'Seven of Spades' Series by Cordelia Kingsbridge
- Reed
- Oct 24
- 3 min read
Author: Cordelia Kingsbridge
Rating: B/B+
Vibe: High-stakes Vegas thriller 5-book series with spice, serial killers, and two detectives who can't stop circling each other
There's something deeply satisfying about a serial killer mystery set in Las Vegas. Maybe it's the contrast—all that neon and excess hiding something dark underneath—or maybe it's just that Vegas feels like the kind of place where anything could happen and no one would be surprised. Cordelia Kingsbridge's Seven of Spades series leans into that contrast hard, following detective Levi Abrams and private investigator Dominic Russo as they hunt a killer who leaves playing cards at crime scenes. It's romantic suspense with high spice, actual stakes, and two leads who are messy in ways that mostly work.
I'm giving this series a solid B, maybe a B+, and here's why: it's entertaining, well-paced for the most part, and Kingsbridge absolutely nails the sense of place. I'm very familiar with Vegas, and the way she writes it—the heat, the specific gay bars and clubs (she changes the names, but anyone who knows, knows), the late-night diners and the way the city feels at 3 a.m.—it's all there. Vegas isn't just a backdrop; it's a character, and that consistency across five books is one of the series' biggest strengths.
Levi and Dominic work as a couple. Their relationship develops over the course of the series—not slow-burn in the traditional sense, but not insta-love either—and I found myself genuinely invested in whether they'd figure their shit out. Dominic is especially likable, which I think was exactly what Kingsbridge was going for. He's charming, flawed, and easy to root for. Levi's got more edges, and their dynamic clicks in a way that kept me reading even when the plot occasionally meandered.
The overarching mystery—trying to figure out who the Seven of Spades serial killer is—kept me engaged. Kingsbridge does a good job making you think you know who it is, then pulling the rug out. The final reveal was unexpected, and I appreciated that it was someone we'd met earlier in the series. It felt fair. That said, I wish there had been more breadcrumbs or clues along the way. Looking back, it could've been just a little more clever, a little more satisfying in that "oh, of course" way that the best mysteries pull off.
Each book also has its own standalone mystery or problem to solve, and those were... fine. Never terrible, but never particularly memorable either. They served their purpose, but they're not what you'll remember about the series.
Here's where I think the series stumbles: it needed editing. Five books is too many for this story. If Kingsbridge had tightened this into a three-book, three-act series, it would've been outstanding. As it is, there's some filler, and by book four I was starting to feel it.
The character flaws—Levi's anger issues, Dominic's gambling addiction—are heavy-handed. Like, really heavy-handed. I get what Kingsbridge was going for, and I don't mind flawed characters, but these vices strayed into unbelievable territory at times. A little more subtlety and nuance would've gone a long way.
And then there's the spice. The series is explicit, which is great if that's what you're looking for. But after five books, I was ready for some variety. Same roles, same acts, same everything. It started to feel tedious. Throw in some role reversal, mix it up a little—something. By the end, I was skimming those scenes, which is never a good sign.
The dialogue gets better as the series goes on and the characters start to find their voice, but it can feel clunky early on. And the emotional depth is... not really there. But honestly? That's fine. This is a thriller series with romance, not a deep dive into or identity. I don't need every book I read to explore big issues, and Kingsbridge knows what kind of story she's telling.
So who's this for? If you love romantic suspense, want gay protagonists, and are looking for a fun, escapist read—this is absolutely worth your time. It's a great audiobook for a long road trip or a solid beach read. If you're looking for literary depth or something that's going to wreck you emotionally, look elsewhere. But if you want a well-executed thriller with likable leads, decent mystery, and plenty of heat, the Seven of Spades series delivers.
Just maybe skip to every other sex scene.
Seven of Spades Series by Cordelia Kingsbridge:
