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Whether it’s in Las Vegas’ glitzy casinos or its seamy back alleys, Black Belt Magazine columnist and poker pro Mark Jacobs captures the excitement with the vision of an insider in his new novel Pascal’s Wager...

Pascal Silver is an action junkie down on his luck. One of the best poker players alive, a losing streak has forced him to take work as a private detective. But when the gorgeous daughter of murdered casino owner “Houston Phil” LaPierre turns to him for help, he finds himself in over his head dealing with the cops, the mob and the enigmatic but beautiful Allegra LaPierre. Now he’ll have to pull off the biggest bluff of his life to come out on top. And even if he does, he’ll still be left with the question “Who killed Phil?” a question only he is shrewd enough to answer.

For more info and to read an excerpt under recent updates, please go to my author's page. Available for purchase at $0.99 in most digital formats at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007MEVLSC
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/14...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pascals-...

For anyone interested, I’ve finally come into the 21st century and started up a website, which will eventually consist of excerpts from my novels, articles accumulated during my time as a professional journalist, commentaries on martial arts, and other assorted rubric. Check it out.

http://www.writingfighting.wordpress.com

Thought I'd post a little more detailed synopsis:


Destined for a brilliant career in academia, Pascal Silver instead decides to be a risk taker. Packing up his unfinished philosophy dissertation he moves to Las Vegas to pursue his dual goals of winning the World Series of Poker and the only slightly less daunting task of finding the meaning to existence.

Low on cash, Pascal is forced to take a part-time job at a private detective agency. Now, with his boss out of town, into his life walks the gorgeous Allegra LaPierre. She asks Pascal to find out who murdered her father, casino owner “Houston Phil” LaPierre.

Using his uncanny poker skills, Pascal can tell everyone involved with Houston Phil has something to hide, including his ex-stripper widow, his knucklehead son, Bruce, and his old business partner, Fat Johnny, who’s in debt to a local gangster. Complicating matters, Bruce LaPierre is suddenly found dead in his office and the number one suspect is Allegra. Though all the evidence points to his client’s guilt, Pascal falls back on the famous wager of faith put forth by his illustrious namesake. He chooses to have faith in Allegra, not just because he’s gone head over heels for her, but because it’s a good bet.

But when representatives of the Chicago mob show up and tell him to drop the case, Pascal has to take his greatest gamble yet. With Allegra’s life hanging in the balance, he’ll need to pull off the biggest bluff he’s ever attempted to get her back alive. Even if he does, he’s still left with the question “Who killed Phil?” a question only he is shrewd enough to answer.


Mark Jacobs is a freelance writer, martial arts instructor and semi-professional poker player who regularly plays for more money than he can afford to lose. His written work has appeared in publications such as Sports Illustrated, Men’s Health and TimeOut New York. The author of the acclaimed instructional text, The Principles of Unarmed Combat, he currently serves as a monthly columnist for Black Belt Magazine. His other books include the detective novel, Pascal’s Wager, and the upcoming boxing saga, A Bittersweet Science.


Pascal’s Wager, available for purchase in all digital formats at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007MEVLSC
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pasca...

For all you non techies without a Kindle, Nook or iPad (like me), Pascal’s Wager is now available in paperback here:

http://www.amazon.com/Pascals-Wager-M...

Also still available in all digital formats at these sites:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007MEVLSC

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pasca...

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

After going up to $2.99, now available again for $0.99. If you like mysteries or poker, go check it out.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007MEVLSC

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pasca...

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...