Pressing the Bet

Cole Springer Mystery #2

by W.L. Ripley

Bored, with too much time and money on his hands, former Secret Service agent Cole Springer goes back into action when an L.A. grifter, "Spider" John Dupree, comes up with a dangerous plan, with the assistance of a Denver mob soldier, to relieve Springer of his money. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery

310 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Warren L. Ripley is the author of the critically acclaimed Wyatt Storme mystery series. He lives in Missouri.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cole Springer goes to Vegas to identify the body of his best friend, only to find himself in a mini-high school reunion, and several scams, cons, and a couple of murders to spice things up.

Springer smarts off to everybody, meets several good looking women, and shoots people in non-critical areas.

Great stuff.

[Ice · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the start of Ripley's often funny, occasionally suspenseful second Vegas caper to feature Cole Springer (after 2001's Springer's Gambit), the former Secret Service agent agrees to track down a friend's son, who's missing and feared dead, though he hasn't been back to Vegas for years. In fact, Springer was banned from ever returning by the gangster whose Cadillac he stole simply in order to drive into the fountain at Caesar's Palace. Springer soon leaves lasting impressions on a parade of not particularly bright mugs and street hustlers, some hired muscle, a would-be PI and a beautiful detective on the local police force, Tara St. John.

The author's working knowledge of the ins and outs of Vegas lends color and considerable interest to the story, while the assorted characters he depicts all come across as slightly over-the-top, yet, within the context, completely believable.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good entry in the Cole Springer series, with a full component of sociopaths, double crosses, and violence.

Pretty good stuff, although I don't think the supporting characters are quite as strong as the ones in the first novel.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

too many characters. descriptions of cigars are too in-depth.
But, I love it.