The Gambler's Game: Based on the True Story of the Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo

Winner, Pencraft Award for Literary Excellence, Spring 2024
Winner, Literary Titan Award, 2024
Honorable Mention, New York Book Festival 2024
Semi-Finalist, 13th Annual Kindle Book Awards

"This is an enthralling story of ambition and drive that mirrors in its central character, sportsman and gambler Bill Darnborough, the changing America of his times." - Alexandra Shulman, author and former editor-in-chief, British Vogue.

"Darnborough brings his grandfather's extraordinary story to life." - Frances Osborne, author of The Bolter, A San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year

A NOVEL BASED ON THE TRUE STORY OF THE MAN WHO BROKE THE BANK AT MONTE CARLO

In the twilight of the 19th century, as the Old West collides with the opulence of the Gilded Age, one man embarks on a journey that will redefine his life. The Gambler's Game is a captivating historical fiction saga that follows the extraordinary life of the Illinois-born baseball player turned high-stakes gambler. His audacious spirit leads him from the dust-chocked plains of Nebraska to the refined ambiance of English garden parties onto the allure of Belle Epoque Monte Carlo.
This romantic and fast-paced tale will transport you to a time when anything was possible, where dreams were chased and risks were taken.


Bill ultimately finds himself torn between his love of gambling and a woman who might make him give it all up. It is a story of self-discovery in a rapidly changing world.

Bill and Frances' characters are featured in the movie Downton Abbey: A New Era (Carnival Films, 2022).

James was born London, UK, and received his education in England before embarking on a diverse journey that led him to reside in South Africa, Australia, and the United States. During his ventures, he successfully managed multiple companies in the publishing and media sectors. Notably, he founded the PGA Golf Magazine in South Africa and and oversaw the creation of Africa's largest mobile outdoor advertising display. Currently based in Los Angeles, he wears many hats as a writer, artist, actor, and property agent.