Loaded Dice

May 10, 2004
Swain's fourth Tony Valentine novel (after 2003's Sucker Bet
) starts out on a wacky, breezy note, but the horror of a threatened terrorist attack that develops in a subplot jars in a tale centered on the seedy world of gambling and more mundane crimes like (non-mass-) murder and robbery. Tony Valentine, a retired Atlantic City cop who helps gambling casinos catch swindlers, travels to Las Vegas to show three casino owners how blackjack players use a new high-tech device to cheat. He's also checking up on his feckless son Gerry, in town to learn about illegal card-counting so he can join Tony's business. But Tony's three clients have also hired Frank Fontaine—a world-class card sharp and Tony's longtime enemy, who has FBI connections—to run a scam that will close a casino owned by Tony's friend Nick Nicocropolis. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Gerry, two new foreign friends have links to al Qaeda. An expert on casino swindles, the author packs his books with mind-boggling cons and scams—how to do them and stop them—along with entertaining dialogue and vivid characters, notably the strong, sympathetic Tony. No doubt many readers will be attracted to the timely terrorist element, but those expecting another fast-paced gambling romp may be disappointed to see Tony sidetracked. Agent, Chris Calhoun at Sterling Lord Literistic. 10-city author tour.

February 15, 2004
An ex-cop is in Las Vegas to rescue his son.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2004
Swain's series starring freelance casino consultant Tony Valentine has quickly established itself as one of the freshest, most entertaining hard-boiled comedies to risk setting up camp in Elmore Leonard country. In this fourth entry in the series, Valentine is in Las Vegas, on the trail of his wayward son, Gerry, who has gone AWOL from card-counting school. Mixing work with parental responsibility, Tony also agrees to help maverick casino owner Nick Nicocropolis (see " Grift Sense," 2001)" "prevent two rival owners from putting him out of business. There's a slightly over-the-top terrorist angle, too, but if Swain is guilty of overstuffing his plot, he recovers nicely with another delicious helping of insider dope on how casinos work and how cheaters cheat. There's also plenty of snappy, Leonard-inspired banter and more charming cell-phone byplay between Tony and his devoted office manager, Mabel, the indefatigable Mrs. Moneypenny of the series. Great fun with just the right amount of edge--sort of like a night at the blackjack table.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)