Springer's Max Bet — W.L. Ripley

Cole Springer's Aspen lifestyle is interrupted when the 'late' Max Shapiro reappears with yet more trouble with gangsters in Vegas. Springer has to safeguard Max while simultaneously freeing girlfriend Tobi Ryder's step-brother, Anson Buckner, from South Beach Crime Lord Michael 'Seven' Severin. Max had 'vouched' Anson to Red Cavanaugh, a Vegas mobster who hates Springer, and then Anson skipped town.Springer enlists the very reluctant assistance of ex-Frisco hitman, Gerry 'Knucks' Nugent. Nugent, a man also supposed to be dead, has been hiding out in Alaska and the last thing he wants to do is leave his enjoyable 'retirement' to assist Springer on Max's behalf. Big obstacles in Springer's quest arise when he is pressed into service by the FBI or face the wrath of the U.S. Treasury.Springer slips the Feds, extricates Anson from Seven, and once again scams Red Cavanaugh in a set-up that has all the appearance of going badly, but that's our man, the glorious piano playing ex-Secret Service agent, Cole Springer. ...both fluent and riveting. Cole Springer is a comer and so is W.L. Ripley.- Robert B. Parker, best-selling author the Jesse Stone mystery series