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Nick Shannon #7
Shannon's Gamble
Nick Shannon and his crack team are back! And they are taking no prisoners.
Big-time businessman Sir Gerald Campion is losing money. The losses in his gambling division look like an inside job. He’s angry, and betrayal like this can’t go unpunished.
Wasting no time, Nick and his team head to the casino to investigate. But as they’re leaving, they’re attacked by a mad axeman, backed up by an unknown figure in a van.
Then a car bomb explodes, killing one of Campion’s staff and injuring one of Shannon’s own team.
Someone is playing a game of Russian roulette . . . And Shannon’s going for broke.
Big-time businessman Sir Gerald Campion is losing money. The losses in his gambling division look like an inside job. He’s angry, and betrayal like this can’t go unpunished.
Wasting no time, Nick and his team head to the casino to investigate. But as they’re leaving, they’re attacked by a mad axeman, backed up by an unknown figure in a van.
Then a car bomb explodes, killing one of Campion’s staff and injuring one of Shannon’s own team.
Someone is playing a game of Russian roulette . . . And Shannon’s going for broke.
- GenresFiction
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2023
About the author
Paul Bennett
21 books14 followersPaul Bennett was born in London and educated at Alleyn's school in Dulwark. He studied Economics at Exeter University and spent seven years in advertising. When he left advertising, he set up a market research agency whuch he sold in 1986. He has now semi-retired in order to pursue writing. Bennett lives in a converted barn in Essex with his wife and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 11, 2023
Nick Shannon #7
Big-time businessman Sir Gerald Campion is losing money. His losses in the gambling division look like an inside job. He's angry, and a betrayal like this can't go unpunished. Wasting no time, Nick and his team head to the casino to investigate. But as they're leaving, they're attacked by a mad axe man, backed up by an unknown figure in a van. Then a car bomb explodes, killing one of Campion's staff and injuring one of Shannon's own team. Someone is playing a game of Russian roulette - and Shannon's going for broke.
This is the first book in the series that I've read, but it does read well as a standalone. This is a fairly quick read with a fast-moving plotline. This is also a descriptively written story. The characters are well developed and mostly likeable. If I ever find the time, I will read the rest of the books in this series as I quite enjoyed this one.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #PaulBennett for my ARC of #ShannonsGanble in exchange for an honest review.
Big-time businessman Sir Gerald Campion is losing money. His losses in the gambling division look like an inside job. He's angry, and a betrayal like this can't go unpunished. Wasting no time, Nick and his team head to the casino to investigate. But as they're leaving, they're attacked by a mad axe man, backed up by an unknown figure in a van. Then a car bomb explodes, killing one of Campion's staff and injuring one of Shannon's own team. Someone is playing a game of Russian roulette - and Shannon's going for broke.
This is the first book in the series that I've read, but it does read well as a standalone. This is a fairly quick read with a fast-moving plotline. This is also a descriptively written story. The characters are well developed and mostly likeable. If I ever find the time, I will read the rest of the books in this series as I quite enjoyed this one.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #PaulBennett for my ARC of #ShannonsGanble in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2023
ADVANCED KINDLE READER COPY REVIEW
I'm a newcomer to Paul Bennett's "Shannon” series, this is the seventh entry...an opening page reference to Shannon's seven year imprisonment and involvement in the death of a Home Secretary hints at what might have gone before, that could have inspired catching up on those six volumes, but by the end of Chapter Two I'm thinking that'll be unnecessary.
The writing comes across as a poor mix of Mickey Spillane and Robert Parker's "Spencer", with a tip of the cap to Chandler...without any of those authors capacity to make the turning of the page a must do.
The initial premise is that this unlikely security expert is hired by a billionaire with bad feet to explore financial losses in his gambling empire. There's a poorly described episode in a betting shop where Spenser employs six people (including five random punters who happened to be in the shop at the time) to place two ten pound bets each on an outside chance horse running on a small UK course...the horse comes third (a place) which means there's a return on the investment - the odds for which shortened because an automated algorithm responded to the odd betting pattern...the placing of the bet did not impact on the horses performance, and even an unskilled mathematician like myself would realise that bets placed at lower odds than originally offered would produce a lower return...however this is used for a claim that they had "beaten the system"... Scratching my head at that I went into Chapter 3 noting that my Kindle told me I was 9% into the book - best news of the day, it's not going to be a long read.
Sadly, Chapter 3 annoys me almost from the off... I'll accept a premise that even with seven years inside Shannon has funds enough to pay for a five storey converted wharf in Docklands BUT we then have an introduction to Norman..."...a convicted embezzler (Shannon) shared a cell with in Chelmsford. Whatever the circumstance, whatever the situation, Norman always came out on top..."...that conviction must have been a hard choice then Norman!...then we have Anji who, despite having a degree in economics and working for Shannon's firm which has "grown so much" has to work as a pole dancer to pay the rent (maybe the monies going on the warehouse rates bill and mortgage rather than wages?)...these irritations are not to my liking clearly.
The dialogue throughout is a bit unnatural, odd expressions, stilted conversations...Chapter 7 provided an outstanding example...the whole book is written in Shannon First Person, so ahead of going out for a dress dinner he describes to the reader what his partner is wearing as she "twirls" for him...she is then given a sentence of dialogue where she recites every item he's wearing...as I said above, unnatural - could and should be better dealt with by the author...it's costing him review stars! No date ever starts with one of the pair saying aloud what the other is wearing...lazy writing
Not as lazy as repeating yourself though...the Chapter 2 description of the (as far as I could make out non-existent) betting scam includes an observation about the backed horse..."...took the lead - never a good sign as but often caused tiredness as the race progressed."...Chapter 16 and Shannon's having another go, different race, different horse..."...took an early lead - not usually a good sign since, if going too fast the horse would be tired and move back in the field towards the end."....it's like a Channel 4 real-life programme where they update what happened before the adverts because viewers are too dumb to remember something for ten minutes...unfortunately this reader remembered what he'd read 24 hours previously...not impressed.
Additional repeats...the Abacus pun, funny enough the first time, do your own count...DI Palmer's references to having SOCO follow Shannon around...
We approach a climax in Chapter 18, gunman, kidnapper - spoiler alert as in the next chapter we're told that the bad man was in fact "boss of the drug business"...the bad guys have been shown to have a large organisation to now, so it's a little convenient that a boss would put himself into such a position when it's a low paid grunt level kidnap/shooting job...zzzz...best news 82% read, I'll be done after the next coffee.
There's an epilogue final chapter which doesn't move things any further - the denouement arrived in the penultimate Chapter 21 - Best news (this tiresome repeating is obviously contagious) of all 93% and we are done - the rest is advertising space and the obligatory US readers Glossary.
I didn't like this book...juvenile, poorly written, boring. On to the next, and fingers crossed it'll be back to Joffe Standard excellence 😊
I'm a newcomer to Paul Bennett's "Shannon” series, this is the seventh entry...an opening page reference to Shannon's seven year imprisonment and involvement in the death of a Home Secretary hints at what might have gone before, that could have inspired catching up on those six volumes, but by the end of Chapter Two I'm thinking that'll be unnecessary.
The writing comes across as a poor mix of Mickey Spillane and Robert Parker's "Spencer", with a tip of the cap to Chandler...without any of those authors capacity to make the turning of the page a must do.
The initial premise is that this unlikely security expert is hired by a billionaire with bad feet to explore financial losses in his gambling empire. There's a poorly described episode in a betting shop where Spenser employs six people (including five random punters who happened to be in the shop at the time) to place two ten pound bets each on an outside chance horse running on a small UK course...the horse comes third (a place) which means there's a return on the investment - the odds for which shortened because an automated algorithm responded to the odd betting pattern...the placing of the bet did not impact on the horses performance, and even an unskilled mathematician like myself would realise that bets placed at lower odds than originally offered would produce a lower return...however this is used for a claim that they had "beaten the system"... Scratching my head at that I went into Chapter 3 noting that my Kindle told me I was 9% into the book - best news of the day, it's not going to be a long read.
Sadly, Chapter 3 annoys me almost from the off... I'll accept a premise that even with seven years inside Shannon has funds enough to pay for a five storey converted wharf in Docklands BUT we then have an introduction to Norman..."...a convicted embezzler (Shannon) shared a cell with in Chelmsford. Whatever the circumstance, whatever the situation, Norman always came out on top..."...that conviction must have been a hard choice then Norman!...then we have Anji who, despite having a degree in economics and working for Shannon's firm which has "grown so much" has to work as a pole dancer to pay the rent (maybe the monies going on the warehouse rates bill and mortgage rather than wages?)...these irritations are not to my liking clearly.
The dialogue throughout is a bit unnatural, odd expressions, stilted conversations...Chapter 7 provided an outstanding example...the whole book is written in Shannon First Person, so ahead of going out for a dress dinner he describes to the reader what his partner is wearing as she "twirls" for him...she is then given a sentence of dialogue where she recites every item he's wearing...as I said above, unnatural - could and should be better dealt with by the author...it's costing him review stars! No date ever starts with one of the pair saying aloud what the other is wearing...lazy writing
Not as lazy as repeating yourself though...the Chapter 2 description of the (as far as I could make out non-existent) betting scam includes an observation about the backed horse..."...took the lead - never a good sign as but often caused tiredness as the race progressed."...Chapter 16 and Shannon's having another go, different race, different horse..."...took an early lead - not usually a good sign since, if going too fast the horse would be tired and move back in the field towards the end."....it's like a Channel 4 real-life programme where they update what happened before the adverts because viewers are too dumb to remember something for ten minutes...unfortunately this reader remembered what he'd read 24 hours previously...not impressed.
Additional repeats...the Abacus pun, funny enough the first time, do your own count...DI Palmer's references to having SOCO follow Shannon around...
We approach a climax in Chapter 18, gunman, kidnapper - spoiler alert as in the next chapter we're told that the bad man was in fact "boss of the drug business"...the bad guys have been shown to have a large organisation to now, so it's a little convenient that a boss would put himself into such a position when it's a low paid grunt level kidnap/shooting job...zzzz...best news 82% read, I'll be done after the next coffee.
There's an epilogue final chapter which doesn't move things any further - the denouement arrived in the penultimate Chapter 21 - Best news (this tiresome repeating is obviously contagious) of all 93% and we are done - the rest is advertising space and the obligatory US readers Glossary.
I didn't like this book...juvenile, poorly written, boring. On to the next, and fingers crossed it'll be back to Joffe Standard excellence 😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2023
Another book which is part of a series. I have not read any others, but this was OK as a stand alone once I got into the story. For a short book, it took me a while to get into the plot. Initially I was not too keen on Shannon, the narrator and did not really understand what he was doing. I am also not really up on the betting industry, how it works etc. The explanations did give some insight . The team is quite diverse and it was not until half way through the book that I had sorted out who everyone was and their roles .
The book really did pick up though and I came to understand and like Shannon more as the book progressed . The writing style reflects Shannon's thinking style, no nonsense and noticing details of dress styles etc. It took some getting used to (perhaps that accounts for my reservations in the first part of the book.). Once the action picked up, I really started to enjoy the book and will definitely look out for others.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
The book really did pick up though and I came to understand and like Shannon more as the book progressed . The writing style reflects Shannon's thinking style, no nonsense and noticing details of dress styles etc. It took some getting used to (perhaps that accounts for my reservations in the first part of the book.). Once the action picked up, I really started to enjoy the book and will definitely look out for others.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
November 3, 2023
"Big-time businessman Sir Gerald Campion is losing money. The losses in his gambling division look like an inside job. He’s angry, and betrayal like this can’t go unpunished. He enlists the help of Shannon Investigations, a team of fraud detectives with a reputation for getting results — and fast. Wasting no time, Nick heads to the casino to gather intel and spots shady dealings at the blackjack table . .Nick’s onto something. But before he has time to act, he’s attacked by a mad axe man waiting for him in the carpark, backed up by an unknown figure in a van. Then a car bomb explodes, killing one of Campion’s staff and injuring one of Shannon’s own team.
someone is playing a game of Russian roulette and Shannon’s going for broke."
This is book 7 in a series, i would recommend starting with the 1st one to understand the storyline.
Fast paced read, suspenseful, I give this book 3 1/2 stars.
Thank you Joffe books, netgalley, and the author for a chance to leave an honest review.
Published May 23, 2023
someone is playing a game of Russian roulette and Shannon’s going for broke."
This is book 7 in a series, i would recommend starting with the 1st one to understand the storyline.
Fast paced read, suspenseful, I give this book 3 1/2 stars.
Thank you Joffe books, netgalley, and the author for a chance to leave an honest review.
Published May 23, 2023
April 25, 2023
Paul Bennett is a new author to me and I thought from the premise of the book it would be something I liked. I found this an enjoyable albeit fairly short and refreshing read full of action and thrills. Nick and his team are asked by a gambling division owner why it is losing money. It took me a while to get used to the writing style and at times I thought the writing was a bit too overly descriptive for my liking. I loved the subtle humour in the story, and that it had mostly likeable characters - my favourites being Shannon, Valentine and Palmer. I loved the camaraderie between the team members and enjoyed following their investigation before it raced to its conclusion. Whilst this is the 7th book in a series I think it can be read on its own although I will be looking to read the previous books when I can.
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 7, 2023
I hadn't realised when i started to read this book that it was actually part of a series. Not only that it's the 7 th book in the series.
NICK SHANNON THRILLERS
Book 1: DUE DILIGENCE
Book 2: COLLATERAL DAMAGE
Book 3: FALSE PROFITS
Book 4: THE MONEY RACE
Book 5: BLUE ON BLUE
Book 6: SHANNON’S LAW
Book 7: SHANNON’S GAMBLE
I don't think this took too much away from the story for me, as i hadn't realized until I'd finished it, then it's clear it could be read as a standalone. I will at some point have to read the previous books and then re read this, but that is just for personal satisfaction that anything else.
I really enjoyed this read, a great story line that felt fresh and enjoyable. Some great characters. The author has done a sterling job of engaging the reader throughout and each chapter leaves you wanting to read the next.
NICK SHANNON THRILLERS
Book 1: DUE DILIGENCE
Book 2: COLLATERAL DAMAGE
Book 3: FALSE PROFITS
Book 4: THE MONEY RACE
Book 5: BLUE ON BLUE
Book 6: SHANNON’S LAW
Book 7: SHANNON’S GAMBLE
I don't think this took too much away from the story for me, as i hadn't realized until I'd finished it, then it's clear it could be read as a standalone. I will at some point have to read the previous books and then re read this, but that is just for personal satisfaction that anything else.
I really enjoyed this read, a great story line that felt fresh and enjoyable. Some great characters. The author has done a sterling job of engaging the reader throughout and each chapter leaves you wanting to read the next.
May 23, 2023
A Good Read
This is a new series new author for me but considering it is book 7 I was able to catch up quite well with the background. Nick Shannon has spent time in prison but surprisingly he seems relatively unscathed by the experience and made new friends with whom he has kept in touch and employs them in his new business. He and his team investigate fraud and are employed by Sir Gerald Campion who owns a gambling business but which is losing money. The team get down to work and soon discover the cause of the problems but is it too close to home for Sir Gerald? I felt this was a good read with some humour besides darker times. I enjoyed it and might go back and read the books I have missed.
This is a new series new author for me but considering it is book 7 I was able to catch up quite well with the background. Nick Shannon has spent time in prison but surprisingly he seems relatively unscathed by the experience and made new friends with whom he has kept in touch and employs them in his new business. He and his team investigate fraud and are employed by Sir Gerald Campion who owns a gambling business but which is losing money. The team get down to work and soon discover the cause of the problems but is it too close to home for Sir Gerald? I felt this was a good read with some humour besides darker times. I enjoyed it and might go back and read the books I have missed.
August 17, 2023
Fast-paced thriller
Another in the Nick Shannon series where his team takes on the bad guys. This time the world of betting is taken on as they are tasked with finding out where money is leaking in a business where the bookies always gave the odds in their favour. Murder is always present in one of Shannon’s cases and the tension builds as the list of potential perpetrators is whittled down.
Ever the nonchalant hero, Shannon is his usual spiky self and his team stick together to face a threat to one of their own.
Slick and clever plotting that was a little obvious, with some detail of the betting systems that slowed the pace a little. An enjoyable read.
Another in the Nick Shannon series where his team takes on the bad guys. This time the world of betting is taken on as they are tasked with finding out where money is leaking in a business where the bookies always gave the odds in their favour. Murder is always present in one of Shannon’s cases and the tension builds as the list of potential perpetrators is whittled down.
Ever the nonchalant hero, Shannon is his usual spiky self and his team stick together to face a threat to one of their own.
Slick and clever plotting that was a little obvious, with some detail of the betting systems that slowed the pace a little. An enjoyable read.
April 19, 2023
This is the first of the Shannon books I've read - how did I miss them - and I found it to be good fun. Things zipped along nice and quickly with very little build up to the exciting actions. They just agree what to do and go on and do it.
Really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Net Galley and Joffe Books, the publisher, I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
Really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Net Galley and Joffe Books, the publisher, I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
April 27, 2023
Amazing cast of characters!
This is a very timely subject for either side of the Atlantic--gambling/betting. The client suspects that there is fraud going on in his casinos so the team takes the son along with them to learn as they investigate and he becomes a part of the team. FOLLOW THE MONEY.
Excellent read with a fast moving plot and a side order of interactions between members of the team.
I requested and received an EARC from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
This is a very timely subject for either side of the Atlantic--gambling/betting. The client suspects that there is fraud going on in his casinos so the team takes the son along with them to learn as they investigate and he becomes a part of the team. FOLLOW THE MONEY.
Excellent read with a fast moving plot and a side order of interactions between members of the team.
I requested and received an EARC from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
May 15, 2023
This is my second book by this author and its another enjoyable read. Nick is hired to look into issues with profit drops for a business so we're brought into the intriguing world of gambling. Things are bit technical but not totally over the readers heads.
I found this to move quite quickly and it was easy to read. There are a lot of characters to keep track of but it's short enough and packs a lot in. I liked the way things ended and look forward to more in the series.
I found this to move quite quickly and it was easy to read. There are a lot of characters to keep track of but it's short enough and packs a lot in. I liked the way things ended and look forward to more in the series.
May 19, 2024
Brilliant!
I’ve loved all seven books. I rarely say anything personal but I was touched by the author including Multiple Sclerosis in a part of the story. It was understanding and gave a brief view of the disease and how it affects loved ones too. Thank you for that but, that aside, the book is fabulous and I highly recommend a read of this and the Shannon series.
I’ve loved all seven books. I rarely say anything personal but I was touched by the author including Multiple Sclerosis in a part of the story. It was understanding and gave a brief view of the disease and how it affects loved ones too. Thank you for that but, that aside, the book is fabulous and I highly recommend a read of this and the Shannon series.
October 2, 2023
good
I got this book free so I thought I’d give it a go, am I glad I did it has something happening all the way through it. I didn’t realise it was book eight so I’ve lots of catching up to do
I got this book free so I thought I’d give it a go, am I glad I did it has something happening all the way through it. I didn’t realise it was book eight so I’ve lots of catching up to do
May 27, 2023
Gamble reading
The beginning got me, then as the story unfolded it just sucked me in. A very good story that kept me interested.
The beginning got me, then as the story unfolded it just sucked me in. A very good story that kept me interested.
May 12, 2023
SHANNON'S GAMBLE Is a fascinating look at the exciting world of gambling with dramatic, unnerving twists added. Heart-racing events keep you frozen on the edge of your seat. Action packed suspense sends the riveting pages flying by leading to a dynamite conclusion.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews