The Philistine Gamble

by Denis O'Rourke

With The Philistine Gamble, O'Rourke adds mystery and a noir style to his mantra of Murder, Menace and Merriment. "Compost happens." Discount private eye Nick Gamble says that a lot, usually when he opens the mail, but today it's worse. Our flawed and philandering PI finds his friend and mentor, Bishop Francis Xavier Augustini, dead in the church office. It doesn't help when one of LAPD's not-so-finest Lieutenant Hardcastle catches Nick at the murder scene and takes him in for questioning. When Hardcastle asks for the thousandth time why Gamble killed his friend, Nick finally confesses. "It was Amway. The Bishop said I had to hold meetings, invite my friends. I only wanted to sell the soap. We argued." Nick wants to know who really killed his friend, but the Russian Mafia, the Vatican Police, too many bad cops, and a three thousand-year-old, muscle-bound geezer keep getting in the way. They're all after the same thing-an ancient manuscript worth millions. Nick's going to need a lot of help, and he gets it. There's Leo the massive mailman, a mini fridge with a bum leg and a trick door, a secret underwear gun, and Vera Foxxe, Nick's able assistant and long-time bride to be-the sexiest woman on earth. If you don't believe it, ask the Dalai Lama. This double feature will keep you guessing-and laughing-until the last page. Twice. Sorry, you'll have to bring your own popcorn. Includes a preview of Toxicity. Attorney Riley Scofield returns in Denis O'Rourke's exciting prequel to Proposition. Read Acclaim for Denis O'Rourke's stories.

362 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2015

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Managed about a third of this book. It didn’t grab me. Sorry

[Luisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book on goodreads in exchange for an honest review. If you like old fashioned detective stories this book may be of interest. it wasn't bad, just not my cup of tea.