High Stakes

Queen of Spades #7

by Kristi Belcamino

*Warning* Be prepared to lose sleep, skip chores, and hide from family to read this new Queen of Spades thriller!

When Eva Santella answers a desperate plea for help from a boy worried about his sibling, she has no idea that a sinister organization is behind his problems.

As Eva uncovers a mass murder scheme, her enemies try to stop her by striking at what she holds dear.

The Queen of Spades must risk it all if she has any chance of stopping a deadly plot that will not only kill dozens but also destroy the lives of those she loves.

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HIGH STAKES is the seventh book in the Queen of Spades Thriller Series. If you like take-charge heroines, fast-paced page turners, and gritty dramas, then you’ll love Kristi Belcamino’s tale of revenge.

ORDER YOUR COPY OF HIGH STAKES now!

181 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2021

About the author

Kristi Belcamino is a USA TODAY bestselling author, an Agatha, Anthony, Barry & Macavity, award finalist, a newspaper cops reporter, and an Italian mama who makes a tasty biscotti.


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FULL LIST OF BOOKS:

Gia Santella Crime Thrillers:


Related to Gia Santella Crime Thrillers:
Gia (prequel novella)
Lone Raven (novella)
Taste of Vengeance

Queen of Spades Thrillers


Related: Eva (prequel novella)

Vigilante Crime Series:


Stand Alones:


Nonfiction


Gabriella Giovanni Mystery Series:

Blessed are the Dead
Blessed are the Meek
Blessed are Those Who Weep
Blessed are Those Who Mourn
Blessed are the Peacemakers
Blessed are the Merciful

Related:
The Saint (prequel novella)
Misc:
City of Angels
Tomb of the Queen
Crush Your Query

Reviews

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva separating work from her pleasures now
A plea from a boy to help his sister or she would die
Going she found a cult, drugs, a dungeon
A couple who wanted power over the world
A plot that shows a tender side she has for children
Memories, love for Alex, her training camp
A life of discipline, to do the work that is necessary
A thrilling adventure how she got the mission done
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
Releases. Nov 30

[Leslie Whitaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! Eva Santella receives a message on her Queen of Spades website from a boy explaining that his sister would die at the hands of his parents. Eva jumps in to help to find a cult with a lot of people in high places in their pockets. The woman in charge, Juliet, seems to be one step ahead of Eva as she races the clock to save the boy and his sister and reveal the bigger plot. This story definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat! A great add to the series and another reason to absolutely love the Queen of Spades.

[Ruby Bibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

-The author continues to deliver on high action adventures. In this episode, the Queen of Spades gets very close to meeting her match.
-Eva Santella has recently returned from assisting others in California, and is back in her compound in Italy to resume reviewing and training with her team of assassins that she set up. She had made a pact with herself to only go after those that were deserving of death and has dedicated herself to help others. Through a Queen of Spades website that’s being manned by someone close to her, people reach out to her for help, and the ones deemed more fitting for Eva’s talents are sent to her to select from.
-A new recruit has joined her group at the last minute, but this girl is enigmatic, to say the least. She is more skilled than even her top girls and there doesn’t seem to be any information on her that Eva’s trusted right hand, Francesca, has been able to find out.
-One of the messages for help has caught the attention of Francesca. Eva wants to send one of her girls to assist, but there is no one available. The call for help came from a young boy in California, near the area where Eva’s family had been killed. Besides the nightmares that rise up from recollecting the murder of her husband and children, that area holds continued danger for Eva as the police feel she was the prime suspect and she’s wanted for murder. But the girl that Eva wanted to send had been injured in a sparring bout with the new girl, and Eva knows that she herself has to go.
-The message had come from a young boy with a strange plea for help. His younger sister had been locked in a room with barely any food or water. She was being given just enough for her to stay alive but she’s being slowly starved to death. This is being done by his parents who are wealthy and hold a lot of power with the authorities. He had escaped once and went to the police, but they ignored him and held him until his father would pick him up. He urgently needed the Queen of Spades to save his sister’s life.
-Eva knew the detective who had befriended her and believed in her innocence in that LA area. Jay had helped her before and she reached out to him to see what he could find out. After putting out feelers, he was told in no uncertain terms to back off from investigating this family. He found out that other officers who began to look into other things that this family was doing were told the same thing. Jay realized very quickly that the heads of the police were in this family’s pocket.
-Eva knew she had no other option, and felt that saving this young girl from death was a high priority. But this powerful family had resources that enabled them to discover all the details of Eva’s background, and she now faced not only a single adversary, but the whole police force of the area and had to use all of her cunning and skills to not only evade the authorities, but to deal with this family and save the young girl.
-The author has managed to put Eva in impossible situations, but Eva still finds a way to overcome and come out on top. This is another great read that’s hard to put down once you start reading.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva, the Queen of Spades, is pulled into something she really does not want to get into. But when she hears about what appears to be some sort of cult, she can’t resist. So off she goes to Los Angeles. The cult called NEXXWrld appears to be a self-help group but things are not adding up. When Eva learns that a daughter of NEXXWrld is being held hostage by her parents, Eva must help. She tries to infiltrate the compound but is meant with a lot of resistance and the cult members are doing everything they can to try and get rid of Eva. The head of NEXXWrld, Juliet, is cunning and obviously not in the real world. As Juliet and Eva spar, what ensues is a cat and mouse game between them. As the story unfolds things get very interesting. This was such a great book! So much action and so much going on. I read this book in record time—could not put it down. Eva Santella is one of my absolute favorites. You will thoroughly enjoy this book and keep waiting for more.

[Anima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something about the Eva books fascinates me. I guess I just want to have her lifestyle, house in Italy and freedom to travel the world. She’s also incredibly fit from eating healthy and training. Eva is most definitely a tough woman but when a child is in danger she does everything to save them. A boy and his sister are in danger from their parents, cult leaders of some kind masquerading as mental healers. Although this woman, Juliet, has a few screws loose she is highly intelligent like Eva. Juliet and Eva play an interesting game, but Eva will always win. This is from a series of books about Eva and her vigilante skills, although background info helps to know her better it’s one that could be read by itself. I’m also excited to get an early copy and provide my honest review. It’s a quick read but full of thrills.

[Judy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never a spoiler in my reviews, here's what you need to know. The Queen of Spades is back in this non-stop action thriller that will not only have you on the edge of your seat but will keep you up way past your bedtime reading. You don't have to read these books in order, but it's to your advantage to do so, and this is another winner by Ms. Belcamino that you will just plain LOVE. Well thought out and well-written plot with characters you love to love and love to hate with the kick-ass femme fatale that you've come to expect nothing but the best from. Eva manages to handle the toughest of situations in a way that has you biting your nails and cheering out loud both at one time, as she's weeding out and dealing with the baddest of the bad for all the right reasons. Stop reading here and get this now, you won't be sorry.

[Diamondbabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, this has been a fantastic read. Separating her work from private life has made life a lot more fun for Eve but she's still working. This instalment of what I hope is going to be a very long series sees Eve helping a young boy & his sister who are being held by their deranged mother in a cult With all the action, suspense & great scene descriptions you are taken on car chases, shoot outs, bombs & secret bunkers. With twists & turns that keep you turning the pages well into the night you are not left wanting until you reach the end & you want the next book. Thoroughly enjoyed this book & highly recommend. You don't need to have read the other 6 books in this series but you'll defiantly want to read them when you finish.

[Jeff Cochrane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series continues to get better. (Of course I say that about any of Kristi’s series.) It’s been awhile since we have seen the Queen of Spades and she has been missed. Eva has to come back to California, something she really does not want to do, to help rescue the daughter of a cult leader. The focus of the book can come directly from the headlines of a newspaper. The characters are all developed nicely, good and bad. There is plenty of action and suspense. Eva remains the strong kick ass woman we all know. She has now balanced her life with helping others and getting a happy life of her own with Alex. A minor quibble, Kristi, you don’t need cliffhangers. As long as your name is on the book, we are buying it. Highly recommended.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

High Stakes - The Queen is back!

The Eva, the Queen Of Spades receives a message from a young boy looking for help to save his dying sister from their parents in California.
Eva will do anything to help ,even if it means going to to California where she was framed and wanted for the murder of her family !
The information on the dying girl leads Eva to find herself immersed in a cult like scheme ,where the parents of the girl are the leaders.
The Queen will do what she needs to to save the girl and the others in the cult even if it means risking her own safety, and that of the ones she loves.
Kristi Belcamino has done again! Be prepared to read to the end while sitting on the edge of your seat!

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

High Stakes - a review by Rosemary Kenny.

Eva Santella is the Queen of Spades and though aware of a new case involving a cult in the US, she's under orders from her lieutenant Francesca to take things easier as she's overdoing it.
Who's the new recruit to the training camp?
Who's Kayla and why's her brother appealed to Eva

A twisted story of torture and infidelity by cult leaders, pitted against a vigilante dedicated to making the world a better place.
The stakes are very high indeed and only Eva can save the innocent, but can she save her own personal life when the chips are down?

Only getting your copy of Kristi Belacamino's riveting vendetta thriller, High Stakes, will give the answers you seek...and a twist in the tail!

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual Ms Belcamino's books hook me from the first paragraph. This one is an Eva Santella escapade. Starting in Italy at her training camp for assassins traveling to Los Angeles to save a young woman being held captive and starving by her parents I couldn't put this down. I absolutely love Eva"s style. Her amazing ability to dress in black Vercace with Laboutin boots hiding her weapons and ability to pick locks and hot wire cars and get away from the bad guys and save the vicims. What an imagination this author has...now I'm left wondering how soon the next book will be available so I can continue this journey

[Sherie Lundmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

a once again shows her dedication to protecting endangered youth. The plea from a young boy touches Eva at her core and sends her on a focused mission to rescue Peter and his sister. This book is filled with fast-paced action, that finds Eva calling in favors and risking everything including her freedom. I loved the chemistry Peter and Eva had, bringing out her mother bear instincts. I'm also intrigued by Angel, a new recruit at Eva's camp who seems to know a little too much. And if all this wasn't enough, the ending of this book provides a twist that threw me off my seat and has me anxiously waiting for the next book

[Jennifer Soppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted the readers' minds

Eva, our international woman of assistance and assassination, has received a new list of people asking for help from the Queen of Spades. As the story progresses one request stands out, a trip down memory lane could derail her, and things are more tangled than she first believes when she arrives. Kristi Belcamino twisted the readers' minds in High Stakes. Now the reader has to determine if they should hurt the author for dropping them into the crazy seas Eva travels without a life jacket, life raft, flare, or satellite phone.

I received a free copy of the book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

[Barbara Cosenza · Rating 5 out of 5]

High stakes

Eva is at it again. Intrigued by the post from a young boy trying to save his sister from his evil and sick parents. She flies to Los Angeles risking being arrested for the murder of her family years before. She reaches out to a detective friend who has protected her and kept her safe whenever she travels to LA. The police have been given “hands off” orders for this sick family. Eva contends with the girl’s mother who is planning to blow up the area elite at a movie opening. Intrigue, mayhem and a twisted plot bring the reader along Eva’s journey to save these children. Well done Kristi.

[Robin Blanksguster · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! Eva is back with a bang. She's moved in with Alex...sort of. There is a new :emergency" recruit to her program who seems to be very good. She takes on a case because there is no one else available and it involves a teenage boy and his sister whom he says is being slowly killed by his parents. It involves a corporation by the name of NEXXWRLD run by a woman named Juliet who is the kids mother. There are several twists, new information on old friends and plenty of corruption and tight spots for Eva to figure out. Good thrill ride.

Red Robin

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

High Stakes (Queen of Spades Thrillers Book 7), my ninth read from author Kristi Belcamino and my first in the Queen of Spades Thrillers series. Well written & enjoyable, a captivating tale that takes unexpected twists & turns, always keeping the reader engaged and guessing until the book’s end. “I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I got this book & lost track of it until now. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva has always been able to compartmentalize her life and her passion for justice. This time she is put to the test. This installment strikes really close to home and her adversary is a match that stretches her capabilities. It addresses the intricacies of family and what some will do save the ones they love. There is also a bit of insanity thrown in. This is a deeply passionate story and one that will stay with you after you have read the last word.

[Kate Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was wowed! While each book is in a series, they can be read as stand-alones. This one was truly amazing, as a fan of James Patterson it surpassed his latest writings in so many ways. Adventure, suspense and put you right in the story rooting for the victims and hoping the Queen of Spades could not only help but survive herself. No spoilers but get a copy and don’t put it down until the very last page.

[Jay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva is taken into a very different and imagination story. The writing is so full of every word of the excitement and engrossing. This is clearly the best of the Queen of the Spades books. Eva is drawn into unusual and dangerous action, and the suspense is highly felt herself and the new characters. This is a book that ending for me both exciting and entertaining. This is a story that makes me, wow! I thinks it is the best I have reading on years.

[Nancy Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a taut and tense read, filled with striking characters and of course Eva, known as the Queen of Spades, whose inevitable path leads her to the most dangerous encounters yet of her life. Just when you think things have gotten calmed down and the people you most care about are safe, along comes another cliffhanger to put you right back on the edge of your seat, worried about how she's going to get out of THIS one. Best one yet. Can't wait for more.

[Lauren A · Rating 5 out of 5]

High Stakes is the most fast paced book Kristi has written yet. Non-stop action with twists and turns that challenge Eva at every level. While on a mission to rescue a young girl from her parents who are sinister cult leaders, Eva goes toe to toe with the girl’s mother and the result is riveting action that keeps you turning pages until the end. Throw in some kidnapping, wild car chases and bombs and you have another Belcamino blockbuster hit!! She always leaves you wanting more.

[Joanne Ranzell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva is back and her fiery spirit and sense of justice, by her standards, are still intact. She is still as quick-witted and ready to fight for the victims of senseless acts. This story has no shortage of action and reminds us that Eva is determined to follow through on her actions. The rhythm is sustained, the plots hold our attention and keep us in suspense. I've grown attached to Eva and am already looking forward to her return. I received this ARC and this is my honest review.

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young boy gets a message to Eva on her web site. His sister is being held prisoner by her parents in their house. She is getting very little food and is not permitted out of the locked room. Eva discovers much more in a cult like program to take over the world. Heart pounding moments in this thriller. I read this in one sitting. I could not put it down.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an outstanding addition to the Queen of Spades saga. Eva took on a case to help save a teenage girl being abused and slowly murdered by her deranged mother and father. This book was suspenseful and thrilling. My only concern is the ending…will another of Eva’s loved ones be at risk? Can’t wait for the next installment…soon please!

[Silver Surfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, book seven in this fantastic series and as good as all rest. I just don’t want this series to ever end. I wonder what the plot line of the next one will be, I do know I cannot wait for it. Highly recommended.

[Debbie Mcnally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to have gotten a copy of this book from the author. I am volunteering to leave my honest review. Fantastic book plenty of action and suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat. 

[K Huskić · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

It felt like it'd been a while since having an Eva story, and I had missed her! This new story was set in Los Angeles, as Eva tries to help a teenager who reached out to her in order to save his sister. His parents run an organisation claiming to cure certain 'afflictions' in teens, but they turn out to be truly unhinged, with bizarre beliefs and crazy plots motivating them.

This was another great addition to the series. Eva is back with her usual kick-butt style, and I enjoyed the back and forth with Eva and Juliet. We're also introduced to a new character I'd love to know more about, and that ending? The next book will be a must-read!

[FredM2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great hit for Kristi. The story is full of suspense and action. I wanted to finish it and could hardly put it down. I really like her style of writing, I can get right into the story. Would recommend to all readers.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow what a jam packed story! Eva is drawn back into mayhem, begged to help a young man free his sister. The craziness she finds is beyond belief.
Will she risk everything to complete this mission? You Will want this book!!

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters. The suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds. Worthy of your TBR list.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.