Digger's Game

''Flawless of its kind - never a false word, phrase, rhythm, gesture.'' - The New Republic

''Every American crime writer of the past 30 years owes a debt to George V Higgins. Higgins is the daddy. Read him and rejoice'' Val McDermid

Jerry ''Digger'' Doherty is an ex-con and proprietor of a workingman''s Boston bar, who supplements his income with the occasional ''odd job'', like stealing live checks or picking up hot goods. His brother''s a priest, his wife''s a nag, and he has a deadly appetite for martinis and gambling.

On a trip to Vegas, the Digger finds himself in the sights of a loan shark known as ''The Greek''. Luckily - if you call it luck - the Digger has been let in on a little job that can turn his gambling debt into a profit, if only he can pull it off without getting himself killed.