Review: Trick Roller by Cordelia Kingsbridge

Title: Trick Roller

Series: Seven of Spades: Book Two

Author: Cordelia Kingsbridge

Length: 299 Pages

Category: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense

At a Glance: After I read this novel, I didn’t want to review it because I knew I couldn’t do it justice. With one of the most intense endings, ever, and I can’t even imagine what Cordelia Kingsbridge will come up with next.

Reviewed By: Maryann

Blurb: It’s the height of summer in Las Vegas. Everyone believes the serial killer Seven of Spades is dead—except Levi Abrams and Dominic Russo—and it’s back to business as usual. For Levi, that means investigating a suspicious overdose at the Mirage that looks like the work of a high-class call girl, while Dominic pursues a tough internship with a local private investigator. The one bright spot for both of them is their blossoming relationship.

But things aren’t so simple. Soon Levi is sucked into a dangerous web of secrets and lies, even as his obsession with the Seven of Spades intensifies. Dominic knows that Levi isn’t crazy. He knows the Seven of Spades is still out there, and he’ll do anything to prove it. But Dominic has his own demons to battle, and he may be fighting a losing war.

One thing is certain: the Seven of Spades holds all the cards. It won’t be long before they show their hand.

Review: Detective Levi Abrams has decided to take a big step in his relationship with Dominic Russo, even though Levi is still trying to reconcile his breakup with Stanton with where a serious relationship with Dominic would lead. Levi also struggles with the fact that he’s not an easy person to get along with.

Dominic is certainly the opposite to Levi. He has a good rapport with people, has many friends, and is still working as a bartender to supplement his income while on an internship to become a PI. He’s also facing up to his gambling addiction, berates himself for it, and struggles with the reality of his addiction.

As Levi and Dominic continue to learn about each other, Levi, being a Las Vegas detective, and his partner, Martine, have a murder to solve. And Dominic discovers Levi has an obsession. The Seven of Spades is surely dead, but Levi doesn’t believe it, and soon finds it doesn’t pay to even think about admitting it.

Not only did Cordelia Kingsbridge create another exciting mystery in this series, but she really shows her knowledge with detailed police procedure and trial questioning. I was thrown off a little in the first chapter, but I think that was intentional. The pace of the storyline was interesting too, and it made the conclusion of this story very powerful. I really liked how the author presented a deeper look at how Levi and Dominic complement each other, give each other support, and the chemistry between them picks up steam. There’s a lot of heartwarming moments too, with Dominic and his Nonna, Levi and Adriana, and with Rebel. There’s some very solid secondary characters as well, in Martine, Justine, Carlos, and family and friends, which gives a nice balance to the story.

After I read this novel, I didn’t want to review it because I knew I couldn’t do it justice. There’s a dramatic courtroom scene that got me up in arms! And the tension of the last chapter had me hanging on the edge. Of course, I knew how this story would end—after all I read a lot of mysteries… I was SHOCKED and never saw it coming!!! This was one of the most intense endings, ever, and I can’t even imagine what Cordelia Kingsbridge will come up with next. Bring it on!! Shock me some more!! The next installment of the Seven of Spades series is Cash Plays, but don’t Pass Go without reading Kill Game and Trick Roller first.

You can buy Trick Roller here:
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