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amywoolsey_93's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A Gambling Man spends too much time revving up, but once it gets to the actual mystery, it's a fun ride. Baldacci does a solid imitation of classic hardboiled dialogue that you can imagine coming out of Humphrey Bogart's mouth and enriches the twists with plenty of historical detail. Being currently burned out on literary fiction in which all the action is internal, I found this a refreshing antidote.
tori4819's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
drkeith's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
fildianita's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
After readeing the forst book I think Baldacci not really improved the main character but the story and the plot is overall fine for me, for a crime book this book finally has a develoment in tense than the forst book.
Unfortunately the first part of the book has slow plot and in get hurry and force in the end
Unfortunately the first part of the book has slow plot and in get hurry and force in the end
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Minor: Racial slurs
jacobra5's review against another edition
3.0
As always, a good casual read. The story is good and leaves enough clues to help you get toward the final resolution without letting you know the exact answer.
I enjoyed the introduction of Willie Dash and Archer's growth as a PI.
I enjoyed the introduction of Willie Dash and Archer's growth as a PI.
fotoshopguy52's review against another edition
4.0
An Unlikely but Rather Enjoyable Ride
Suspend your logic and disbelief, get comfortable, and just sit back and enjoy the ride A Gambling Man will provide!
Suspend your logic and disbelief, get comfortable, and just sit back and enjoy the ride A Gambling Man will provide!
elsiesgirl's review against another edition
2.0
I alternated between reading and listening to this book. The readers in the audio version had me constantly rolling my eyes. Both versions seemed to drag on and on. This isn’t my typical genre, but it was a book club choice. Otherwise I would have abandoned it after about 75 pages. I know there are tons of DB fans out there - sorry.
nbowman2's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
janeeyre_914716's review against another edition
5.0
"Where do they make guys like you, Archer? I'd like to buy a dozen."
I don't care what anyone says about this book and/or series so far, Aloysius Archer is my latest fictional husbands! Seriously! That quote sums up Aloysius Archer in a nutshell. Even though he's not yet thirty (and I am thirty) and he's handsome as hell (there, I said it) all I could feel the entirety of this book with Archer had me like....
But in all seriousness I actually did enjoy this one with some references to the mob during this time. Especially after reading/listening to Bill O'Reilley's [b:Killing the Mob: The Fight Against Organized Crime in America|55857470|Killing the Mob The Fight Against Organized Crime in America|Bill O'Reilly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1614082367l/55857470._SY75_.jpg|87069410] and getting to know what post-WWII life was like during the late 40's going into the 50's. And knowing the plot twist of where the story had gone made total sense after that O'Reilley book and so A GAMBLING MAN was almost better than the first one, though Archer just became more swoon worthy for me.
I can see why maybe not many Baldacci fans or people in general might not like the Archer books as much, but keep in mind of where this is taking place. It's going to be a different kind of pace than our time today, it's still a thriller, but in a different era. Also it's a whole new ballpark that not many are used to reading fiction or not. And with that mindset for me personally knowing it wouldn't be as fast paced or as much action as our era and generation is in his normal books, I actually enjoyed these two Archer books! I have found out in a webinar Baldacci did last week with Alex Michaelides I signed up for did mention he was having a third Archer book coming next year (and side note a 7th Amos Decker for any Amos Decker fans) and I was so excited to hear that! Overall, when you read these books, keep that open mind knowing it's a DIFFERENT ERA and it's going to be totally different and yet a good slower pace for the era it's taking place in. But if you still can't get into it, that's fine of course. So in the meantime, I'm going to now go and plan a fictional wedding with Aloysius Archer.
I don't care what anyone says about this book and/or series so far, Aloysius Archer is my latest fictional husbands! Seriously! That quote sums up Aloysius Archer in a nutshell. Even though he's not yet thirty (and I am thirty) and he's handsome as hell (there, I said it) all I could feel the entirety of this book with Archer had me like....
But in all seriousness I actually did enjoy this one with some references to the mob during this time. Especially after reading/listening to Bill O'Reilley's [b:Killing the Mob: The Fight Against Organized Crime in America|55857470|Killing the Mob The Fight Against Organized Crime in America|Bill O'Reilly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1614082367l/55857470._SY75_.jpg|87069410] and getting to know what post-WWII life was like during the late 40's going into the 50's. And knowing the plot twist of where the story had gone made total sense after that O'Reilley book and so A GAMBLING MAN was almost better than the first one, though Archer just became more swoon worthy for me.
I can see why maybe not many Baldacci fans or people in general might not like the Archer books as much, but keep in mind of where this is taking place. It's going to be a different kind of pace than our time today, it's still a thriller, but in a different era. Also it's a whole new ballpark that not many are used to reading fiction or not. And with that mindset for me personally knowing it wouldn't be as fast paced or as much action as our era and generation is in his normal books, I actually enjoyed these two Archer books! I have found out in a webinar Baldacci did last week with Alex Michaelides I signed up for did mention he was having a third Archer book coming next year (and side note a 7th Amos Decker for any Amos Decker fans) and I was so excited to hear that! Overall, when you read these books, keep that open mind knowing it's a DIFFERENT ERA and it's going to be totally different and yet a good slower pace for the era it's taking place in. But if you still can't get into it, that's fine of course. So in the meantime, I'm going to now go and plan a fictional wedding with Aloysius Archer.