012
Another crowd-pleaser from Paul Levine, though not as much wit and dry humor as I am accustomed to from Paul. But still a solid entry with good likeable characters and mean ones to boot.
May 11, 2012
Pretty awesome book, actually. Surprisingly good and always fun.
September 13, 2012
An action novel dealing with NFL football, gambling,human greed,& etc.
January 2, 2013
Paul Levine is always fun to read.
October 7, 2013
very predictable, sometimes naive, still somehow enjoyable :-)
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September 18, 2013False
Read
December 24, 2013Loved this book.. would Definitely recommend it to anyone
September 18, 2015
Interesting action book. Good story. Sometimes it was a stretch but I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews