Billy Phelan’s Greatest Game - William Kennedy

Written by William Kennedy
Read by Nick Sullivan
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

The Albany Cycle, Book 2
Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins (18min deleted repeat Russell Bank’s interview)
Release date: 08-11-09
Publisher: Audible Studios

Billy Phelan, a slightly tarnished poker player, pool hustler, and small-time bookie. A resourceful man full of Irish pluck, Billy works the fringes of the Albany sporting life with his own particular style and private code of honor, until he finds himself in the dangerous position of potential go-between in the kidnapping of a political boss’s son.

“We follow ne’er-do-well Billy Phelan, broke gambler, roller of 299 in bowling (pesky 4-pin), and erstwhile malgré lui helper of the cops in a kidnapping case. The story is fast-moving with lively characters and a pleasure to read.

This book moves at a slightly faster pace, in albeit a shorter time space, than Legs or Ironweed. Billy is a fun character; you want him to win, despite all his many faults. You see him struggle with his father (who appears here and we get the story of his appearance in Ironweed) and we see that there is something in Billy that someone like Jack never truly had in his humanity.”