Gambler’s Quartet follows the tragic story of an estranged mother and son trying to survive their own demons and defects in Reno, NV. Johnny Drake is struggling to come to terms with his father’s recent death after months of taking care of him. He is also struggling with his mixed feelings towards his gambler mother, Jenna, whose addiction and selfishness has caused him nothing but pain. Meanwhile, Jenna chases the god of luck in craps, sports bets, and a shady business venture in a new strip club/prostitution ring.
This short, dark novel jumps from p.o.v. between Jenna and Johnny, which allows the reader insight to each of their (often) misguided motives. The ability to see into both character’s minds helps to flesh them out; Jenna is more than the troubled gambler, she also has dreams and a dark history. Johnny is not just the grieving son with a resentment towards his mother, but is also still a child wishing for his mother’s love and attention.
While these inside views help the characters round out a little, it’s hard to feel much empathy for either of them. At first Johnny seems the good son, the one with his head on straight, but that quickly unravels. Why that unravels is unclear and never really shown, although one might guess it’s due to his father’s death, lack of a decent role model, and poor choice of friends (mostly his friend Bone, who introduces Johnny to cocaine). My trouble with Johnny’s fall from grace is that it happens too quickly and too drastically; the Johnny of chapter two is almost an entirely different character from the Johnny of chapter one.
That said, Gambler’s Quartet is an interesting novel that gives an insight into the dark side of Reno. The gambling, the loan sharks, the desperation to win, are all described in a straight forward and clear way. Summerhill doesn’t go overboard with it with gloomy language, but paints a picture that is easy to see, especially if you have any familiarity with Reno. It’s also the story of a dysfunctional, yet unique, mother-son relationship. And while it’s difficult to have much empathy for characters so determined to destroy themselves, the bite of their losses and destroyed lives is still palpable.
Gambler’s Quartet is a strong and captivating first novel from Summerhill. I am interested to see what he comes out with next.
