The Gamblers

The Fraud Or Miracle #1

by Christoph Fischer, Wanda Hartzenberg (Editor), David Lawlor (Editor)

Ben is an insecure accountant obsessed with statistics, gambling and beating the odds. When he wins sixty-four million in the lottery he finds himself challenged by the possibilities that his new wealth brings.
He soon falls under the influence of charismatic Russian gambler Mirco, whom he meets on a holiday in New York. He also falls in love with a stewardess, Wendy, but now that Ben’s rich he finds it hard to trust anyone. As both relationships become more dubious, Ben needs to make some difficult decisions and figure out who’s really his friend and who’s just in it for the money.

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 30, 2015

About the author

Christoph Fischer was born in Germany, near the Austrian border, as the son of a Sudeten-German father and a Bavarian mother. Not a full local in the eyes and ears of his peers he developed an ambiguous sense of belonging and home in Bavaria. He moved to Hamburg in pursuit of his studies and to lead a life of literary indulgence. After a few years he moved on to the UK where he now lives in a small town in West Wales. He and his partner have three Labradoodles to complete their family.
Christoph worked for the British Film Institute, in Libraries, Museums and for an airline. ‘The Luck of The Weissensteiners’ was published in November 2012; 'Sebastian' in May 2013 and 'The Black Eagle Inn' in October 2013 - which completes his 'Three Nations Trilogy'. "Time to Let Go", his first contemporary work was published in May 2014, and “Conditions”, another contemporary novel, in October 2014. The sequel “Conditioned” was published in October 2015. His medical thriller "The Healer" was released in January 2015 and his second thriller “The Gamblers” in June 2015. He published two more historical novels “In Search of a Revolution” in March 2015 and “Ludwika” in December 2015.
He has written several other novels which are in the later stages of editing and finalisation.

Reviews

[Bill Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an easy choice to pick this book to read as the subject matter of gambling and in particular Poker are close friends. This is an easy to read story, which I spent far too much time reading yesterday because I couldn't put it down!
In some ways the subject matter is irrelevant because what we have is a story about human relationships and the varied emotions we all experience, especially friendship, love and trust. The plot centers around Ben, a numbers geek, who wins the lottery and on an impulse trip to New York meets both someone he will love and someone who will become a great friend. I can't say too much more about the plot because it twists and turns before ending with a great surprise.
The author writes well and draws you into the world of Ben and his new friends. Ben is fundamentally lonely despite his wealth and his larger than life new friend is great fun.
In summary, I loved the book and I think it will have a wide appeal whether or not you are interested in gambling.

[Max Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a wonderful connection between Christoph Fischer's books. I read The Healer some time back and was tempted to come back for more by this stylish author. While both books are very different, it is the writers narrative style and voice that links them. There is a simplicity and authenticity that is very attractive. Here he tells the story of Ben Andrews, a man whose life is changed by fortune and continues to be changed throughout, by the choices he makes. The cover and the title say little and everything. I wont reveal plot spoilers but the transition from the opening lines on board a flight to New York right through to what is a superb ending ensured that I have another favourite author. I read this book a couple of weeks ago and have been slow to review it but in the intervening time, the story has stayed with me. I have seldom read a book that took me along the way this one did. The Gambler's didn't take off at 100 miles per hour but there is a gradual, growing l intensity that grabs hold of you and never lets go. Perhaps the biggest compliment I can pay this writer and this book is to say that I found it somewhat addictive. I read it on holiday and literally kept sneaking a few more pages in every time I got a minute to myself. I would go further than to say pick up The Gamblers if you want a wonderfully written story. Having read two Christoph Fischer books, I now have a third on my Kindle so I have to say, take your pick, you can't go wrong. There is even a nice introduction to 'The Healer' thrown in at the end to tempt you to another book I heartily recommend from a genuinely great story teller in a slightly old-fashioned sense, which is a good thing, The Gamblers is one of my favourite reads this year.

[Brenda Perlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gamblers by Christoph Fischer is another captivating piece of fiction by this passionate author. I love his authentic quality of writing and the candidness in his characters. There is an ease to the style of writing that makes you want to keep on reading once you start. This book was especially gripping as it kept me in suspense through all the clever twists and turns.

The human existence never gets old and this book explores it through love, loss, deceit and friendship. Trust is a big issue here and when money is involved anything can happen.

Ben, an accountant in a law firm had become an obsessed workaholic with few friends to speak of. His closest friends were people he knew from online gaming and chat partners. Not anyone he knew in person. He was a loner in London who had plenty of secrets up his sleeve.

Money can't buy everything. Or can it?

Quote ~

"The glory was coloured by the slight feeling that maybe this was too huge for him. The scale of this win was soon beginning to feel intimidating. Joy, panic and shock rotated in his head on a fast carousel. Adjusting to this was hard. Lately, he wasn't particularly close to anyone and couldn't share his sensational news..."

[Anna Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’d like to read a fictional account of what it’s like to become suddenly wealthy, Christoph Fischer’s novel, The Gamblers does just that. The book provides a glimpse into the world of one lottery winner, a reclusive accountant, Ben Andrews. Rather obsessive, he’s fascinated with numbers, and not just in his profession. Ben is a gambler—believing his love of numbers can help him beat the odds. When a lottery ticket pays off big, overnight he finds himself a millionaire many times over. He keeps news of his winnings to himself, and unlike most of the suddenly rich, doesn’t go on a spending spree. At least not until he’s befriended by Mirco, a worldly-wise Russian gambler with a murky background. Soon after, Ben falls for a lovely woman, Wendy, a flight attendant he meets on an overseas flight. Let the games begin as Ben’s windfall sucks him into a head-spinning, life-changing world of jet-setters willing to indulge themselves in all that life has to offer—good and bad. What does all this mean for Ben Andrews? Will all that money change him? Can he trust Mirco or Wendy? The story will keep you guessing until the end.

[E.E. Giorgi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christoph Fischer is a talented and eclectic writer. Throughout his work he has explored different genres because in the end the genre is secondary, as his main interest, in my view, are human relationships. Mr. Fischer takes a deep and intimate look at how humans relate to one another in the most different situations: family loss (Conditions), war (in Search for a Revolution), disease (the Healer), and now, with this latest thriller, wealth. What would you do if you found yourself suddenly wealthy? It's what happens to Ben, an accountant with not too many friends and not too much experience in relating to people. His life changes now that he suddenly sees his bank account grow every month. But can he handle this lifestyle? And more importantly, can he still find friendship and love or is the money getting in the way? Ben struggles to find his true self and true love, as he learns that while changing social status may be sometimes easy, changing one's heart is a lot harder.

[Lesley Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew even before I began it that this latest novel from Christoph Fischer would delight me as much as The Healer. This author has a real gift for story-telling, and I have several more of his books on my kindle already lined up to read. The world of gambling is so far off my own radar however that I did wonder if the subject matter would sustain my interest. I needn’t have been concerned. From start to finish this novel held me completely enthralled. At times I think I discovered first-hand just what the adrenaline rush of anticipation might feel like for a gambler. Every time Ben took a risk – whether to do with money or relationships – I felt anxiety on his behalf. He is an unlikely hero, and yet one for whom my sympathies were continually aroused. I wanted him to win at love and life as much as at gaming. From the beginning I didn’t trust Mirco, the Russian playboy who takes Ben under his wing as his protégé. Ben is a skilled number-cruncher but an absolute innocent in the ways of playing other people, and Mirco has a great deal to teach him, from his first appearance in the novel to the very last page. The ending surprised me in the best possible way, by which I mean I wasn’t disappointed. I love the way this author ties up his complexly drawn loose ends so satisfyingly. Christoph Fischer’s writing is refreshing in a way it is difficult to explain. It flows effortlessly and creates believable characters that get under the skin, even with the most improbable storyline. I won’t be taking up gambling myself any time soon but I thoroughly enjoyed this highly original escapade.

[D.G. Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing is as it Seems.

What would happen if you were to suddenly win a lottery?

This story about a geeky accountant, Ben who does win 64 million in a lottery and besides the money he acquires, comes doubt, suspicion, new love, new friends, but questionable trust. We are taken through the story with some characters Ben meets after he acquires his new riches and are kept wondering throughout his story about whether or not his financial situation will change yet again in the name of love.

Should Ben trust his new love interest Wendy, or his 'new' best friend, Russian entrepeneur Mirco? You'll have to read this fast-paced thriller to find out, and in doing so, there will be some cautionary flags to pay attention to for those who may be lucky enough to come into a windfall.

This book gripped my attention until the very last page and had me wondering if Ben would maintain his fortune or could possibly become destitute from his numerous times of throwing caution to the wind. It will keep you wondering if some things are just too good to be true.
Many moments in this book had me wanting to smack Ben in the head for his impulsive behavior, but these are the elements that make for a great book. So if you like cat and mouse type adventures, you will love this book!

[Olga Miret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about con-games that will trap readers and make them question everything. This is the second book I read in the Fraud and Miracle trilogy, and its inclusion there is sure to put readers on their guard. But that is the beauty of it. You know something is going on, and you might even suspect what (although not, perhaps, in detail) but you can’t help but eagerly keep reading and follow the story, enmeshed in the same web of illusion and deceit that traps the main character, Ben.
The story is written in the third person and follows the point of view of Ben, the protagonist. He is a somewhat socially awkward young accountant who leads a modest life in London, who is not precisely streetwise, and who feels more at ease playing games in online communities than interacting socially in person. He is obsessed with numbers (in real life, I wondered if somebody with similar personality traits might fit into the very mild range of autistic spectrum disorder. He acknowledges that he is bad at reading people’s emotions and expressions, he is anxious in social situations and functions by imitating other people’s behaviour, he displays obsessive personality traits…) and does not believe in luck and chance. He is convinced that random events (like lottery or games of chance results) follow a pattern and he is determined to find it. He gets a bit lottery win (£64 million), and although he does not value money per se (at least at the beginning of the story), he decides to treat himself travelling to New York. Everything seems to change from that moment on, he makes a new friend (the glamorous and charming Mirco) and meets the girl of his dreams, Wendy.
The third person point of view suits the story perfectly. On the one hand, we follow Ben’s point of view and his thought processes. We are aware of his misgivings and doubts. He does not believe in luck, after all, and he cannot accept that all these good things are happening to him, especially as they seem to coincide with his lottery win. At the same time, the third person gives us enough distance to observe and judge Ben’s own behaviour (that does not always fit his self-proclaimed intentions and opinions) and also that of those around him. There are things that seem too good to be true, there are warnings offered by random people, there are strange behaviours (both, Mirco and Wendy, blow hot and cold at times), and there are the suspiciousness and rivalry between his new friends. We warm up to his naiveté and to his child-like wonder and enjoyment at the fabulous new life that falls on his lap, but we cannot help but chide him at times for being so easy to manipulate.  
The author reflects perfectly the process Ben goes through in his reading. Mirco keeps telling him that he should forget about methods and just “feel” the game, and despite his attachment to his theories, there is something in him that desperately wants to believe in miracles, in good luck, and, most of all, wants to believe that he deserves everything he gets: the money, the friendship, and the love. This is a book about con artists and the book implements their technique to perfection. Con-games are a big favourite of mine, and I love how well the book is designed, and how it treats its readers to a peep behind the scenes of the big players, while at the same time making them play the part of the victim. Yes, we might be shouting at Ben and telling him not to be so gullible, but what would we do in his place? Wouldn’t we just want it to be true too?
The story takes place in glamorous locations and it revolves around the world of high-stakes gambling, night-clubs, and big spenders. It might be particularly interesting to those who love casinos and betting, but that is only one aspect of the book. It can be read independently from the first book in the series, and although there are tense and emotionally difficult moments, there are no violence or extreme behaviours. And the ending… You might be more or less surprised by the big reveal, but the actual ending is likely to leave you with a smile on your face.
A book that will make you question yourself and that will keep you guessing until the end. A fun read for lovers of con-games and those who always wondered what they would do if their luck suddenly changed. I’m looking forward to the third book in the trilogy.
 

[John Hennessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First up, a complete disclaimer - I did not read the blurb before starting to read this book. The author is a quality one, and everything he does is to a very high standard. What I was not prepared for was just how engrossing this tale of cross, cross and double-cross was going to be.

Nerdy, geekish accountant Ben is a numbers man. So much so, that he even has a system for winning the lottery (don't we all!) but in his case, he actually wins. Overnight, he is a multi-millionaire.

Even with all his millions, it's now a case of 'what shall I do with it all'? and whilst we may look at real-life multi-millionaires and think oh yes, poor you, what a burden (!) author Christoph Fischer drags us kicking (and probably screaming) into a tale where not everything is as it seems, and trusting others comes at a premium - certainly one too high for this reader.

When Ben locks eyes on the beautiful Wendy, he wonders, as he touches down in New York, if he will ever see her again. She's a stewardess when she first meets him, and they promise to email each other and meet again. But Ben is not your typical handsome guy - he's never been lucky in love (try gaming that with a system) and so he is not sure if he will meet her again. Also, he hasn't told her about his new wealthy status, though, as she really is the one for him in his head, he may have to confront that one day.

On landing in the Big Apple, he meets the mysterious Mirco, a Russian for a talent for winning at poker. He explains his system to Ben, who in turn gives him one of his own, before being amazed at Mirco's luck. To his new Russian friend, it's not luck at all. He has a system and he works to it, always knowing when to walk away.

Ben lets slip his thoughts on Wendy, and Mirco promptly says 'I have contacts, we'll find her.' Now this is where the book took a rather sinister turn for me. I was instantly fearing for Wendy's safety as Mirco seemed to be the kind of guy who you could not refuse an offer from.

Ben has questions too, but he is soon whisked into the heady lifestyle of Mirco, who at this point doesn't know of Ben's millions but is aware he is not exactly short of a bob or too.

Money, poker, drink and a heady nightlife soon thrust Ben into the arms of other women. But he still cannot get Wendy out of his head. My jaw literally dropped when Ben arranges to meet Wendy in Nairobi, only to find Mirco there instead. But not to worry, he has contacts and he will find her.

And find her, he does, to Ben's amazement.

Suddenly, I really start to believe Ben's luck in money will now transfer to love. He and Wendy really hit it off this time, it is no romantic holiday moment. He decides that she is the one for him, and wastes little time in telling Mirco.

Ben is tiring of his Russian friend at this point, but I think it was more to do with the excitement of having Wendy back in his life. Plus....she does not like the Russian too much, and this thought works its way into Ben's mind.

He then plans to marry Wendy and tell her about his money.

You would think 'happily ever after' because Wendy appears thoroughly disinterested in his millions and want Ben for who Ben is, not what he has.

To say more would spoil more. Let me just say that The Gamblers is simply an essential read. The ending threw me for a loop and if I am honest, it is not the ending I wanted, but nonetheless it is a terrific ending.

Recommended for everyone because it hits the mark on practically every level.

[Ian Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

By IAN D. MOORE

Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: The Gamblers (Kindle Edition)

This is my first delve into works by this author and I was pleasantly surprised by the story that followed. Told in third person POV, a picture of a shrewd, methodical man is painted in the form of Ben, a lowly accountant who wins £64 million on the lottery seemingly because of his own obsession with numbers, algorithms and chance. What follows is a series of events that in all honesty, is what I would imagine would happen if someone like Ben were to win that much money, or indeed any of us.

His character is written very well, he is naive, unworldly in both money and love and perhaps not the best looking guy to walk the earth, however, soon befriended by an ultra confident Russian by the name of Mirco, his transformation soon begins. Enter the delectable Wendy, met by chance on an aircraft and as sweet as sugar itself. Wendy is written as the perfect partner, not into money, beautiful, shapely and it would seem, with Ben's best interests at heart... I caught on pretty quick as to where this story might lead with only one possible twist that I missed, well done to Christophe for throwing that in there. The way that characters Mirco and Wendy play off against eachother is great, as a reader, I can feel the unspoken tensions between them and for good reason in the end, which I will not reveal here. The overall plots and schemes are very well written, as is the description of the scenery in various clubs, bars and gaming outlet venues. You get a real sense of something seedy, yet classy and elite. The ancillary characters add to the atmosphere of hush, hush, high stakes gamblers coming together to play in matches not open to anyone but the elite. This isn't all about the money though, not just about the winning. Its about the challenge, the tactics, the methods and ultimately, the prize and what lengths people will go to to get it.

The story is well planned, intricately woven throughout and has a good pace with regards to suspense and scenes. While not an action kind of book per se, it does drag you in and pull you along quite nicely and kept me reading until the end. That, in my view, makes it a worthwhile read. Going back to the ending, I liked that. I knew what the inevitable would be for Ben, however, I hadn't figured out the eventuality of his future which I really liked. It reminded me of a film seen on TV some years ago along similar lines.

In summary then, what you have is a story that has many twists and plots, scheming, determination and in effect, a rolling game of chess in which the eventual winner will be the master. The gambling theme to this was fascinating, the whole idea that it could simply be about feeling Lady Luck or that it could be a pre-determined pattern I found particularly engrossing. It earns its 5 stars from me based on the compulsion to continue reading alone. Well done on a great, intriguing story!

[Wendy Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Andrews is a numbers guy. An accountant by day, he spends his free time researching number patterns and systems in a bid to outplay online gambling systems. Informed decisions have allowed him to invest his own earnings and make money for the future but with a £64M win on the Euro lottery, doubts, fears and even more insecurities play on this gentle, geek's mind. Making a decision to see New York before Christmas changes his life as Wendy, the stewardess seems to like him and through Mirco, the Russian who befriends him, Ben is shown how the rich and famous live.

Within the gambling world of 'tells' and 'bluffs', Mirco teaches Ben how to play cards and roulette, as well as teaching him how to 'play' people.

Well researched and well conceived, this is an interesting story. Most readers will, at some point, wonder how they would spend and live with a large lottery win and through Ben, some of those ideas are played out. Honestly, I guessed the ending about one third of the way through but can't tell you how....no spoilers! In no way spoiled the book for me though and I happily read to the end.

This is a well written story and it flows well through the book. If you're looking for a thoughtful, engaging read, you'll really enjoy this book.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I enjoyed this book! I have enjoyed previous works by this author and looked forward to this latest story with pleasure. I wasn't disappointed. Christoph Fischer has a real flair for storytelling. He is also very versatile. This book is again different but oh so good. I enjoyed it from the first paragraph.

We follow Ben Andrews, an accountant as he goes through some dramatic changes in his normally boring, safe life, after a truly major win on the lottery.

Get anxious for him when he meets Wendy the gorgeous air stewardess. Can she really be this nice? She can't know about his good fortune as he had told nobody.

What about when he meets Mirco, who teaches him gambling 'tricks' with cards and roulette? Is Mirco a good new friend for Ben? Can he be trusted?

We can only hope that Ben can deal with all the insecurities and doubts when his life begins to change as he tastes a little of how the rich and famous live.

Will Ben lose all his money, will his life end in disaster? Will he be lonely in the end as he was in the beginning? Or will he finally win in the game of life?

This is a masterpiece of entertainment. Thank you Christoph for a very enjoyable story.

[Angela Lockwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben is an accountant obsessed with numbers. He looks for patterns in card games and even the lottery. Whether it is his luck or his system, he doesn’t know but he finds himself the winner of 65million in the European lottery. Due to his obsession, Ben has never had many people in his life, but during an unplanned trip he meets an attractive stewardess; Wendy and a charismatic gambler named Mirco. The two become the main people in his life. What Christoph fisher has done here is create a very clever book around the question; when it comes to large sums of money, who can you trust? He has created a wonderful character in Mirco, who introduces Ben to all the temptations that money can buy. You know he is a player but is he genuinely Ben’s friend? Is the beautiful Wendy just too good to be true, or is she really in love with Ben? The author has you guessing to the very end. The characters are engaging and you just want to keep reading on to find out what is going on. When I started to sense that something is going on I held my breath rooting for Ben not to walk into any traps that could see him relieved of his money. I enjoyed this book very much.

[David Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Take On Trust!

Fate or fortune brings Ben into contact with Mirco, the poker player, who strongly believes in the powers of Fate. Ben, the naïve central figure, soon feels drawn to this man. But who is Mirco? Who he pretends to be? Or is there more to his interest in Ben? And who is Wendy in reality? Was their meeting in his hotel by chance or design?

This fascinating story with an unusual theme gets off to a compelling start. The author develops his characters nicely, rather like a chess player positioning his pieces to draw his opponent into a trap. The gambling and the love story – are they part of a plan or just figments of Ben's imagination who is obsessed with the meaning of Trust and his on-off relationship with Wendy? Is the author playing with the credulousness of the reader? Or is the moral of the story that sudden riches corrupt? The author weaves a tight web of deceit and fraud, romance and intrigue and keeps the reader guessing until the very end as to how Ben will extricate himself from the predicament he has got himself into.

An excellent book. Highly recommended.

[Ronesa Aveela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of the story has a "The Sting"-like feel to it. I can picture Redford and Newman setting someone up for a fall. As you read, you don't know if you can trust either of Ben's two new friends--one a stewardess Wendy he meets on his way to New York, and the other Mirco, a seasoned gambler who "feels" his luck. All the while, Ben tries to convince them of his numbers theory.

It's entertaining from start to finish, and keeps you guessing if Ben will be able to hold onto his lottery winning and/or his girl. Ben has a lot to learn about gambling and love, though. He's rather naive and too trusting as the two people he has befriended both appear to be playing him. Can he trust one, without losing the friendship of the other? Who is telling the truth? Mirco or Wendy?

The book also shows you how easy it is to fall into the addiction of gambling, and even gaming. Hours can pass before you know it, and everything else begins to lose importance

I think this book will appeal to a wide range of people.

[Dermot Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story of an addictive personality that gambles not just as a hobby but with his love and his life. Ben is an accountant and loves loves loves probability theory, reading books about algorithms and game theory every chance he can get. Despite winning millions in the lottery, he is discontent to the point where either he feels like the windfall is a burden or somewhere in his subconscious mind, he feels like he doesn't deserve such wealth. True to the adage of a fool and his money soon being parted, Ben becomes a mark to the criminal element and he is aware that all friendships entered into after his windfall are suspect and questionable. His new BFF Mirco seems to be a true friend and the gorgeous stewardess Wendy whom he meets on the plane (who he would have normally considered out of his league) is especially suspect. Even though I had my doubts about who was conning whom, I did not see the ending coming, which was a shocker! Can't get enough of this author:)

[Erin Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I get really excited when I find a new author to love. I'd recently read another book by Christoph Fischer, Ludwicka, and was so impressed with his excellent storytelling that I knew I needed to check out this author's other works. In The Gamblers, we meet Ben Andrews, a socially-awkward accountant who recently hit it big in the lottery. We all know someone like Ben--highly intelligent but lacking in the social skills to understand when he's being played or taken advantage of. I immediately felt protective of Ben and suspicious of the new people in his life: a beautiful blond woman named Wendy, and a Russian gambler named Mirco. Is Wendy legitimately falling for Ben? Is Mirco simply a wealthy social climber who takes Ben under his wing out of boredom? Or are they both playing him? This book kept me guessing right up until the end. Well done! I will definitely pick up more books from this talented author.

[Jana Petken · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title "The Gamblers" instantly conjured up an image of people who are willing to lose all their money on the turn of a card, and so I thought the story would be about some poor man in debt because of a gambling habit. I was wrong. The story was so much more than that, well hung, gently paced with two plots running side by side beautifully, and written in Fischer's habitual smooth, honest, and captivating way.

I can only imagine and dream about what I would do with a lottery win. The main character Ben took an unusual step, dictating his own fate with a pack of cards. At the same time he tries to navigate false friendships, a questionable flight attendant, who may or may not love him for who he is, and not for his millions, and at the heart of it all, his naivety, which was, at times, a bit annoying to me, but believable.

[Diana Febry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommend to anyone looking for a fun mystery.
Ben is an accountant, has poor people skills and is obsessed with numbers, sequences and proving randomness does not exist. His life is thrown upside down when he wins 64 million on the Euro Lottery. The book charts what happens next.
I won't ruin it for others but I did suss what was going on at about the mid way point. It was still an entertaining read and I had the sense the author had a lot of fun writing the book and his enjoyment was infectious.
A little slow to start but you're gradually drawn in as you worry for Ben and the people he's getting involved with. The story reminded me of one of my mother's many sayings - "Never try to kid a kidder."
Overall a fun, feel good read.

[Lynn Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading The Gamblers wasn’t a gamble at all! I always win with a Christoph Fischer novel, and this one was excellent! The book contained two of my favorite elements; romance and risk. And this author combined them beautifully. I loved the trio of main characters: Ben—a shy London accountant, Wendy—a beautiful flight attendant and Mirco—a handsome Russian. The chemistry between Ben and Wendy was delicious, and the dynamic friendship between Ben and Mirco was intriguing. This book has a surprise ending that I didn’t see coming. I love surprises! I’ve often wondered what I would do if I won the lottery. Like Ben, I would definitely give a large portion to charity. After that, it’s anybody’s guess.

[Wanda Hartzenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an almost cautionary tale regarding obsession. Gambling, money, girls, game theory is all part of Ben's life. But no. That is not true. Not girls, only Wendy.
Mirco however is a player. He plays people, Ben and girls. Life for him is one big game.
However everything is not as it seems. Mirco keeps telling Ben that he lives his life based on his intuition. Ben, a Mirco acolyte follows Mirco in everything except for this. The line between addiction and obsession is but one of semantics. For Brn, the line is in the tailgate of the new Porche.....

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title and cover give you a pretty good idea of what the book is about, and both pulled me in at first glance. I don't know much about gambling, but quickly was pulled into this story. When you win the lottery why not take up a bad habit that's virtually not going to cost you anything, but let you move up in the world. The book also pulls us in with a world wind romance. I love when an author has you so focused on two entirely different ideas then ties them together in a shocking ending. Excellent read, I can't wait for more by this author.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me so anxious. I felt so bad for the main character because you know what's happening to him and yet he keeps falling deeper and deeper into the sea of lies that has become his life. The story has a twist at the end that was surprising and a bit frustrating because all the anxiety you feel throughout the whole book just bubbles over at the end. The Way the character just goes along with everything absolutely drove me crazy yet gave me a glimpse of a different type of character.

[Hunter Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my review on Amazon.com.