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John Bekker #5
With Six You Get Wally
Wally Sample is a degenerate gambler who owes money to every major casino and loan sharks everywhere. He is also the youngest heir to the Sample Iced Tea Corporation and upon his fortieth birthday, if he can prove to the courts that he is cured of his gambling addiction, will take his place as the sixth controlling member of the iced-tea giant.
Problem is, a month short of turning forty, Wally’s gambling habit is worse than ever. In desperation, he turns to Frank Kagan, the family attorney who decades ago prepared the will for Wally’s deceased father and founder of Sample Iced Tea.
Kagan calls on his old friend John Bekker for help, asking Bekker to babysit Wally and prevent him from gambling for thirty days in order to meet the court’s requirements. The assignment proves tougher than anyone imagined, but Bekker is determined to clean Wally up at all costs―even if it means facing down a killer.
Racing the clock until Wally’s court appearance, Bekker finds himself in the middle of corporate greed and scandal and a deadly murder investigation, while trying to stay one step ahead of a crazed would-be killer who will definitely try again. And everything rests upon the very narrow shoulders of Wally Sample, who wants nothing more out of life than to find a winning scratch ticket and beat the odds.
Problem is, a month short of turning forty, Wally’s gambling habit is worse than ever. In desperation, he turns to Frank Kagan, the family attorney who decades ago prepared the will for Wally’s deceased father and founder of Sample Iced Tea.
Kagan calls on his old friend John Bekker for help, asking Bekker to babysit Wally and prevent him from gambling for thirty days in order to meet the court’s requirements. The assignment proves tougher than anyone imagined, but Bekker is determined to clean Wally up at all costs―even if it means facing down a killer.
Racing the clock until Wally’s court appearance, Bekker finds himself in the middle of corporate greed and scandal and a deadly murder investigation, while trying to stay one step ahead of a crazed would-be killer who will definitely try again. And everything rests upon the very narrow shoulders of Wally Sample, who wants nothing more out of life than to find a winning scratch ticket and beat the odds.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published October 19, 2016
5 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Al Lamanda
145 books36 followersAl Lamanda was born and raised in The Bronx, New York. He worked for many years as a private investigator and crime prevention specialist. He has authored five published novels, two feature films with another under option and more than a dozen books for Kindle.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 9, 2019
A solid 4 star read for me but I'm adding one more star for the great series of John Bekker ! If you like ex police man turning to PI - with some faults thrown in, you will enjoy this series. I'd start from the first one, for as the series goes on, the characters changes with the times. I'm sad to see that the author is no longer writing the John Bekker series.... I can only hope that he changes his mind. Truly a unique character , along with other fantastic "co-stars" in the book!
February 17, 2018
This is book #5 in the series. I haven't read the first four books and I do feel that I needed to play catch up just a little. The back story as I see it: John Bekker is an ex-police detective who is now a PI. He drank heavily in the past but has quit and has not been smoking for a month. Fourteen years ago his daughter was a witness to the brutal murder of his wife. His daughter was traumatized and recovered in a sort of religious psychiatric clinic and now lives with him in a trailer on the beach. His best buddy lives in a trailer nearby. He has recently broken up with his fiancee but is still a father-figure to her son. Now Bekker works cases with the cooperation of several law enforcement friends from when he was a cop.
There seem to be a lot of characters but they were well-defined and I didn't have any problem keeping them sorted out.
There's a lot of coffee, food, and cigarettes. And yet characters only seem to use the restroom to climb out the window.
I picked up this book because it got a Nero Award and I wasn't disappointed. I'm sure now that the other books in the series are worth reading. Although there are many differences, there are also many things about the setting, the action, and the characters that remind me of the TV show, The Rockford Files. I enjoyed watching that show for years and was a big fan of the late writer, Stephen J. Cannell.
There seem to be a lot of characters but they were well-defined and I didn't have any problem keeping them sorted out.
There's a lot of coffee, food, and cigarettes. And yet characters only seem to use the restroom to climb out the window.
I picked up this book because it got a Nero Award and I wasn't disappointed. I'm sure now that the other books in the series are worth reading. Although there are many differences, there are also many things about the setting, the action, and the characters that remind me of the TV show, The Rockford Files. I enjoyed watching that show for years and was a big fan of the late writer, Stephen J. Cannell.
June 12, 2017
Excellent; Continuing character: John Bekker; Bekker takes on a case involving baby sitting a man with a big gambling problem for a month until he can claim his inheritance and a spot in the family company
January 7, 2020
another good mystery. The characters are friends now.
April 19, 2020
Great read!
I couldn’t put it down, so far the best in the series. Can’t wait to read the next Bekker book.
I couldn’t put it down, so far the best in the series. Can’t wait to read the next Bekker book.
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January 15, 2025Enjoyed the book but it was narrated by an AI voice. It was flat and distracting.
March 8, 2017
Really enjoy Lamandas writing!!
March 19, 2019
Bekker is a ex-cop turned detective who has overcome quite a lot in his life. One day he gets a visit from one of his old colleagues asking for his help. Bekker is asked to help keep a client, a problem gambler by the name of Wally Sample, from gambling the next 30 days before his 40th birthday in order to be eligible for his inheritance. Wally's family is deeply involved in the family organization of Sample Iced Tea.
We are introduced to Wally pulling scratchers from his clothing and using coins to reveal the prizes. He has a gift for mathematics, which he pleads can be utilized to help with the family business.
Bekker draws similarities with TV detective, Rockford, having a trailer on the beach (east coast, however) in which he lives with his daughter. His friend, Oz, has a trailer just a short walk away.
There are a few characters, but the ability to keep tabs on each one is easy.
Short, easy story, reads well. Not verbose or flowery and no-nonsense. I think I had to look up one word.
The story progresses quite nicely. Good plot line and denouement.
Winner of the Nero Award. There is a point when all of the members of the Sample family have convened in the board room and Bekker and his cop friends are invited there to ask questions and get answers.
I really devoured this short book. 4 stars.
We are introduced to Wally pulling scratchers from his clothing and using coins to reveal the prizes. He has a gift for mathematics, which he pleads can be utilized to help with the family business.
Bekker draws similarities with TV detective, Rockford, having a trailer on the beach (east coast, however) in which he lives with his daughter. His friend, Oz, has a trailer just a short walk away.
There are a few characters, but the ability to keep tabs on each one is easy.
Short, easy story, reads well. Not verbose or flowery and no-nonsense. I think I had to look up one word.
The story progresses quite nicely. Good plot line and denouement.
Winner of the Nero Award. There is a point when all of the members of the Sample family have convened in the board room and Bekker and his cop friends are invited there to ask questions and get answers.
I really devoured this short book. 4 stars.
February 21, 2017
I really love the John Bekker mystery series. Can't wait for the next one. Will John continue with Jane and will he adopt Keri?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 10, 2019Synopsis: Wally is a degenerate gambler; he'll inherit a fortune if he can quit. John Bekker is called on to keep him from gambling. Murder happens.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews