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Archer #2
A Gambling Man
Aloysius Archer, the straight-talking World War II veteran fresh out of prison, returns in this riveting #1 New York Times bestselling thriller from David Baldacci.
The 1950s are on the horizon, and Archer is in dire need of a fresh start after a nearly fatal detour in Poca City. So Archer hops on a bus and begins the long journey out west to California, where rumor has it there is money to be made if you’re hard-working, lucky, criminal—or all three.
Along the way, Archer stops in Reno, where a stroke of fortune delivers him a wad of cash and an eye-popping blood-red 1939 Delahaye convertible—plus a companion for the final leg of the journey, an aspiring actress named Liberty Callahan who is planning to try her luck in Hollywood. But when the two arrive in Bay Town, California, Archer quickly discovers that the hordes of people who flocked there seeking fame and fortune landed in a false paradise that instead caters to their worst addictions and fears.
Archer’s first stop is a P.I. office where he is hoping to apprentice with a legendary private eye and former FBI agent named Willie Dash. He lands the job, and immediately finds himself in the thick of a potential a blackmail case involving a wealthy well-connected politician running for mayor that soon spins into something even more sinister. As bodies begin falling, Archer and Dash must infiltrate the world of brothels, gambling dens, drug operations, and long-hidden secrets, descending into the rotten bones of a corrupt town that is selling itself as the promised land—but might actually be the road to perdition, and Archer’s final resting place.
The 1950s are on the horizon, and Archer is in dire need of a fresh start after a nearly fatal detour in Poca City. So Archer hops on a bus and begins the long journey out west to California, where rumor has it there is money to be made if you’re hard-working, lucky, criminal—or all three.
Along the way, Archer stops in Reno, where a stroke of fortune delivers him a wad of cash and an eye-popping blood-red 1939 Delahaye convertible—plus a companion for the final leg of the journey, an aspiring actress named Liberty Callahan who is planning to try her luck in Hollywood. But when the two arrive in Bay Town, California, Archer quickly discovers that the hordes of people who flocked there seeking fame and fortune landed in a false paradise that instead caters to their worst addictions and fears.
Archer’s first stop is a P.I. office where he is hoping to apprentice with a legendary private eye and former FBI agent named Willie Dash. He lands the job, and immediately finds himself in the thick of a potential a blackmail case involving a wealthy well-connected politician running for mayor that soon spins into something even more sinister. As bodies begin falling, Archer and Dash must infiltrate the world of brothels, gambling dens, drug operations, and long-hidden secrets, descending into the rotten bones of a corrupt town that is selling itself as the promised land—but might actually be the road to perdition, and Archer’s final resting place.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
6814 people are currently reading
13182 people want to read
About the author
David Baldacci
224 books124k followersDavid Baldacci has been writing since childhood, when his mother gave him a lined notebook in which to write down his stories. (Much later, when David thanked her for being the spark that ignited his writing career, she revealed that she’d given him the notebook to keep him quiet, "because every mom needs a break now and then.”)
David published his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996; the feature film adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 52 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers, and several have been adapted for film and television. David has also published seven novels for younger readers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide.
In addition to being a prolific writer, David is a devoted philanthropist, and his greatest efforts are dedicated to his family’s Wish You Well Foundation®. Established by David and his wife, Michelle, the Wish You Well Foundation supports family and adult literacy programs in the United States.
A lifelong Virginian, David is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia School of Law.
David published his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996; the feature film adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 52 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers, and several have been adapted for film and television. David has also published seven novels for younger readers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide.
In addition to being a prolific writer, David is a devoted philanthropist, and his greatest efforts are dedicated to his family’s Wish You Well Foundation®. Established by David and his wife, Michelle, the Wish You Well Foundation supports family and adult literacy programs in the United States.
A lifelong Virginian, David is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia School of Law.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,315 reviews
March 19, 2021
David Baldacci impresses with this stylish, historical crime, Chandleresque sequel to One Good Deed featuring war veteran Aloysius Archer, an innocent man who has spent time in prison, and after events that could have seen him hang in Poca City, he is making his way to Bay Town, California in 1949. He is pursuing a career as a gumshoe, having picked up skills previously with Detective Irving Shaw, who recommends him to Willie Dash, an ex-FBI private investigator offering the opportunity of an apprenticeship. He stops off at Reno that sees lady luck smile on him when he wins big at the casino, and which allows him to acquire an eye catching, exclusive and desirable car, a blood red French convertible Delahaye. He acquires a companion on his drive to Bay Town, the beautiful Liberty Callahan, a woman chasing dreams of fame and fortune in Hollywood as an actress.
Archer is not the man he used to be, he has learnt the hard way to be more wary of women, and experience has taught him to not divulge personal details and focus more on listening. He is courteous, hardworking and respectful, his needs are modest, a place to live, a job, and to be able to buy a drink or two. He is not a man who can walk on by when a man is being viciously beaten up, getting involved, even when it seems the height of folly. The coastal Bay Town is booming, a divided place, where the wealthy and powerful live in a different milieu from the ordinary folk. Dash takes on Archer, although his prison record requires that he operates under a private investigator's licence from Dash's agency, an enterprise that is struggling financially. A married mayoral candidate, Douglas Kemper, is being blackmailed, over a purported affair, a perilous case that is set to expose the ugly, brutal, deadly and corrupt reality of Bay Town. As the number of dead begins to rise, Archer and Dash find themselves facing the gravest of dangers.
Baldacci excels in providing a picture of post-war small town America, such as the hotbed of political intrigue, the growth and ambitions of the gambling industry, and a glamorous Hollywood world of movies and film stars that attracts big numbers of people wanting to act, with most destined to have their dreams shattered. More than anything, it is a man's world when it comes to power and influence, an all too real reflection of the social norms and attitudes of the period, along with the unpalatable racism. Liberty has learnt to stand up for herself and deal with the myriads of dangers that men represent to women, it is fascinating to observe the relationship that develops between her and Archer, they have far more in common than might first appear. This is a fabulously entertaining historical read that I found wonderfully compelling and suspenseful. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC.
Archer is not the man he used to be, he has learnt the hard way to be more wary of women, and experience has taught him to not divulge personal details and focus more on listening. He is courteous, hardworking and respectful, his needs are modest, a place to live, a job, and to be able to buy a drink or two. He is not a man who can walk on by when a man is being viciously beaten up, getting involved, even when it seems the height of folly. The coastal Bay Town is booming, a divided place, where the wealthy and powerful live in a different milieu from the ordinary folk. Dash takes on Archer, although his prison record requires that he operates under a private investigator's licence from Dash's agency, an enterprise that is struggling financially. A married mayoral candidate, Douglas Kemper, is being blackmailed, over a purported affair, a perilous case that is set to expose the ugly, brutal, deadly and corrupt reality of Bay Town. As the number of dead begins to rise, Archer and Dash find themselves facing the gravest of dangers.
Baldacci excels in providing a picture of post-war small town America, such as the hotbed of political intrigue, the growth and ambitions of the gambling industry, and a glamorous Hollywood world of movies and film stars that attracts big numbers of people wanting to act, with most destined to have their dreams shattered. More than anything, it is a man's world when it comes to power and influence, an all too real reflection of the social norms and attitudes of the period, along with the unpalatable racism. Liberty has learnt to stand up for herself and deal with the myriads of dangers that men represent to women, it is fascinating to observe the relationship that develops between her and Archer, they have far more in common than might first appear. This is a fabulously entertaining historical read that I found wonderfully compelling and suspenseful. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC.
May 7, 2021
3.5⭐
Book two is slightly better than the first one, One Good Deed, which I gave 3 stars. It's an enjoyable book because I like Aloysius Archer. Baldacci knows how to create great leads. The ambient is different from other mysteries which is a plus.
A Gambling Man is a historical PI story set in the 1950s after Archer came back from the war and out of prison (book 1). Here, he heads to California via Reno from Oklahoma with a female companion, who he met in Reno.
I'd probably read anything Baldacci writes, but to compare I didn't get the same thrill as I do from a Puller, King & Maxwell or Robie series. The audio is really good with male & female narrators. I recognize their voices from other books and it's nice to hear familiar voices.
Book two is slightly better than the first one, One Good Deed, which I gave 3 stars. It's an enjoyable book because I like Aloysius Archer. Baldacci knows how to create great leads. The ambient is different from other mysteries which is a plus.
A Gambling Man is a historical PI story set in the 1950s after Archer came back from the war and out of prison (book 1). Here, he heads to California via Reno from Oklahoma with a female companion, who he met in Reno.
I'd probably read anything Baldacci writes, but to compare I didn't get the same thrill as I do from a Puller, King & Maxwell or Robie series. The audio is really good with male & female narrators. I recognize their voices from other books and it's nice to hear familiar voices.
October 10, 2024
It's 1949 and alpha male, ex-army, ex convict, smart Aloysius Archer is seeking some sort of worthwhile life in California; he gains employment with a reputable PI in the very corrupt Bay Town, his first case is to investigate what appears to be a concerted effort to prevent the front-runner winning the mayoral election. With fast cars, and faster women and even faster fists to fly this formulaic modern thriller transposed to 1949 California works well accompanied by the plotting skills of Baldacci. 6 out of 12, Three Star read.
2024 read
2024 read
July 2, 2021
This is proving a difficult review to write. I am already on to my second cup of coffee just thinking about what I want to say. I will have to resort to listing what I liked and what I did not like and decide my rating from there. Here goes:-
I liked
* Aloysius Archer. Not nearly as naive as he was in the first book he now looks behind everything anyone tells him before he acts. He is honest, charming and smart and makes an excellent MC.
* The setting. Baldacci has the time period down to perfection. All the small details add up to make it work so that even the slow pace of the investigation is acceptable because that's how it would have been then.
* The writing. I always enjoy that in this author's books!
I did not like
* The lack of suspense. The book tended to drag in places, particularly the road trip which seemed to have more pages than it was entitled to. I must admit people died all over the place but there was never any suspense.
* The lack of sexual tension between the two main characters. Baldacci tried, he really did, but I did not believe him.
I loved the first book and gave it five stars. This one I found flat and a little dull and can only give it three.
I liked
* Aloysius Archer. Not nearly as naive as he was in the first book he now looks behind everything anyone tells him before he acts. He is honest, charming and smart and makes an excellent MC.
* The setting. Baldacci has the time period down to perfection. All the small details add up to make it work so that even the slow pace of the investigation is acceptable because that's how it would have been then.
* The writing. I always enjoy that in this author's books!
I did not like
* The lack of suspense. The book tended to drag in places, particularly the road trip which seemed to have more pages than it was entitled to. I must admit people died all over the place but there was never any suspense.
* The lack of sexual tension between the two main characters. Baldacci tried, he really did, but I did not believe him.
I loved the first book and gave it five stars. This one I found flat and a little dull and can only give it three.
May 9, 2021
On a long road trip, my husband and I listened to the audible production of “A Gambling Man” by David Baldacci, narrated by Edoardo Ballerini and Brittany Pressley. The production of the novel is amazing. I think it’s Hachette Audio who did it. At any rate, Ballerini narrates most of the story except for the female voices. Pressley interjects her female parts throughout the story. Both Ballerini and Pressley provide an outstanding performance, providing imagination fodder for the listener.
The story takes place in the late 1940’s, post WWII. The snappy dialogue involves the colloquialisms of the time. Women are “dames”, legs are “gams”, and the pace of the narration is in-line with the cadence of the time. I could picture Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray as the main characters, Liberty Callahan and Alloysius Archer (aka Archer). The dialogues in this story are a joy to listen to.
The story begins when Archer wins a 1939 Delahaye convertible in a card game in Reno. Archer plans to go to California where he can apprentice as a private Investigator. Archer picks up a dame, Liberty Callahan, who wants to leave Reno in pursuit of a Hollywood career. Of course, the couple run into trouble as they travel.
When they get to California, Liberty immediately finds a job performing in a burlesque card club. Archer begins his apprenticeship with the legendary and former FBI agent Willie Dash. His first job is a blackmail scandal, which involves the main performer at the same burlesque club where Liberty works.
Baldacci shines in his plot twists and turns. Dead bodies seem to turn up everywhere. Of course, there is a town “godfather” who is corrupt and runs the town. Archer is told by Willie Dash to “follow the money” and it leads Archer into some sticky situations.
The story is great. It’s involved and full of unforeseen plot developments. What we enjoyed most though was the performance. The narration is pitch-perfect, catching the nuances of the time. I highly recommend the audio.
The story takes place in the late 1940’s, post WWII. The snappy dialogue involves the colloquialisms of the time. Women are “dames”, legs are “gams”, and the pace of the narration is in-line with the cadence of the time. I could picture Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray as the main characters, Liberty Callahan and Alloysius Archer (aka Archer). The dialogues in this story are a joy to listen to.
The story begins when Archer wins a 1939 Delahaye convertible in a card game in Reno. Archer plans to go to California where he can apprentice as a private Investigator. Archer picks up a dame, Liberty Callahan, who wants to leave Reno in pursuit of a Hollywood career. Of course, the couple run into trouble as they travel.
When they get to California, Liberty immediately finds a job performing in a burlesque card club. Archer begins his apprenticeship with the legendary and former FBI agent Willie Dash. His first job is a blackmail scandal, which involves the main performer at the same burlesque club where Liberty works.
Baldacci shines in his plot twists and turns. Dead bodies seem to turn up everywhere. Of course, there is a town “godfather” who is corrupt and runs the town. Archer is told by Willie Dash to “follow the money” and it leads Archer into some sticky situations.
The story is great. It’s involved and full of unforeseen plot developments. What we enjoyed most though was the performance. The narration is pitch-perfect, catching the nuances of the time. I highly recommend the audio.
June 6, 2021
A decent beginning is wasted by this nonsensical plot and story. 1 of 10 stars
May 31, 2021
There’s something about David Baldacci and his writing that has me intrigued whenever I grab for one of his books. Always keen to depict a wonderful piece of sleuthing, Baldacci has a knack for bringing a story to life. In this series, he’s added a throwback angle, setting things in the early 1950s, which gives the reader another aspect to enjoy a great deal. Aloysius Archer has seen a great deal, having served in the war and spent a little time behind bars. Now he’s headed west, where he may have a job, working as a private detective, waiting for him in California. After a stop in Reno, where trouble and a few interesting characters find him, Archer’s ready to head towards the bright lights. There, he’s pulled into a case of blackmail and murder, which is just how someone wants to cut their teeth in the sleuthing business. A great story that shows just how versatile Baldacci can be.
It has always been Aloysius Archer’s dream to solve cases, even if he has no notable experience. He’s made it through the war and tried to come out of it a changed man. A few dust-ups left him to serve time for a crime he did not commit, but that is behind him. Now, it’s California that’s calling and a potential job working as a private detective under a man who has quite the reputation. All Archer need do is make it there and prove his worth.
Along the way, Reno, Nevada calls. Archer is no gambling man, but he agrees to take in the sights, if only briefly. After learning the art of gambling and risk taking, Archer and a new companion prepare for a venture west, but are hampered when a local man meets up with some trouble of the gambling debt variety. Archer’s big heart and wily ways help rectify the situation.
With the bright lights of California on the horizon, Archer proceeds to a small town to present himself, in hopes of solid work and something to show for himself. He’s pulled in for a quasi-interview, which turns into being tossed in the middle of a case. There’s an election for mayor and one of the candidates is being blackmailed. Archer will have to prove that it’s all nonsense and that the philandering is a smear campaign. Asking some poignant questions, Archer begins to see how the town runs and who is pulling the strings.
However, when a woman turns up murdered, Archer cannot help but take notice and suspects it is to silence her. Politics has always been a dirty business and Archer’s come to see that this is no exception. Delving into the darkest of corners, Archer must not only find out who has been blackmailing the mayoral candidate, but also why murder seems the only way to keep players in the scheme from talking. When a few others turn up dead, Archer realises that this is a case that will require much of his time and intuitiveness,.. What a way to begin life in the gumshoe business!
Versatility is key for any author who wants to stay at the forefront of writing. Readers can be fickle, or at least demand some new angle to keep them coming back. David Baldacci has done just that and it seems to work. Setting the story back in the early 1950s and working some more primitive angles (no smartphones here, gasp!), the reader can see how things were done when sweat and intuition served to grease the wheels of detective work. It all comes together nicely and I cannot say it was anything but a success.
Aloysius Archer has a laidback approach to life that makes him the perfect protagonist for this piece. Wanting nothing more than to live and let live—so long as it does not impede his ability to enjoy things—Archer does what he can on a daily basis. He comes off as gritty, yet not overly temperamental, seeking truth over trying to make trouble for others. Should the series continue, I can see myself wanting to know a great deal more about the man and perhaps more of his past, as well as what the future has in store. It’s sure to be an interesting experience for any reader.
Baldacci presents a handful of interesting supporting characters, all of whom set the scene well and offer a flavour to the story that helps substantiate its 50s throwback. There is a lot of work that went into this piece, the characters doing their part to help the reader feel fully involved. While some folks do come off as somewhat stereotypical, the story needed them to offset some of the bold and brazenness that emerges throughout the narrative.
While I have never been one to flock towards dime store novels that depict detectives and women who beg to be protected, this piece worked well for me. Baldacci paints a wonderful picture of life in 1950s America and things come together with ease. A strong narrative keeps the reader wanting to know more, while the characters add a certain depth to things that made me feel as though I were part of the action. The dialogue and vernacular certainly took me back, where I expected everyone to be smoking and the men donning fedoras. It worked and shows the versatile nature of David Baldacci’s writing. It’s certainly worth the gamble of any reader wanting something a little different.
Kudos, Mr. Baldacci, for another winner. You have me intrigued with Aloysius Archer and I hope to see him again soon!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
It has always been Aloysius Archer’s dream to solve cases, even if he has no notable experience. He’s made it through the war and tried to come out of it a changed man. A few dust-ups left him to serve time for a crime he did not commit, but that is behind him. Now, it’s California that’s calling and a potential job working as a private detective under a man who has quite the reputation. All Archer need do is make it there and prove his worth.
Along the way, Reno, Nevada calls. Archer is no gambling man, but he agrees to take in the sights, if only briefly. After learning the art of gambling and risk taking, Archer and a new companion prepare for a venture west, but are hampered when a local man meets up with some trouble of the gambling debt variety. Archer’s big heart and wily ways help rectify the situation.
With the bright lights of California on the horizon, Archer proceeds to a small town to present himself, in hopes of solid work and something to show for himself. He’s pulled in for a quasi-interview, which turns into being tossed in the middle of a case. There’s an election for mayor and one of the candidates is being blackmailed. Archer will have to prove that it’s all nonsense and that the philandering is a smear campaign. Asking some poignant questions, Archer begins to see how the town runs and who is pulling the strings.
However, when a woman turns up murdered, Archer cannot help but take notice and suspects it is to silence her. Politics has always been a dirty business and Archer’s come to see that this is no exception. Delving into the darkest of corners, Archer must not only find out who has been blackmailing the mayoral candidate, but also why murder seems the only way to keep players in the scheme from talking. When a few others turn up dead, Archer realises that this is a case that will require much of his time and intuitiveness,.. What a way to begin life in the gumshoe business!
Versatility is key for any author who wants to stay at the forefront of writing. Readers can be fickle, or at least demand some new angle to keep them coming back. David Baldacci has done just that and it seems to work. Setting the story back in the early 1950s and working some more primitive angles (no smartphones here, gasp!), the reader can see how things were done when sweat and intuition served to grease the wheels of detective work. It all comes together nicely and I cannot say it was anything but a success.
Aloysius Archer has a laidback approach to life that makes him the perfect protagonist for this piece. Wanting nothing more than to live and let live—so long as it does not impede his ability to enjoy things—Archer does what he can on a daily basis. He comes off as gritty, yet not overly temperamental, seeking truth over trying to make trouble for others. Should the series continue, I can see myself wanting to know a great deal more about the man and perhaps more of his past, as well as what the future has in store. It’s sure to be an interesting experience for any reader.
Baldacci presents a handful of interesting supporting characters, all of whom set the scene well and offer a flavour to the story that helps substantiate its 50s throwback. There is a lot of work that went into this piece, the characters doing their part to help the reader feel fully involved. While some folks do come off as somewhat stereotypical, the story needed them to offset some of the bold and brazenness that emerges throughout the narrative.
While I have never been one to flock towards dime store novels that depict detectives and women who beg to be protected, this piece worked well for me. Baldacci paints a wonderful picture of life in 1950s America and things come together with ease. A strong narrative keeps the reader wanting to know more, while the characters add a certain depth to things that made me feel as though I were part of the action. The dialogue and vernacular certainly took me back, where I expected everyone to be smoking and the men donning fedoras. It worked and shows the versatile nature of David Baldacci’s writing. It’s certainly worth the gamble of any reader wanting something a little different.
Kudos, Mr. Baldacci, for another winner. You have me intrigued with Aloysius Archer and I hope to see him again soon!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
August 21, 2022
Четеше ми се хубав и вълнуващ ретро трилър и „Комарджията“ на Дейвид Балдачи отговори и покри всичките ми очаквания, даже и малко отгоре. (Колебаех се между прочита на тази книга и „Убийство в Бруклин“, обаче там пък съм гледал филма, така че в по-голяма степен нещата се наклониха към „Комарджията“ и изборът ми се оказа абсолютен топ).
„Комарджията“ е втора книга от поредицата ^Арчър^ на Дейвид Балдачи, първата е „Едно добро дело“ (която не съм чел все още, но предвиждам и нея). Историята тук се развива след края на първата книга и съвсем спокойно може да се чете и като самостоятелна творба. След като напуска Пока Сити Арчър се отправя към Рино, където среща Либърти – млада талантлива певица, която мечтае за кариера в Холивуд. В Рино за краткия си престой Арчър успява да се забърка в поредица от неприятности. И заедно с Либърти се отправят към Калифорния и градчето Бей Таун, където той решава да се пробва в попрището на частен детектив.
Сюжетът в книгата протича доста динамично и е наситен с много действие, което не ме остави да скучая и за секунда. Има я и онази характерна за края на 40-те и началото на 50-те години на миналия век детективска атмосфера, характерна за САЩ в годините след WW2 – така позната ни от филмите и книгите им, гарнирана със щипка романтика.
Хареса ми доста.
„Комарджията“ е втора книга от поредицата ^Арчър^ на Дейвид Балдачи, първата е „Едно добро дело“ (която не съм чел все още, но предвиждам и нея). Историята тук се развива след края на първата книга и съвсем спокойно може да се чете и като самостоятелна творба. След като напуска Пока Сити Арчър се отправя към Рино, където среща Либърти – млада талантлива певица, която мечтае за кариера в Холивуд. В Рино за краткия си престой Арчър успява да се забърка в поредица от неприятности. И заедно с Либърти се отправят към Калифорния и градчето Бей Таун, където той решава да се пробва в попрището на частен детектив.
Сюжетът в книгата протича доста динамично и е наситен с много действие, което не ме остави да скучая и за секунда. Има я и онази характерна за края на 40-те и началото на 50-те години на миналия век детективска атмосфера, характерна за САЩ в годините след WW2 – така позната ни от филмите и книгите им, гарнирана със щипка романтика.
Хареса ми доста.
March 6, 2021
Every time I read a David Baldacci novel I promise myself I will read more of his books. He is an excellent author and really do want to read more of his books. This is the second book in the ‘Archer’ series and after loving the first one ‘ One Good Deed’ I was really looking forward to reading this one. In truth it took me a while to get into this one but eventually everything started to click and by the end was ready for another Baldacci novel.
Set in 1949 California, Aloysius Archer is on his way to start a new job with a renowned Private Investigator in Bay Town. While stopping off at a casino in Reno he meets an aspiring actress Liberty Callahan. They travel together heading west to California, where Archer is tasked with finding out who is doing everything they can to disrupt the appointment of a top official. Then two seemingly unconnected people are murdered at a burlesque club. In a tight-lipped community, Archer must dig deep to reveal the connection between the victims.
The book is well written with very good characters, after a fairly slow start the novel really stepped up a level and makes a fascinating read. Full of suspense, great characters and an intriguing plot.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for supplying a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
Set in 1949 California, Aloysius Archer is on his way to start a new job with a renowned Private Investigator in Bay Town. While stopping off at a casino in Reno he meets an aspiring actress Liberty Callahan. They travel together heading west to California, where Archer is tasked with finding out who is doing everything they can to disrupt the appointment of a top official. Then two seemingly unconnected people are murdered at a burlesque club. In a tight-lipped community, Archer must dig deep to reveal the connection between the victims.
The book is well written with very good characters, after a fairly slow start the novel really stepped up a level and makes a fascinating read. Full of suspense, great characters and an intriguing plot.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for supplying a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2021
Archer #2
The 1950's are on the horizon and Aloysius Archer is in a dire need of a fresh start after a nearly fatal detour in Poca City. So Archer hops on a bus and begins a long journey to California where there's money to be made if you're hard working, lucky, criminal - or all three. Along the way Archer stops in Reno, where a stroke of fortune delivers him a wad of cash, a 1939 Delehaye convertible and a companion for the rest of the journey, Liberty Callahan, who's planning to try her luck in Hollywood.
Archer travels to California to work as a Private Investigator and ends up being involved in a blackmailing case. The story is told from Archer's point of view. It's action packed with plenty of twist and turns. I really liked Liberty Callaghan, she's one tough cookie. The book id descriptively written and the cljues are there to be found. The pace is steady. This book could be rad as a standalone but it's turning out to be a really good series, so I would grab a copy of One Good Deed before you read this book. I would like to thank #NetGalley, #PanMacmilla and the author #DavidBaldacci for my ARC of #AGamblingMan in exchange for an honest review.
The 1950's are on the horizon and Aloysius Archer is in a dire need of a fresh start after a nearly fatal detour in Poca City. So Archer hops on a bus and begins a long journey to California where there's money to be made if you're hard working, lucky, criminal - or all three. Along the way Archer stops in Reno, where a stroke of fortune delivers him a wad of cash, a 1939 Delehaye convertible and a companion for the rest of the journey, Liberty Callahan, who's planning to try her luck in Hollywood.
Archer travels to California to work as a Private Investigator and ends up being involved in a blackmailing case. The story is told from Archer's point of view. It's action packed with plenty of twist and turns. I really liked Liberty Callaghan, she's one tough cookie. The book id descriptively written and the cljues are there to be found. The pace is steady. This book could be rad as a standalone but it's turning out to be a really good series, so I would grab a copy of One Good Deed before you read this book. I would like to thank #NetGalley, #PanMacmilla and the author #DavidBaldacci for my ARC of #AGamblingMan in exchange for an honest review.
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July 17, 2023
3-Stars - "I liked It"
Review will come when I am able to focus on writing it.
In the meantime:
From myReading Listening Activity:
"From the blurb: 'Evoking the golden age of crime...California, 1949...' "
July 4, 2023 – 15.0%: "Both narrators employ a 'staccato' style of voice, Ballerini in particular, presumably to evoke the "...just the facts, ma'am..." of the 50's Film Noir - it's very distracting."
July 5, 2023 – 64.0%:"Despite my earlier reservations about the 'style' of the narration, I have barreled on with this book and it has been, umm, 'enjoyable' to date."
July 7, 2023 – 87.0%:"I am not really excited about it, but this book has been a reasonable listen."
Review will come when I am able to focus on writing it.
In the meantime:
From my
"From the blurb: 'Evoking the golden age of crime...California, 1949...' "
July 4, 2023 – 15.0%: "Both narrators employ a 'staccato' style of voice, Ballerini in particular, presumably to evoke the "...just the facts, ma'am..." of the 50's Film Noir - it's very distracting."
July 5, 2023 – 64.0%:"Despite my earlier reservations about the 'style' of the narration, I have barreled on with this book and it has been, umm, 'enjoyable' to date."
July 7, 2023 – 87.0%:"I am not really excited about it, but this book has been a reasonable listen."
May 6, 2021
I guess Mr. Baldacci is trying for a noir atmosphere when a PI was called a gumshoe and people actually used the word ‘swell’, and smoked Lucky Strike cigarettes. Nice idea. Not well played.
I didn’t like the first book in this series and I don’t like this one any better mostly because it appears that the author is trying to channel Lee Child’s character Jack Reacher.
Before I was 80 pages in Archer had already taken care of a good number (sorry I lost count) of bad guys with his bare hands described in blow by blow detail.
Boring!!
I didn’t like the first book in this series and I don’t like this one any better mostly because it appears that the author is trying to channel Lee Child’s character Jack Reacher.
Before I was 80 pages in Archer had already taken care of a good number (sorry I lost count) of bad guys with his bare hands described in blow by blow detail.
Boring!!
June 12, 2021
David Baldacci never disappoints with his well executed plotlines and intriguing characters. Aloysius Archer is an character that draws you in with his gentlemanly actions and sense of what is right. I love that this series is set post war with the world starting to change in alot of different ways.
After the events of the first book, One Good Deed, Archer is ready to move on from Poca City and heads for California to become a Private Investigator with Willie Dash. He stops in Reno on the way where luck is on his side. After a windfall at the casino, he buys a car to help a man and meets Liberty Callahan, a dancer with stars in her eyes. The pair head to Bay Town and a new life. Archer is immediately thrown into a case of blackmail and murder which will take him to the darkest depths of his new home.
Baldacci makes you feel like you have stepped back in time with his fantastic descriptions of the fashions, the attitudes and the atmosphere of the places in this book. I do love a crime thriller and can't wait for more from Archer.
Thanks to MacMillian Australia for my copy of this book to read.
After the events of the first book, One Good Deed, Archer is ready to move on from Poca City and heads for California to become a Private Investigator with Willie Dash. He stops in Reno on the way where luck is on his side. After a windfall at the casino, he buys a car to help a man and meets Liberty Callahan, a dancer with stars in her eyes. The pair head to Bay Town and a new life. Archer is immediately thrown into a case of blackmail and murder which will take him to the darkest depths of his new home.
Baldacci makes you feel like you have stepped back in time with his fantastic descriptions of the fashions, the attitudes and the atmosphere of the places in this book. I do love a crime thriller and can't wait for more from Archer.
Thanks to MacMillian Australia for my copy of this book to read.
January 4, 2024
In the 2nd book to feature Aloysius Archer the former prisoner is well on his way to becoming a private investigator. He's now making his way to California after leaving Poca City with the name of a PI in his pocket and a reference from the state trooper whose life he saved. This is a classic Detective novel, set in the late 1940s, and is very reminiscent of the tone and placing of the best gritty crime novels of that time.
A stop on his bus ride west lands him in Reno where he meets dance Liberty Callaghan. She has dreams of making it big in Hollywood. In a stroke of amazing luck, the pair of them win big at the roulette table and walk away with enough for both of them to head to California with a tidy aim each. Archer also manages to pick up a fancy red Delahaye convertible after helping a gambler get out of debt.
Reaching Bay Town he looks up Willie Dash who is a former FBI agent turned private investigator. Dash gives him the job on a trial basis and almost immediately the pair are working on a case together. The case involves the leading candidate of the town's special mayoral election. He's being blackmailed in a potential scandal that could scupper their client's election chances. It's their job to find out who's behind it and come up with a way to bring the scam down.
Bay Town is filled with the usual mixture of powerful people, greedy wannabes, bordellos, and Gambling clubs. In short, there's no end of places for Archer to visit, ask his questions, encounter an array of wrong-uns and put a few cats among the pigeons. His investigation ruffles feathers and, pretty soon, the suspects begin to mount up.
David Baldacci writes with a smooth style that easily draws you into his world. The 1940s are brought to life and there's a definite wild west, almost anything goes feel about Bay Town. Danger is lurking around every corner and that makes it even more compelling.
Aloysius Archer is definitely still a detective in training but he's proving to be a fast learner. His care in always verifying facts is key in cutting through the bull when he's fed snippets of info. Also, lucky for him (or unlucky perhaps) he's capable of taking a knock or two because he certainly gets his share. And, as a little aside, he and Liberty make a pretty good team, a pairing that adds a tantalising point of difference to the story.
As he did in One Good Deed, Baldacci nails the post-war era, the attitudes of the people and the take no prisoners tactics to get ahead. It makes for a sordid backdrop for a wet behind the ears gunshot and a starry eyed would-be actress to land in.
The bodies pile up, the mysterious become increasingly perplexing and the quest for power raises the stakes ever higher. I found A Gambling Man entertaining from the moment Archer set for in Reno right up to the cataclysmic denouement in Bay Town.
A stop on his bus ride west lands him in Reno where he meets dance Liberty Callaghan. She has dreams of making it big in Hollywood. In a stroke of amazing luck, the pair of them win big at the roulette table and walk away with enough for both of them to head to California with a tidy aim each. Archer also manages to pick up a fancy red Delahaye convertible after helping a gambler get out of debt.
Reaching Bay Town he looks up Willie Dash who is a former FBI agent turned private investigator. Dash gives him the job on a trial basis and almost immediately the pair are working on a case together. The case involves the leading candidate of the town's special mayoral election. He's being blackmailed in a potential scandal that could scupper their client's election chances. It's their job to find out who's behind it and come up with a way to bring the scam down.
Bay Town is filled with the usual mixture of powerful people, greedy wannabes, bordellos, and Gambling clubs. In short, there's no end of places for Archer to visit, ask his questions, encounter an array of wrong-uns and put a few cats among the pigeons. His investigation ruffles feathers and, pretty soon, the suspects begin to mount up.
David Baldacci writes with a smooth style that easily draws you into his world. The 1940s are brought to life and there's a definite wild west, almost anything goes feel about Bay Town. Danger is lurking around every corner and that makes it even more compelling.
Aloysius Archer is definitely still a detective in training but he's proving to be a fast learner. His care in always verifying facts is key in cutting through the bull when he's fed snippets of info. Also, lucky for him (or unlucky perhaps) he's capable of taking a knock or two because he certainly gets his share. And, as a little aside, he and Liberty make a pretty good team, a pairing that adds a tantalising point of difference to the story.
As he did in One Good Deed, Baldacci nails the post-war era, the attitudes of the people and the take no prisoners tactics to get ahead. It makes for a sordid backdrop for a wet behind the ears gunshot and a starry eyed would-be actress to land in.
The bodies pile up, the mysterious become increasingly perplexing and the quest for power raises the stakes ever higher. I found A Gambling Man entertaining from the moment Archer set for in Reno right up to the cataclysmic denouement in Bay Town.
May 3, 2021
Historical fiction + Crime, my new favourite! 🕵🏼♂️
🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love a good thriller but I admittedly don’t usually read a lot of crime fiction but that is about to change because I loved this one!
Set in the very late 1940’s this book was a great insight into the life of Private Investigator and how murders were investigated at the time and it was so interesting to read.
This is the second book in the series but the first I read, like most crime series these books can be read as stand alone but reading the series from start to finish helps to add depth to the characters and I loved Archer so much that I’m going to now read book 1 to see how it all started.
I cannot wait for book 3! Thank you so much Pam Macmillan Australia for my copy!
🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love a good thriller but I admittedly don’t usually read a lot of crime fiction but that is about to change because I loved this one!
Set in the very late 1940’s this book was a great insight into the life of Private Investigator and how murders were investigated at the time and it was so interesting to read.
This is the second book in the series but the first I read, like most crime series these books can be read as stand alone but reading the series from start to finish helps to add depth to the characters and I loved Archer so much that I’m going to now read book 1 to see how it all started.
I cannot wait for book 3! Thank you so much Pam Macmillan Australia for my copy!
January 23, 2022
In 'A Gambling Man', (book #2 of the Archer series) Archer is finally getting his feet wet as an actual PI under the guidance of seasoned PI, Mr. Dash. This was a super fun mystery/thriller filled with twists and turns that takes you winding all over until the big reveal at the end - which I thought was very well done, believable and surprising. I also thoroughly enjoy that the series takes place in the 1950s and hearing how differently people thought, made their livings, and social norms regarding world views - from racism, homophobia, to a woman's place and value in society. Sometimes it may not seem like it, but after finishing this book it is clear that "we have come a long way, baby!" Sadly, (in 2021) we STILL have a lot further to go.
June 7, 2021
As I told Tim, half way thru the book I was wondering what the point was. He said if the point of the book was to be pointless it succeeded. Tim was so right. I will not read anymore of the Archer series. Get back to a series like the Camel Club Baldacci! You are so much better than this.
May 3, 2021
For the last couple of years, Baldacci has been producing two books a year, and focusing most of his attention on his series characters of Amos Decker (Memory Man), Will Robie, and John Puller. However, back in 2019, Baldacci introduced a new character – World War II veteran Aloysius Archer – in “One Good Deed” and opened readers up to a different historical era, that of post-war, 1949. I greatly enjoyed reading that change of pace set in the past, as well as Archer’s chivalrous character. Now, Baldacci has brought Archer back for his second outing – “A Gambling Man” and continuing his historical adventures into 1950.
The book starts off with Archer, having left Poca City in his rearview mirror, making his way to California where he hopes to get a fresh start and start a new career. Thanks to his relationship with Detective Irving Shaw, Archer hopes to apprentice with Willie Dash, a former FBI agent and a successful private eye.
On the way there, Archer gets off of the bus in Reno, Nevada, and the craziness begins. There he meets Liberty Callahan, a musical performer and actress, working her way to Hollywood. She leads him into a gambling win that adds to his stash, and a run-in with an older man ends up with Archer driving an extremely rare 1939 French Delahaye convertible. Getting himself out of Reno is not easy, and with Liberty as a traveling companion, they both hope for the best that California can offer.
Upon arriving in the Southern coastal city of Baytown, Archer lands a job working for PI Dash as his apprentice, and on his first day they have a case thrown their way. Douglas Kemper, running for Mayor, has received a blackmail letter, threatening to expose an affair between him and Ruby Fraser, a young singer at the local adult club, Midnight Moods. Kemper insists there is no relationship and has no idea who could be coming after him, other than backers of his political opponent.
Dash and Archer take the case and begin their investigation. They meet with Ruby and interview Kemper’s wife, whose father, Sawyer Armstrong, runs all of the major business in the city. Sawyer owns the key businesses in Baytown, including Midnight Moods, where Liberty is trying out as a fulltime singer. He controls the real estate, prostitution, gambling, and coastal sipping. And to make matters worse, Sawyer doesn’t like people talking with his daughter and sicks his two goons on Archer to let him know who’s running things.
Then the investigation foes from political to deadly when someone is murdered and the stakes raised. Before he knows it, Archer finds himself in the middle of family issues, small town corruption, and deadly secrets that could very well cost him his life before his new career even gets started…
There are a several good things to like about this book and Aloysius Archer. The first is Baldacci throwing himself into a historical time piece. It’s his own ode to Mickey Spillane and Dashel Hammett. The early 1950’s is far from today’s world full of technology, tools, and devices. It requires a strong ability to not only describe things like dress styles and transportation vehicles, but also truly understand the proper political and social norms, and enough details from post-World War II to provide the depth and quality needed to portray the true historical context. For example, Baldacci uses the social and legal inequality between men and women in that time period to propel and strengthen his story. My only criticism is that it seems every character in the book smokes constantly. I understand that smoking was a widespread social custom, but seriously, not every single person was a rabid smoker.
Archer’s first book did a great job of introducing him and establishing his background. The problem was that it raised the bar and expectations for a second book. However, the good news is that this was almost as enjoyable a read as the first one. For the most part, Baldacci maintained the high level of quality throughout Archer’s second outing. His almost effortless, rhythmic writing style was there, stronger than ever. He connects his plot, characters, and style together like the lyrics of a good Eagles hit song that you just sing along with and get lost in the music. His books are a smooth and fluid read. There are no disruptions or hiccups in the flow of words. His language is descriptive, but focused on moving the story forward with mystery driven elements, action sequences and, moments of discovery along the way.
Baldacci knows his characters and he shares them with us on an intimate level. As Archer works his way through the clues and deals with the obstacles thrown his way, important information is revealed step by step, like peeling away the layers of an onion. For an author that produces two books a year, Baldacci shows that he hasn’t lost his ability to create intricate plotting, character depth, and pacing.
Overall, “A Gambling Man” is an enjoyable journey back in time when things were different and America was recovering and rebuilding following the devastation of World War II. For me, I consider this some of his most enjoyable work, reflecting fast-paced plotting, vigorous elements of mystery, and strong multi-dimensional characters you can appreciate. I am definitely interested in reading more Archer gumshoe adventures. Something tells me Baldacci feels the same way…
The book starts off with Archer, having left Poca City in his rearview mirror, making his way to California where he hopes to get a fresh start and start a new career. Thanks to his relationship with Detective Irving Shaw, Archer hopes to apprentice with Willie Dash, a former FBI agent and a successful private eye.
On the way there, Archer gets off of the bus in Reno, Nevada, and the craziness begins. There he meets Liberty Callahan, a musical performer and actress, working her way to Hollywood. She leads him into a gambling win that adds to his stash, and a run-in with an older man ends up with Archer driving an extremely rare 1939 French Delahaye convertible. Getting himself out of Reno is not easy, and with Liberty as a traveling companion, they both hope for the best that California can offer.
Upon arriving in the Southern coastal city of Baytown, Archer lands a job working for PI Dash as his apprentice, and on his first day they have a case thrown their way. Douglas Kemper, running for Mayor, has received a blackmail letter, threatening to expose an affair between him and Ruby Fraser, a young singer at the local adult club, Midnight Moods. Kemper insists there is no relationship and has no idea who could be coming after him, other than backers of his political opponent.
Dash and Archer take the case and begin their investigation. They meet with Ruby and interview Kemper’s wife, whose father, Sawyer Armstrong, runs all of the major business in the city. Sawyer owns the key businesses in Baytown, including Midnight Moods, where Liberty is trying out as a fulltime singer. He controls the real estate, prostitution, gambling, and coastal sipping. And to make matters worse, Sawyer doesn’t like people talking with his daughter and sicks his two goons on Archer to let him know who’s running things.
Then the investigation foes from political to deadly when someone is murdered and the stakes raised. Before he knows it, Archer finds himself in the middle of family issues, small town corruption, and deadly secrets that could very well cost him his life before his new career even gets started…
There are a several good things to like about this book and Aloysius Archer. The first is Baldacci throwing himself into a historical time piece. It’s his own ode to Mickey Spillane and Dashel Hammett. The early 1950’s is far from today’s world full of technology, tools, and devices. It requires a strong ability to not only describe things like dress styles and transportation vehicles, but also truly understand the proper political and social norms, and enough details from post-World War II to provide the depth and quality needed to portray the true historical context. For example, Baldacci uses the social and legal inequality between men and women in that time period to propel and strengthen his story. My only criticism is that it seems every character in the book smokes constantly. I understand that smoking was a widespread social custom, but seriously, not every single person was a rabid smoker.
Archer’s first book did a great job of introducing him and establishing his background. The problem was that it raised the bar and expectations for a second book. However, the good news is that this was almost as enjoyable a read as the first one. For the most part, Baldacci maintained the high level of quality throughout Archer’s second outing. His almost effortless, rhythmic writing style was there, stronger than ever. He connects his plot, characters, and style together like the lyrics of a good Eagles hit song that you just sing along with and get lost in the music. His books are a smooth and fluid read. There are no disruptions or hiccups in the flow of words. His language is descriptive, but focused on moving the story forward with mystery driven elements, action sequences and, moments of discovery along the way.
Baldacci knows his characters and he shares them with us on an intimate level. As Archer works his way through the clues and deals with the obstacles thrown his way, important information is revealed step by step, like peeling away the layers of an onion. For an author that produces two books a year, Baldacci shows that he hasn’t lost his ability to create intricate plotting, character depth, and pacing.
Overall, “A Gambling Man” is an enjoyable journey back in time when things were different and America was recovering and rebuilding following the devastation of World War II. For me, I consider this some of his most enjoyable work, reflecting fast-paced plotting, vigorous elements of mystery, and strong multi-dimensional characters you can appreciate. I am definitely interested in reading more Archer gumshoe adventures. Something tells me Baldacci feels the same way…
April 6, 2022
4.5 The title is a mis-nomer. Aloysius Archer, an ex-vet, is not a money gambler. But he is prepared to gamble on life. With gusto. Set in the 1950s. A beautifully crafted story, multiple plot twists and plenty of humour.
Unputdownable
Unputdownable
October 15, 2022
I liked this better than the first book in the series, where Archer was a bit too straight-laced and ignorant of the ways of the world. But that was understandable, since he had just gotten out of prison, but it did make it less interesting.
In this one, he's blossomed a bit into more of a tough guy, although still very much a gentleman. But he seems to be a lot more fearless and confrontational; I like him much better that way.
The story was interesting, and I think the author did a good job of taking us into the period. The attitudes come through well, with a lot of the old-time pulp fiction feel of wisecracks and lots of alcohol and cigarettes. Archer carries around a flask, something I haven't heard of in a long time.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
In this one, he's blossomed a bit into more of a tough guy, although still very much a gentleman. But he seems to be a lot more fearless and confrontational; I like him much better that way.
The story was interesting, and I think the author did a good job of taking us into the period. The attitudes come through well, with a lot of the old-time pulp fiction feel of wisecracks and lots of alcohol and cigarettes. Archer carries around a flask, something I haven't heard of in a long time.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
April 21, 2021
I think that this one will be the last one for me with this series. Again I feel like I should have liked it more. But I was meh on the story and Archer, I was mildly interested in Liberty, liked how she kept pushing at Archer, also liked how Archer worked with Dash in his PI training, yet I was often bored while reading. By the end of the book I didn't really care who the bad guy was or why, just glad to be done with the book.
September 6, 2021
Nothing that grabbed my interest. I’d skip this series
July 6, 2023
This novel is a historical PI story set in the 1950s after Archer came back from the war and out of prison (book 1).
You don’t have to read Book 1, to get in to Book 2, but it is always nice, if you can.
Here, he heads to California via Reno from Oklahoma with a female companion, an aspiring actress, who he met in Reno.
There is quite a bit of plot and intriguing characters to take you along this journey – if you are up for the 400 plus pages.
Baldacci makes you feel like you have stepped back in time with his descriptions of the fashions, the attitudes and the atmosphere of the places in this book.
Archer the PI seemed to be more grounded, but he still suffered from being a standard cliché that is often found in this particular genre.
But even though he still seemed like walking perfection with the King Midas touch and the women are all falling at his feet, he was much more likable this time around.
Still...I am not sure I want to follow this character beyond this book...the jury is still out for me. Will I or won't I?
Update: I won't.
You don’t have to read Book 1, to get in to Book 2, but it is always nice, if you can.
Here, he heads to California via Reno from Oklahoma with a female companion, an aspiring actress, who he met in Reno.
There is quite a bit of plot and intriguing characters to take you along this journey – if you are up for the 400 plus pages.
Baldacci makes you feel like you have stepped back in time with his descriptions of the fashions, the attitudes and the atmosphere of the places in this book.
Archer the PI seemed to be more grounded, but he still suffered from being a standard cliché that is often found in this particular genre.
But even though he still seemed like walking perfection with the King Midas touch and the women are all falling at his feet, he was much more likable this time around.
Still...I am not sure I want to follow this character beyond this book...the jury is still out for me. Will I or won't I?
Update: I won't.
May 15, 2021
Generally speaking, I'm not fond of "period" stories; when I do tackle them, they're more often set in the future than the past. This series is an exception - and a wonderful one at that. I loved would-be private eye Aloysius Archer from the git-go (which was in the first book of the series, One Good Deed), and I love him here as well.
The period is in the late '40s, when Archer (he tends to avoid mentioning his given name) has just been released from jail for a crime he insists he didn't commit and is headed for California to look for private investigator Willie Dash, under whose tutelage he hopes to learn the ropes and carve out a new and potentially rewarding career for himself. As a World War II vet, he's seen plenty of action, so he figures he can withstand a little danger here and there.
He makes a pitstop in Reno, where he lands some money and a rare bright red 1939 Delahaye convertible (note: Google this car - you gotta see this baby to believe it). Archer also meets up with feisty actress wannabe named Liberty Callahan, who, as luck would have it, is headed to California as well and joins him for the last leg of the journey. A few experiences later, they land in Bay Town, overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean; here, Archer finds his mentor and Liberty finds a decent job as a singer/dancer at a local saloon to tide her over till she moves on to the Hollywood scene.
Willie is happy with Archer, but with the town, not so much. It's run, for the most part, by a filthy rich family, and the son-in-law of the head honcho is running for mayor against a local dentist. But the family guy is a blackmail target - accused of bedding one of the "girls" from the saloon. He denies the allegations, of course, and has hired Willie to get to the bottom of things. Willie, in turn, puts Archer on the case; when the saloon woman turns up murdered, things start to heat up and the bad guys start packing heat. It doesn't take long, though, for Archer to discover not only that there's much more at stake here than a mayoral race, but that some people will take extreme measures to bring his investigation efforts to a halt.
The rest of the story is riddled with bullets, dead bodies and wrongdoing of all kinds, but it all gets sorted out in the end thanks mostly to Archer. It's a great follow-up to the first one, and I hope the author wastes no time coming up with the third. Well done!
The period is in the late '40s, when Archer (he tends to avoid mentioning his given name) has just been released from jail for a crime he insists he didn't commit and is headed for California to look for private investigator Willie Dash, under whose tutelage he hopes to learn the ropes and carve out a new and potentially rewarding career for himself. As a World War II vet, he's seen plenty of action, so he figures he can withstand a little danger here and there.
He makes a pitstop in Reno, where he lands some money and a rare bright red 1939 Delahaye convertible (note: Google this car - you gotta see this baby to believe it). Archer also meets up with feisty actress wannabe named Liberty Callahan, who, as luck would have it, is headed to California as well and joins him for the last leg of the journey. A few experiences later, they land in Bay Town, overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean; here, Archer finds his mentor and Liberty finds a decent job as a singer/dancer at a local saloon to tide her over till she moves on to the Hollywood scene.
Willie is happy with Archer, but with the town, not so much. It's run, for the most part, by a filthy rich family, and the son-in-law of the head honcho is running for mayor against a local dentist. But the family guy is a blackmail target - accused of bedding one of the "girls" from the saloon. He denies the allegations, of course, and has hired Willie to get to the bottom of things. Willie, in turn, puts Archer on the case; when the saloon woman turns up murdered, things start to heat up and the bad guys start packing heat. It doesn't take long, though, for Archer to discover not only that there's much more at stake here than a mayoral race, but that some people will take extreme measures to bring his investigation efforts to a halt.
The rest of the story is riddled with bullets, dead bodies and wrongdoing of all kinds, but it all gets sorted out in the end thanks mostly to Archer. It's a great follow-up to the first one, and I hope the author wastes no time coming up with the third. Well done!
May 20, 2021
Archer is heading to California and a possible job as a Private Eye. In Reno, he wins big and finds himself behind the wheel of an exotic car and woman. Together they head west to find their fortune. Archer finds things are as dirty in California as anywhere in the world, but that makes good business for a Private Detective, but not everything is as it seems. With multiple bodies and as many suspects, this hard-hitting yet honest Gumshoe will have to watching in all directions if he hopes to survive.
This is the second in the Archer series and it drops the reader back into the dark 1950s and what feels like a Mickey Spillane story with fast cars, faster women, and gunfire galore. A great treat.
This is the second in the Archer series and it drops the reader back into the dark 1950s and what feels like a Mickey Spillane story with fast cars, faster women, and gunfire galore. A great treat.
May 2, 2021
I have loved almost every David Baldacci book (I think I’ve read them all), but this one was a disappointment. The first Archer book was ok, but I had to make myself keep reading this one. Will likely skip future ones.
July 13, 2021
This is the sequel to One Good Deed which introduced Aloysius Archer. In that story Archer had just been released from prison and was on probation in Poca City. It is 1949 and his probation has ended and he decides to move to Bay Town, CA to try and get a job as a private investigator based on the recommendation of Detective Irving Shaw.
Traveling by bus he makes a stop in Reno, NV. There he meets Liberty Callaghan, a dancer with dreams of making it big in Hollywood, wins a big jackpot in a roulette game, and helps another gambler get out of debt by buying his red 1939 Delahaye convertible. Then he and Liberty set off together for California.
When he arrives he gets the job with Willie Dash, a former FBI agent turned private investigator. He also finds himself assisting on a new case. There is a special mayoral election coming up in Bay Town and the leading candidate is being blackmailed. He is also well connected having married into money. His father-in-law owns pretty much everything in Bay Town. The scandal could ruin the plan. Or is that the plan?
Bay Town in 1949 is filled with gambling dens, brothels, and money to be made. And secrets. Soon the bodies start piling up. And Archer shows his skills at unlocking secrets. There is more going on than a special mayoral election. Initially I had a hard time getting into this story. David Baldacci is one of my favorite authors and I usually enjoy reading his stories. I have mixed feelings about Archer but as the story progressed I really started to enjoy it and came to like Archer more. Overall he seems to be pretty smart and a nice guy. This is not a page turner nor is there a lot of suspense. There were a few surprises. Some curveballs that I didn't see coming. All in all a pretty good story.
Traveling by bus he makes a stop in Reno, NV. There he meets Liberty Callaghan, a dancer with dreams of making it big in Hollywood, wins a big jackpot in a roulette game, and helps another gambler get out of debt by buying his red 1939 Delahaye convertible. Then he and Liberty set off together for California.
When he arrives he gets the job with Willie Dash, a former FBI agent turned private investigator. He also finds himself assisting on a new case. There is a special mayoral election coming up in Bay Town and the leading candidate is being blackmailed. He is also well connected having married into money. His father-in-law owns pretty much everything in Bay Town. The scandal could ruin the plan. Or is that the plan?
Bay Town in 1949 is filled with gambling dens, brothels, and money to be made. And secrets. Soon the bodies start piling up. And Archer shows his skills at unlocking secrets. There is more going on than a special mayoral election. Initially I had a hard time getting into this story. David Baldacci is one of my favorite authors and I usually enjoy reading his stories. I have mixed feelings about Archer but as the story progressed I really started to enjoy it and came to like Archer more. Overall he seems to be pretty smart and a nice guy. This is not a page turner nor is there a lot of suspense. There were a few surprises. Some curveballs that I didn't see coming. All in all a pretty good story.
April 18, 2021
Aloysius Archer, or just Archer, as he prefers being called is the latest protagonist in David Baldacci's world. Here he is on his way to Bay Town, California from Poco city and on his way stops at Reno.
Trouble is Archer's middle name as it keeps finding him! So after a fair few of them in Reno, he reaches Reno to work as a PI under the tutelage of ex-FBI agent Willie Dash. Their first case together - a blackmail scheme of the town's Mayoral candidate. But before long, people start dying and Archer is caught up in the maelstrom of events....
Please read my detailed review from the link below
https://www.aniblogshere.com/a-gambli...
Do read📖, like👍🏼, comment💭 or share🚩.... It's encouraging 🙏🏼
#nytbestseller #newyorktimesbestseller #murdermystery #thriller #crime #thrillernovel #thrilling #mysterious #bookfan #bookreviewer #bookworm #booklover #booklove #booklovers #bookbuzz #books #bookreview #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookblogger #bookblogging #blogger #suspense #book #booksarelife
#agamblingman #davidbaldacci #aloysiusarcher #bookreviewsofinstagram
Trouble is Archer's middle name as it keeps finding him! So after a fair few of them in Reno, he reaches Reno to work as a PI under the tutelage of ex-FBI agent Willie Dash. Their first case together - a blackmail scheme of the town's Mayoral candidate. But before long, people start dying and Archer is caught up in the maelstrom of events....
Please read my detailed review from the link below
https://www.aniblogshere.com/a-gambli...
Do read📖, like👍🏼, comment💭 or share🚩.... It's encouraging 🙏🏼
#nytbestseller #newyorktimesbestseller #murdermystery #thriller #crime #thrillernovel #thrilling #mysterious #bookfan #bookreviewer #bookworm #booklover #booklove #booklovers #bookbuzz #books #bookreview #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookblogger #bookblogging #blogger #suspense #book #booksarelife
#agamblingman #davidbaldacci #aloysiusarcher #bookreviewsofinstagram
September 12, 2022
Бижу и половина ☺️,много ми хареса,страхотен ретро трилър!
April 7, 2021
Video review coming soon... (my book tube channel)
'A Gambling Man' is David Baldacci's latest thriller. It stars Aloysius Archer - whom we last saw in 'One Good Deed'.
Following the events in Poca City, Archer is on his way to California to see if a potential apprentice with a Private Detective will work out. He makes a stop in Reno, where after some action, he picks up a load of cash, a fancy automobile called a Delahaye and an aspiring actress named Liberty Callahan. Eventually, they reach Bay Town, California, a stopping point for would-be and failed stars. Archer gets the P.I. job and is immediately embroiled in a string of murders.
I will be honest. Archer is the most forgettable Baldacci hero. Even Atlee Pine, with her set of ho-hum stories, is more memorable than Archer. I had to look up 'One Good Deed' to find out who Archer was and what he had done in his debut. I had given a high rating to that book which means that while the story is probably good, the lead character is quite bland. Essentially, I was starting 'A Gambling Man' without knowing who Archer was or why he was in Reno.
'A Gambling Man' is a slow burner and is unlike any other Baldacci I remember. The tone ranges from a noirish detective fiction like L.A. Confidential to an Alistair MacLean story like 'Fear is the Key'. There is a bit of action, but mostly it is Archer figuring out what is happening. I think this old school detection is the book's highlight, and kudos to Baldacci for trying out something new.
But that said, there are several issues.
The story starts in Reno and is set up for Archer to get his iconic car and become friends with Liberty Callahan. A plot set-up in Reno ultimately goes nowhere, and this is quite disappointing. In my opinion, we could have started the story with Archer in Bay Town and explained away the presence of the Delahaye and Liberty in a paragraph.
The second issue is the pacing. The book is slow, and it takes a while to get into the story. In my case, I had to read about half the story because I was sort of hooked on to it. After this point, the pacing improves. I am not sure the cause and effect here, but the first half is a trudge.
The third issue is that the author glosses over some plot points in the ending. We don't get to see some threads resolved while others are just papered over in the ' they lived happily ever after ' sort of way.
Where the book does excel is in the detective work (mentioned earlier) as well as creating a 1950s kind of atmosphere. I like how Archer and his boss actually have to spend time going through books, records, legal records etc as well as canvas witnesses and informers.
Archer, as such, is a decent character but I feel that Baldacci needs to add something extra to make him stand out.
Overall, I liked 'A Gambling Man'. It will not figure in Baldacci's top 10, but neither is it bad. It is a flawed book that is entertaining once you get past the initial sections.
'A Gambling Man' is David Baldacci's latest thriller. It stars Aloysius Archer - whom we last saw in 'One Good Deed'.
Following the events in Poca City, Archer is on his way to California to see if a potential apprentice with a Private Detective will work out. He makes a stop in Reno, where after some action, he picks up a load of cash, a fancy automobile called a Delahaye and an aspiring actress named Liberty Callahan. Eventually, they reach Bay Town, California, a stopping point for would-be and failed stars. Archer gets the P.I. job and is immediately embroiled in a string of murders.
I will be honest. Archer is the most forgettable Baldacci hero. Even Atlee Pine, with her set of ho-hum stories, is more memorable than Archer. I had to look up 'One Good Deed' to find out who Archer was and what he had done in his debut. I had given a high rating to that book which means that while the story is probably good, the lead character is quite bland. Essentially, I was starting 'A Gambling Man' without knowing who Archer was or why he was in Reno.
'A Gambling Man' is a slow burner and is unlike any other Baldacci I remember. The tone ranges from a noirish detective fiction like L.A. Confidential to an Alistair MacLean story like 'Fear is the Key'. There is a bit of action, but mostly it is Archer figuring out what is happening. I think this old school detection is the book's highlight, and kudos to Baldacci for trying out something new.
But that said, there are several issues.
The story starts in Reno and is set up for Archer to get his iconic car and become friends with Liberty Callahan. A plot set-up in Reno ultimately goes nowhere, and this is quite disappointing. In my opinion, we could have started the story with Archer in Bay Town and explained away the presence of the Delahaye and Liberty in a paragraph.
The second issue is the pacing. The book is slow, and it takes a while to get into the story. In my case, I had to read about half the story because I was sort of hooked on to it. After this point, the pacing improves. I am not sure the cause and effect here, but the first half is a trudge.
The third issue is that the author glosses over some plot points in the ending. We don't get to see some threads resolved while others are just papered over in the ' they lived happily ever after ' sort of way.
Where the book does excel is in the detective work (mentioned earlier) as well as creating a 1950s kind of atmosphere. I like how Archer and his boss actually have to spend time going through books, records, legal records etc as well as canvas witnesses and informers.
Archer, as such, is a decent character but I feel that Baldacci needs to add something extra to make him stand out.
Overall, I liked 'A Gambling Man'. It will not figure in Baldacci's top 10, but neither is it bad. It is a flawed book that is entertaining once you get past the initial sections.
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