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Cold Poker Gang #8
Burn Card: A Cold Poker Gang Mystery
Retired Las Vegas Detectives Debra Pickett and Sarge Carson think the solution to a very old cold case came easy.
Turns out, a little too easy.
And the deeper they dig into the old case, the more they uncover a very ugly side of humanity. And bodies. More and more bodies.
Another very, very twisted Cold Poker Gang mystery novel.
Turns out, a little too easy.
And the deeper they dig into the old case, the more they uncover a very ugly side of humanity. And bodies. More and more bodies.
Another very, very twisted Cold Poker Gang mystery novel.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 28, 2017
28 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Dean Wesley Smith
835 books177 followersPen Names
Edward Taft
Dee W. Schofield
Sandy Schofield
Kathryn Wesley
Dean Wesley Smith is the bestselling author of over ninety novels under many names and well over 100 published short stories. He has over eight million copies of his books in print and has books published in nine different countries. He has written many original novels in science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller, and romance as well as books for television, movies, games, and comics. He is also known for writing quality work very quickly and has written a large number of novels as a ghost writer or under house names.
With Kristine Kathryn Rusch, he is the coauthor of The Tenth Planet trilogy and The 10th Kingdom. The following is a list of novels under the Dean Wesley Smith name, plus a number of pen names that are open knowledge. Many ghost and pen name books are not on this list because he is under contractual obligations not to disclose that he wrote them. Many of Dean’s original novels are also under hidden pen names for marketing reasons.
Dean has also written books and comics for all three major comic book companies, Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse, and has done scripts for Hollywood. One movie was actually made.
Over his career he has also been an editor and publisher, first at Pulphouse Publishing, then for VB Tech Journal, then for Pocket Books.
Currently, he is writing thrillers and mystery novels under another name.
Edward Taft
Dee W. Schofield
Sandy Schofield
Kathryn Wesley
Dean Wesley Smith is the bestselling author of over ninety novels under many names and well over 100 published short stories. He has over eight million copies of his books in print and has books published in nine different countries. He has written many original novels in science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller, and romance as well as books for television, movies, games, and comics. He is also known for writing quality work very quickly and has written a large number of novels as a ghost writer or under house names.
With Kristine Kathryn Rusch, he is the coauthor of The Tenth Planet trilogy and The 10th Kingdom. The following is a list of novels under the Dean Wesley Smith name, plus a number of pen names that are open knowledge. Many ghost and pen name books are not on this list because he is under contractual obligations not to disclose that he wrote them. Many of Dean’s original novels are also under hidden pen names for marketing reasons.
Dean has also written books and comics for all three major comic book companies, Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse, and has done scripts for Hollywood. One movie was actually made.
Over his career he has also been an editor and publisher, first at Pulphouse Publishing, then for VB Tech Journal, then for Pocket Books.
Currently, he is writing thrillers and mystery novels under another name.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 23, 2025
"Burn Card" is book 8 of the venerable Cold Poker Gang series, written by Dean Wesley Smith. It was first published in 2017 in serial form in Smith's Monthly, and later published as a novel in 2021. If you haven't read the other books in the series, that's ok; "Burn Card" is a self-contained story that any reader can get into.
AAR (After Action Review)
Mission: Write the best detective novel ever, featuring the cast of characters you've come to know and love.
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): "Burn Card" is pretty standard fare for the series. If you like the series, you'll get more of the same. If not, you'll still get more of the same. However, the plot gets pretty seriously twisted, so reader beware.
Sustains:
-The Plot - The author has developed an appreciable formula at this point in the series, and the books have really hit their stride. The stories often start out with a small kernel of an idea and then balloon out into something significant. Even when the plotting gets complicated, I was able to follow along just fine. Each story gets more devious than the last. I don't know where Dean comes up with these twisted, deviant story ideas, but they are pure fiction gold - though they may turn your stomach!
-Characters - I have grown to appreciate the burgeoning cast of the series. As retirees, they are a wise, world-weary bunch who have seen it all - or so they think, until Dean throws some curveballs their way. There is not a ton of character development, but the author manages to fit some personal growth into the story with budding romance, etc. At this point in the series, I am ready to shift to a new POV away from Sarge and Pickett.
-The Setting - Las Vegas is undoubtedly an uber-cool setting for any story. While I don't feel Smith takes full advantage of the setting, there are enough charming Vegas-isms to set this series apart from any other.
Improves:
-The Pacing - The ending of the story is quite abrupt, and I felt some of the antagonist's motivations were left a little unclear. However, the climax of the book is downright exciting, not to mention a little (actually, a lot!) disturbing!
Looking for a mystery novel with some unique charm and a diabolical quandary? Look no further than "Burn Card."
AAR (After Action Review)
Mission: Write the best detective novel ever, featuring the cast of characters you've come to know and love.
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): "Burn Card" is pretty standard fare for the series. If you like the series, you'll get more of the same. If not, you'll still get more of the same. However, the plot gets pretty seriously twisted, so reader beware.
Sustains:
-The Plot - The author has developed an appreciable formula at this point in the series, and the books have really hit their stride. The stories often start out with a small kernel of an idea and then balloon out into something significant. Even when the plotting gets complicated, I was able to follow along just fine. Each story gets more devious than the last. I don't know where Dean comes up with these twisted, deviant story ideas, but they are pure fiction gold - though they may turn your stomach!
-Characters - I have grown to appreciate the burgeoning cast of the series. As retirees, they are a wise, world-weary bunch who have seen it all - or so they think, until Dean throws some curveballs their way. There is not a ton of character development, but the author manages to fit some personal growth into the story with budding romance, etc. At this point in the series, I am ready to shift to a new POV away from Sarge and Pickett.
-The Setting - Las Vegas is undoubtedly an uber-cool setting for any story. While I don't feel Smith takes full advantage of the setting, there are enough charming Vegas-isms to set this series apart from any other.
Improves:
-The Pacing - The ending of the story is quite abrupt, and I felt some of the antagonist's motivations were left a little unclear. However, the climax of the book is downright exciting, not to mention a little (actually, a lot!) disturbing!
Looking for a mystery novel with some unique charm and a diabolical quandary? Look no further than "Burn Card."
March 8, 2018
Read the whole thing in one sitting. One twist after another made for a wild read. I'll definitely be looking for more books by this author.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews