Bad Action

Billy Cunningham, Book 2

By: James Swain

Narrated by: Nick Podehl

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Con artist Billy Cunningham is no stranger to the casinos of Las Vegas - he's ripped off every single one. But his latest scam - a year in the making - promises his crew their biggest payday yet. Billy has thought of everything down to the last detail...or so he thinks.

He hasn't counted on the father-son team of contract killers looking to cash in on Billy's head. Or his old flame, Maggie Flynn, out for payback for her broken heart. If Billy and his team can pass themselves off as high rollers for a week straight, living it up in Vegas's most exclusive suites and box seats, they'll get their chance to make their VIP status permanent. It's the biggest scam of their lives - if they live.

©2016 James Swain (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Another winner in the Billy Cunningham series!

The storyline and pace was great and I love his crew, their trials and tribulations and triumphs. I feel for him with what he"s going through with Mags though.

Very entertaining but...

I've now read Swain's two Cunningham novels and found them both entertaining and even enlightening. However, as an African American reader, my enjoyment is marred by the lack of multidimensional sympathetic black characters (in fact, all of the black characters are monstrous, which is disturbing). If this doesn't bother you then you'll probably find the novel a fun ride. However, this was my last Swain book.

Not great literature, but lots of fun!

Bad Action is Book 2 in the Las Vegas con man Billy Cunningham series. It's a fun listen as Cunningham and his team attempt to take a casino for millions of dollars. The con is clever. Some of the team members are unreliable. And a hit team follows Cunningham trying to kill him. The book is a fun diversion. Nick Podehl does a fine job of narration.

Fun Book

Great performance. Love the plot. Can't wait for the next one as this one sets up another Billy Cunningham adventure.

good book. different. funny.

this was a good book. it's the second of 3. The first two were entertaining. I read his other series, and I like them all. it's not murder and mahem, but still fits into that category.

superb

Excellent story. Easy to follow along. Didn't want it to end. Recommend for any level of reader.

Even better than the first book!

Such a great book! The Billy Cunningham character is such a great one. I love books where the protagonist is not exactly the picture of moral perfection. Not sure what that says about me, haha, but it just makes things more interesting! The story in this book was original and so well thought out. Kept me guessing right up until the end. Nick Podehl is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators, as well. Great book told supremely well. Will not disappoint!

Addictive

I interchangeably read and listened to story in parts several times as my bedtime story. Great plot, story line and action. Great full, colorful, and believable characters. Great book for a leisurely weekend morning or early afternoon!

Another home run!

This is the second book in this series and I can't wait for book 3 to release. Great characters with a complex story. I really need to check out some of James Swain's other series soon.

Nick Podehl once again delivers a spectacular performance. He truly is one of the best in the business.

Worst and ONLY letdown ever with a James Swain boo

What did you like best about Bad Action? What did you like least?

little and 2 much of the character development

If you’ve listened to books by James Swain before, how does this one compare?

very weak book

Which scene was your favorite?

can't think of any

Could you see Bad Action being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

Any additional comments?

The first Billy Cunningham book was excellent. This one was plodding and uninspired. Billy is supposed to be the head of a hip young gang of hustlers, but they are a bunch of whining complainers, unreliable, always being given a second chance, questioning his actions and moves even though many of them are not too bright. The dialog between the two bimbos and Billy is very tepid. In short, I finally stopped caring so much about the entire gang that I skipped about 8 chapters to get to the final 3-4 chapters and finish the damned thing. Bottom Line: I, like millions of readers, was crushed when the Tony Valentine franchise was ended, a business decision I learned about and accepted. With the first Billy Cunningham book I felt the torch had been passed to a worthy and considerably different protagonist with a very good first book. The second book makes it unlikely I'll want to read a third book.