Cash Plays: Seven of Spades, Book 3

Kingsbridge’s splendidly twisty third Seven of Spades romantic thriller is rife with red herrings. Recovering gambler and private eye Dominic Russo is in love with Levi Abrams, a Las Vegas police detective. Levi has a dangerous goal: capturing the Seven of Spades, a serial killer preying on criminals. Alternating between Levi and Dominic’s perspectives, Kingsbridge skillfully spins her suspenseful story, bringing in an underground casino, three organized crime families on the verge of all-out war, and a conservative college student who is wrapped up with a big-time criminal. As Dominic relapses into the black hole of gambling, suddenly little else matters—until hints crop up that Levi’s ex-boyfriend could be the killer everyone’s hunting. Supporting characters, like Levi’s doting parents, are charming, and the author aptly chronicles the gritty depth and desperation of addiction and how it can destroy a loving relationship. The heroes stopping for a quickie while escaping armed gunmen strains credulity, but the rip-roaring, bullet-filled finale somewhat makes up for it. A tantalizing cliff-hanger will leave readers ready for the next book. (May)