To all the Western aficionados out there, I’m excited to share my thoughts on "The Gamblers: Texas Bluff," a notable work published in 2008 by Harper and written by the late, great Robert J. Randisi (1951 - 2024), fondly remembered as J.R. Roberts—the brilliant mind behind the beloved "The Gunsmith" series. This volume is the third, and if my memory serves me right, the concluding entry in "The Gamblers" saga. I began this tale without the framework of its preceding books, but let’s see how it unfurls as a standalone adventure.
The premise is intriguingly simple: our protagonist, Ty Butler, has faced the unthinkable—his family brutally murdered, with the shadows of their killers creeping ever closer. Imagine him as a modern-day gambler with a heart full of grief and a flair for high-stakes card games, evoking memories of James Garner’s charming, roguish character from Maverick.
As for the plot, it twists and turns like a poker hand dealt from a shifty deck. Ty Butler, a professional gambler, knows he should keep moving to elude the relentless pursuit of the men who decimated his family. Yet, when he encounters an enticing game in a seemingly honest gambling hall, he finds it nearly impossible to resist temptation. For Butler, this particular gambling establishment is akin to paradise, albeit tainted; its notorious owner, Little Luke Short, seems perpetually embroiled in the chaotic underbelly of Fort Worth’s Hell's Half Acre.
Short is locked in a brutal power struggle with a crooked kingpin, and now, by sheer misfortune, Ty has been pulled into this deadly conflict. The tension escalates when murder strikes close to home, and the law comes knocking on Little Luke’s door. When the stakes couldn’t climb any higher, Ty Butler proves he can spot a bluff from a mile away. He might be drawing fire, but he’s not cashing out until true justice finds its mark.
I have to admit, it took me a while to get my bearings with this book. The opening pages flowed with card play—an area where I admittedly lack finesse—leaving me feeling a bit bored and overwhelmed. There is a wealth of historical references, featuring notorious figures like Luke Short, the infamous gunfighter and saloonkeeper, who is not related to the author Luke Short, a pen name for Frederick Dilley Glidden. Randisi cleverly navigates the historical landscape to weave his own character, Ty Butler, into the rich tapestry of the Old West, albeit with a slightly less precise aim than the legendary gunslingers like Bat Masterson or Doc Holliday.
Sure, there’s more than just cards in this tale. Ty finds himself tangled in a web of deceit and violence, navigating the murky waters where the law meets lawlessness. As the quintessential hero, Ty embodies the good guy persona we all root for, and you can easily guess how the narrative will wrap up.
While "The Gamblers: Texas Bluff" may not stand as Randisi’s pinnacle achievement, I found it enjoyable—a delightful throwback to the old-school "pulp" Westerns rather than the more mature fare for which he’s renowned. It resonates with the charm of a '50s episode of Maverick, complete with poker scheming and thrilling shootouts. Overall, it was an entertaining read, and I liked it. ╌★★★★✰
Support future Gunsmoke & Grit reviews by purchasing a copy of The Gamblers: Texas Bluff in paperback or Kindle Thank you for your support.
〜B.J. Burgess
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