Douglas Stewart
Ever wanted to get revenge against a casino? Dex did after being cheated! Revenge - an obsessive all-consuming thirst for revenge is the theme of Late Bet, set in the casino world of London and Las Vegas. Ignoring the dangers of taking on casino moguls, Dex plans to destroy Space City, the glitzy mega-resort on the Las Vegas Strip as well as its partner, the discreet Dukes Casino in London’s Mayfair.
In taking on casino bosses like the sinister Audley Shawcross and Carlo Letizione, weak links are a risk. Dex involves fellow gambler Scotty Brannigan, a Las Vegas based Formula One Grand Prix racing driver to help him. Scotty though has troubles of his own as does Mark, a brilliant blackjack card-counter who abuses cocaine. A Malaysian betting syndicate that corrupts sportsmen plays a sinister role. Pretty women too present both opportunities and problems as Dex gets involved with Tiffany Richmond, a svelte BBC-TV journalist and the outrageous Jude, an Australian nurse.
The action races through time zones between London and Vegas, the French Riviera, a Caribbean hideaway and Grand Prix circuits including Monaco and Indianapolis. Murders, suspense and jaw-dropping shocks abound as the vile Shawcross fights dirty to the breathtaking end.
Praise for Douglas Stewart’s Books
“A clever blend of villainy” - Sunday Times
“Do read this superb novel” - Sunday Independent
“So hard to put down”- A1 Crime
“Racy, pacy and lacy, easily a match for the latest Jackie Collins blockbuster” - Hazardous Cargo Magazine
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Douglas Stewart
Born in Glasgow, Scotland but brought up in England, Douglas qualified as a British solicitor working in London and internationally. Alongside this career in law, Douglas had his first novel published twenty-five years ago and has been writing ever since. After retiring young from his law-firm, Douglas moved to the USA where he has broadened both his legal and writing interests.
Late Bet is his seventh novel following Undercurrent, his acclaimed thriller about maritime crime. Its success led to Douglas being invited to write and publish in Germany a non-fiction title, Piraten. The English language version of that has recently been published in 2007 as The Brutal Seas and has been hailed as the benchmark on crime at sea by the Founder and first Director of the ICC-International Maritime Bureau, a non-Government agency committed to fighting crime at sea. That book delivers in vivid focus the tensions and brutality that crews of vessels, large and small, face today from piracy, hijackings, murders and fraud on the high seas.
Douglas’ novels have generally involved a theme of international fraud – whether in Timeshares, Road Haulage, the Wine Trade, the Pharmaceutical Industry or at sea. Late Bet maintains that tradition and enters the murky world of international casino crime. Douglas, after years of living in London and Las Vegas and as a writer on gaming issues, knows his subject well. A strong legal background and a lifetime of global travel enable Douglas to introduce exciting locations and to weave legal themes into the rich tapestry of the thriller plots.
Douglas is married with three children. His interests include most sports and especially cricket, something much missed in America. Beyond that, his interest and experiences involving Formula 1 Grand Prix motor racing also feature large in Late Bet.
LATE BET
By
Douglas Stewart
Eyes following the ball as it sped rapidly under the rim of the wheel, Dex gripped the edge of the green baize table, his face blanched and his jaw muscles taut.
“No more bets,” said the dealer, a Geordie called Andy.
Without even knowing he had done so, Dex stood up to watch more closely, the vein on his forehead throbbing, his palms now moist. The ball was moving fast, tight beneath the wheel’s rim. Dex could scarcely breathe, his heart pounding, his eyes unflinching. His rollercoaster past flashed through his mind – the tormented childhood, the bankruptcy, the inheritance, the winning roulette system and the cosseted lifestyle that his winnings had brought him. Was it now going to end in disaster?
As the ball slowed, it was torture in slow motion. Like stepping into thin air tied to a bungee. Like free-fall parachuting before the chute opens. The die was cast. No turning back now. No time to say sorry mister I’ve changed my mind. Suddenly the bet seemed crazy, risking everything on a bouncy white ball. In agony, he watched it dance erratically as it hit the strikers.
Reality. The outside world. Everything – all disappeared. Nothing mattered but a white ball and a red number as it skittered around the wheel.
8 Black.
Bounce on.
30 Red.
