The Vig (Dismas Hardy) Mass Market Paperback – August 1, 2006

This was a very interesting story. The beginning of the book had you thinking a certain person was responsible for murder, but a neat twist revealed another was guilty. A very slick turnaround to the narrative. Excelleny read.Eny

This is my second Dismas Hardy book. Didn't realize there were so many in the series. I need to start at the beginning. I started with book three and just finished book two. This book had a lot going on. Maybe too many characters involved in this plot. Too much back and forth between characters. Certainly held my attention and kept me intrigued. Besides enjoying the character of Dismas Hardy I love the setting. Being a Bay Area resident I am very familiar with all landmarks in the city.

Book was as described, thanks!

Over the years I've read some of the Dismas Hardy series and after very enjoyable experiences I decided to start at the beginning to fill in the gaps.After reading "Dead Irish", the first book in the series, I was eagerly anticipating "The Vig". Although each book stands well on its own, there's no question that there's an incredible amount of backstory in each book. "The Vig" is no exception.I found the book majorly dragged in the middle; it took me over 2 weeks to read it; normally 3 to 4 days is more like my normal pace. It became so slow I actually came to the site to see what others had to say about the book. As it turns out, most people either loved it or hated it, and I can understand why.There is a lot to this book, and having finished it, I'm not sure what should have been left out, but I would like to caution folks that this book is not the best one to pick up if you're unfamiliar with Dismas Hardy or John Lescroart. I think the other books in the series (OK, start with "Dead Irish") are a better indication of what will turn out to be extremely good, solid, reads.

Lescroart successfully weaves another twisty thriller after Dead Irish. Diz Hardy seems unable to avoid the denizens of San Francisco or get out of his own way. Delightful, colorful characters!!

It’s a great read and still in play today,, fast and furious with lots of actionAnd almost too many players. Football, baseball,hockey,basketball and of course the “ponies, you can bet on just about anything, including the weather, but you have to pay the piper or the piper gets upset.Read it and weep..enjoy, but remember it’s just a book.

This is the second book in the Dismas Hardy series. While very good its not as good as the later books in the series. Like all the books in this series there are a lot of twists and turns in the plot. The story starts with Hardy tending bar and meeting a former DA associate who tells him an convict they put away is out of prison and is going to kill him and Hardy as he promised when he was convicted. Then a woman is found dead at his associate's home, the associate is missing with clues pointing to his death and then things really get interesting.

The characters are eccentric and as flawed as real people. Not outrageously, noir-time flawed, they are just people. Tragies have altered leaves, but hope remains. I think a lot of that pleasure of the book is in the characters. I did guess the surprise ending very early, but so many alternative explanations were presented that I began to doubt my own! I highly recommend this rather leisurely paced, intellectual book about friendships as much as about murder.

It's on shambles with yellowing pages. Not worth the price at all.

Twists and turns like a roller coaster but Dismas gets there in the end. The main characters are acquiring depth and becoming alive, the timelines being in the ‘90’s not detracting at all from the flavour of the story. Second in a series that you hope has got a fair way to go.

Lescroart is a very talented and imaginative 'crime' writer who seems to be in love with his characters. He is not that well known in the UK, hopefully that will change and he will come to be recognised as one of the modern greats

good tense thriller

Good book..always is when written by John Lescroart, he is definitely one of my very favoutire authors. Never lets you down.