A Gambling ManAloysius 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 scandal: 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. |
Contents
Chapter 5 | |
Chapter 9 | |
Chapter 10 | |
Chapter 11 | |
Chapter 12 | |
Chapter 13 | |
Chapter 29 | |
Chapter 32 | |
Chapter 35 | |
Chapter 36 | |
Chapter 38 | |
Chapter 39 | |
Chapter 45 | |
Chapter 50 | |
Chapter 14 | |
Chapter 15 | |
Chapter 16 | |
Chapter 18 | |
Chapter 19 | |
Chapter 20 | |
Chapter 21 | |
Chapter 22 | |
Chapter 23 | |
Chapter 25 | |
Chapter 26 | |
Chapter 28 | |
Chapter 51 | |
Chapter 52 | |
Chapter 55 | |
Chapter 56 | |
Chapter 60 | |
Chapter 61 | |
Chapter 62 | |
Chapter 63 | |
Chapter 65 | |
Chapter 66 | |
Chapter 68 | |
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Common terms and phrases
38 Special Alfred Drake Archer looked Archer pointed Archer thought asked Archer asked Callahan asked Dash Bay Town Ben Smalls Beth Kemper boat Bobby H California Chapter chips cigarette Coalinga Connie dark David Baldacci Dawson dead dealer Delahaye desk door Drake dressed drink drove eyes fingers floor folks front gambling gaze glanced glass grin guess hair hand head heard hell How'd Howells killed lady Lester Midnight Moods Morrison never nice night nodded noted Archer Okay Pickett pocket pointed pretty private eye pulled Reno Ruby Fraser Santa Ynez Mountains Sawyer Armstrong seat Sheen shook shot Shyner side smile Smith & Wesson smoke staring sure talk tell there's thing thought Archer told took turned walked wall watched What's Willie Dash woman Yeah