It Was All in the Cards: The Life and Times of Midtown Mike

Michael 'Mike' Evans grew up, at best, in a very dysfunctional family in Bronx, New York. His family included his parents, Curtis and Mabel and his sister, Carolyn. His father was somewhat disenchanted with his circumstance in life. He graduated the head of his class but could not provide for his family the way he wanted to, so his coping mechanism became a dependency on alcohol. This alcohol dependency would later cause much drama in their household and be the impetus to his eventual suicide. At the age of nine, Mike found himself in a single parent household with no real male role models and a mother who had also developed dependency on alcohol. Watching his mother suffering in their poverty-stricken condition and the absence of a father figure played a major role in Mike's young life. His cousin Reggie introduced him to hustling, gangbanging, gangsters, pimps and prostitutes during those young formative and impressionable years. He took to the streets to learn what his father could not teach him. What Reggie did not teach him, he learned from others he met in the game, which set him on course to become one of Midtown Manhattan's major hustlers in the Three-Card Monte game. His gaming skills, his ability to sell the game to gullible victims and his earnings gained him his nickname, Midtown Mike. He did all of this while remaining in school, maintaining a good grade average and staying away from drugs. Although school was important to him, his education on surviving took place in the streets. The people whom he associated with while becoming a big baller in the game became his teachers and confidantes. He often received advice from pimps and prostitutes; pick pockets and drug dealers were some of his hanging partners. They taught him about everything they knew about life on the streets, as they knew it. His treatment of women also evolved from those who saw women as a means to an end. IT WAS ALL IN THE CARDS: The Life and Times of Midtown Mike by Mike Evans is an interesting, soul-stirring discourse on the making of a street hustler. Mr. Evans' autobiography is filled with stories of his life that will make you laugh, cry, scream and sometimes, nod your head in agreement. He gives a truthful glimpse into his life. A lot of what he discloses in this book resonates with me in the fear I sometimes feel as I raise a male child as a single parent in this world today. His writing will draw you in and keep you suspended as you walk with him through his many trials and tribulations trying to see how he makes out. At that, I will say buy the book. Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Hey Mike,You told me to email you after reading the book. Duh... where's the email address? Any way the book was hillarious, sad, and sometimes down right scarey! I enjoyed every moment I spent with you during my journey through your life.Let the truth be told... and you still didn't let out any monte secrets.I wish you well and hope life will continue to be upward and forward!One Love,Terry

I met this guy Mike on 125th and bought his book... From the first pages I luved it, now that I finished it I know that's probably one of the best books I have ever read in my life. I wish I could do it all again and read it for the first time. This book is a visit into the New York underworld, you'll meet pimps, prostitutes, players, hustlers and gangsters all so endearing, through a book full of joy, drama, laughs and tears... Just do what I did, buy it with your eyes closed and share Mike's world... G