What do you think?
Rate this book
Billy Cunningham #3
Super Con
An adrenaline rush of cons, grift, and murder in a town where deadly double-dealing is the name of the game.
Master grifter Billy Cunningham has built a lucrative career conning a long list of Las Vegas casinos. In fact, he’s never walked into one he couldn’t rip off. Now he’s scheming a “super con” with a gang of high-profile cheats—a one-time-only scam that could rake in a cool multi-million-dollar payday.
All goes as planned until Chinese crime lord Broken Tooth strong-arms Billy into rigging the Super Bowl, too. Billy has no choice but to play ball. Broken Tooth has a special edge on him: blackmail.
When someone on his own team betrays Billy, all bets are off. Both the super con and Super Bowl gambits are in jeopardy. And just who’s scamming who? With kickoff time looming, it’ll take a Hail Mary pass for Billy to grift the game and survive long enough to pull off the wildest double-cross-with-a-twist in Vegas history.
Master grifter Billy Cunningham has built a lucrative career conning a long list of Las Vegas casinos. In fact, he’s never walked into one he couldn’t rip off. Now he’s scheming a “super con” with a gang of high-profile cheats—a one-time-only scam that could rake in a cool multi-million-dollar payday.
All goes as planned until Chinese crime lord Broken Tooth strong-arms Billy into rigging the Super Bowl, too. Billy has no choice but to play ball. Broken Tooth has a special edge on him: blackmail.
When someone on his own team betrays Billy, all bets are off. Both the super con and Super Bowl gambits are in jeopardy. And just who’s scamming who? With kickoff time looming, it’ll take a Hail Mary pass for Billy to grift the game and survive long enough to pull off the wildest double-cross-with-a-twist in Vegas history.
Audio CD
First published December 5, 2017
247 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
James Swain
49 books352 followersJames Swain is the national best selling author of seventeen mystery novels, and has been published in twelve different languages. His books have been chosen as Mysteries of the Year by Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, and have received three Barry Award nominations, a Florida Book Award for Fiction, and France’s prestigious Prix Calibre .38 for Best American Crime Fiction. Born in Huntington, New York, he graduated from New York University and worked as a magazine editor before moving to Florida to run a successful advertising firm. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys researching casino scams and cons, a subject on which he’s considered an expert.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
October 29, 2017
This ARC was received from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Gratitude sent to Thomas & Mercer for allowing this pre-release edition made available.
James Swain penned an action-filled narrative that held my undivided attention. The scenes were perfectly played out with each short chapter seamlessly rolling into the next. It made for an easy, entertaining read. The characters, Billy being my favorite, were well drawn-out. Only regret was that this book had finally come to an end. I knew it would happen. And it was only when I got to the end that I realized I was able to finally let out my breath. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone.
Billy Cunningham is a swindler, cheat and con man. Not the guy you would normally bring home to meet Mother. His digs are in Las Vegas. That's where the action is. His type anyway. Nonstop. Not alone, he's got a crew. Under watchful Casino eyes, they worked their are cons and grifts in sync to rip off their not so willing hosts. Their schemes varied from casino to casino, game to game. Masters of crime. The Nevada Gaming Control Board had unsuccessfully been after Billy a long time. He had been Public Enemy number one on their radar.
One day, Billy was visited by Chinese mob boss, Broken Tooth. A removable cap revealed a broken tooth. Seriously? He wanted Billy's help to scam the upcoming Super Bowl. No one else would do. Billy refused. In retaliation, Broken Tooth kidnapped Billy's driver and friend, Leon. Either he played ball or Leon was going to to have his chips cashed in. The choice was clear. Go along with the blackmailed scheme. For now.
The Las Vegas Rebels would be playing the Louisville Volunteers at the Super Bowl. The game, just a couple of weeks away. A few of the rebel players were staying at Caesars. The star player, Night Train McClain was their unspoken leader. Hustler's themselves, they cheated unsuspecting victims at poker. Billy would need their cooperation to pull off the Superbowl scam. So, he arranged to pay them a visit under the pretense of being a sucker with a lot of money to lose. They didn't know who they were dealing with. Billy took them for everything they had. Then as an act of good faith, he gave it all back. That got their attention. After laying out the plan, they became willing participants of the scam.
There were many ways to bet on the Super Bowl. Not just win or lose. Props are some of the better-known betting strategies. For example, a bet could be placed on when a team had its first penalty. Another could be made for when a team suffered its first injury. It went on and on. If some players on either team conspired to pull off some of these props, then a great deal of money was there to be made without necessarily throwing the game. In a nutshell, that was the scam.
Throw into the mix special agent Grimes of the gaming board looking to put Billy in his crosshairs. He needed to make a high-level arrest to get a desired promotion. Billy's old flame and cheat mentor, Maggie was back in town. More complications. They had parted under unfavorable circumstances. The NFL players recruited for the scam appeared to be nothing more than Party Boys. Not the most dependable. Anything and everything could go wrong. Could any of this go right? Game time.
James Swain penned an action-filled narrative that held my undivided attention. The scenes were perfectly played out with each short chapter seamlessly rolling into the next. It made for an easy, entertaining read. The characters, Billy being my favorite, were well drawn-out. Only regret was that this book had finally come to an end. I knew it would happen. And it was only when I got to the end that I realized I was able to finally let out my breath. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone.
Billy Cunningham is a swindler, cheat and con man. Not the guy you would normally bring home to meet Mother. His digs are in Las Vegas. That's where the action is. His type anyway. Nonstop. Not alone, he's got a crew. Under watchful Casino eyes, they worked their are cons and grifts in sync to rip off their not so willing hosts. Their schemes varied from casino to casino, game to game. Masters of crime. The Nevada Gaming Control Board had unsuccessfully been after Billy a long time. He had been Public Enemy number one on their radar.
One day, Billy was visited by Chinese mob boss, Broken Tooth. A removable cap revealed a broken tooth. Seriously? He wanted Billy's help to scam the upcoming Super Bowl. No one else would do. Billy refused. In retaliation, Broken Tooth kidnapped Billy's driver and friend, Leon. Either he played ball or Leon was going to to have his chips cashed in. The choice was clear. Go along with the blackmailed scheme. For now.
The Las Vegas Rebels would be playing the Louisville Volunteers at the Super Bowl. The game, just a couple of weeks away. A few of the rebel players were staying at Caesars. The star player, Night Train McClain was their unspoken leader. Hustler's themselves, they cheated unsuspecting victims at poker. Billy would need their cooperation to pull off the Superbowl scam. So, he arranged to pay them a visit under the pretense of being a sucker with a lot of money to lose. They didn't know who they were dealing with. Billy took them for everything they had. Then as an act of good faith, he gave it all back. That got their attention. After laying out the plan, they became willing participants of the scam.
There were many ways to bet on the Super Bowl. Not just win or lose. Props are some of the better-known betting strategies. For example, a bet could be placed on when a team had its first penalty. Another could be made for when a team suffered its first injury. It went on and on. If some players on either team conspired to pull off some of these props, then a great deal of money was there to be made without necessarily throwing the game. In a nutshell, that was the scam.
Throw into the mix special agent Grimes of the gaming board looking to put Billy in his crosshairs. He needed to make a high-level arrest to get a desired promotion. Billy's old flame and cheat mentor, Maggie was back in town. More complications. They had parted under unfavorable circumstances. The NFL players recruited for the scam appeared to be nothing more than Party Boys. Not the most dependable. Anything and everything could go wrong. Could any of this go right? Game time.
October 26, 2017
Conmen, grifters, Card mechanics, magicians, Carneys, tricksters, gaffers, and any other sleight of hand fascinates us. They say a sucker is born every minute and it’s great fun to watch the circus sideshow or three card monte hustlers as long as some other guy is the sucker, the mark, the fool. And, we all love Las Vegas even though most folks walk away from there with emptier pockets. In this third book in the Billy Cunningham series, Swain offers us once again a chance to run with the hustlers, the tricksters, the conmen, and it is such tremendous fun.
You see Billy runs a crew of hustlers who know all the cons and all the tricks and take the casinos for thousands if not millions in bigger and bigger scams. There’s always got to be that one last con game before you retire.
Of course, Billy’s merry little crew isn’t just waltzing the yellow brick road and encounters a few road blocks like a bigger meaner crew, a gaming agent that has it bad for Billy and who’ll stop at nothing to get him, and the entire NFL who will cuckoo if there were one whiff of the Super Bowl being fixed. Some of the scams worked out here are crazy and some of the action crazy but Swain makes it all work. The book, like the earlier ones in the series, is a whole lotta fun. It’s fast-moving and filled with action.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for a copy of the book for review.
You see Billy runs a crew of hustlers who know all the cons and all the tricks and take the casinos for thousands if not millions in bigger and bigger scams. There’s always got to be that one last con game before you retire.
Of course, Billy’s merry little crew isn’t just waltzing the yellow brick road and encounters a few road blocks like a bigger meaner crew, a gaming agent that has it bad for Billy and who’ll stop at nothing to get him, and the entire NFL who will cuckoo if there were one whiff of the Super Bowl being fixed. Some of the scams worked out here are crazy and some of the action crazy but Swain makes it all work. The book, like the earlier ones in the series, is a whole lotta fun. It’s fast-moving and filled with action.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for a copy of the book for review.
January 17, 2018
Swain is one of my favorites. I've met him at several books signings and have seen his incredible skills at close-up magic and card manipulation. I started with his Tony Valentine series, the retired detective working for casinos to show them how they are being scammed and enjoyed that series during its great run. This book is the third of the Billy Cunningham series which takes place from the viewpoint of one of those who makes his living ripping off casinos.
I know, tough to be pulling for a thief, but give Billy and his crew a try and you will find it is not so tough. Big appeal to these stories is the insider information on how these scams are pulled off, the lengths some folks will go to pull them off and yes, in many cases, the level of skill required.
In this one, Billy moves a bit out of his comfort zone and attempts, as the name implies, a "Super Con". How, well that is easy, fix the Super Bowl after using the players to rip off the casinos in a black jack scam. The hows and whys will keep you guessing but in an enjoyable way. Granted, a few stereotypical characters - "Broken Tooth" a Chinese mafia thug and his henchmen, the woman who got away, the betrayer and the betrayed, etc. but some genuine fun escapism that Swain does so well.
I know, tough to be pulling for a thief, but give Billy and his crew a try and you will find it is not so tough. Big appeal to these stories is the insider information on how these scams are pulled off, the lengths some folks will go to pull them off and yes, in many cases, the level of skill required.
In this one, Billy moves a bit out of his comfort zone and attempts, as the name implies, a "Super Con". How, well that is easy, fix the Super Bowl after using the players to rip off the casinos in a black jack scam. The hows and whys will keep you guessing but in an enjoyable way. Granted, a few stereotypical characters - "Broken Tooth" a Chinese mafia thug and his henchmen, the woman who got away, the betrayer and the betrayed, etc. but some genuine fun escapism that Swain does so well.
March 11, 2018
Fun, fast and exciting
Billy Cunningham is a thief. His specialty is ripping off, cheating that is, Las Vegas casinos, and he is very good at it. In this book, Billy and his crew branch out a bit to fixing the biggest sporting event in the world, the Super Bowl, hence the title of the book, ". Super Con".
This is not the usual form for Billy; the job was suggested to him by a Chinese thug and big time fixer. He convinced Billy by threatening to kill members of the crew, staring with Cunningham's driver.
Mr. Swain lays out his plot and ramps up the action quickly and keeps the heat up throughout. Yet his stories are character driven, too. Billy lives for the love of the con: planning it, putting it into action, working it and, especially, seeing the plan work out with a big, make that a gigantic payoff. There is the love of his life, Megs, who is trying to go straight, and the star pro footballer whose cooperation and enthusiastic involvement in the con are nicely written.
Part of the thrill for the reader is trying to anticipate the twists and reading how the hero patches and overcomes difficulties.
I particularly enjoy novels about heist, cons and scams. Mr Swain writes some of the best of the genre. And if you love pro football, some of the things in this book might make you look at the big business of the Game in a whole, new and somewhat suspicious eye.
A very good book, and I recommend it.
A bit of violence. No offensive language or sex that I recall, but I was reading fast to get to the to the climax to see if the con worked and Billy lived to collect another payoff.
Billy Cunningham is a thief. His specialty is ripping off, cheating that is, Las Vegas casinos, and he is very good at it. In this book, Billy and his crew branch out a bit to fixing the biggest sporting event in the world, the Super Bowl, hence the title of the book, ". Super Con".
This is not the usual form for Billy; the job was suggested to him by a Chinese thug and big time fixer. He convinced Billy by threatening to kill members of the crew, staring with Cunningham's driver.
Mr. Swain lays out his plot and ramps up the action quickly and keeps the heat up throughout. Yet his stories are character driven, too. Billy lives for the love of the con: planning it, putting it into action, working it and, especially, seeing the plan work out with a big, make that a gigantic payoff. There is the love of his life, Megs, who is trying to go straight, and the star pro footballer whose cooperation and enthusiastic involvement in the con are nicely written.
Part of the thrill for the reader is trying to anticipate the twists and reading how the hero patches and overcomes difficulties.
I particularly enjoy novels about heist, cons and scams. Mr Swain writes some of the best of the genre. And if you love pro football, some of the things in this book might make you look at the big business of the Game in a whole, new and somewhat suspicious eye.
A very good book, and I recommend it.
A bit of violence. No offensive language or sex that I recall, but I was reading fast to get to the to the climax to see if the con worked and Billy lived to collect another payoff.
November 14, 2017
Super Con is another insider Vegas gambling adventure written by James Swain. Swain is the author of a couple of series featuring gambling locations and cons and this entry is the third in the Billy Cunninham books. I would not recommend beginning with this one for a couple of reasons. One is that there is already some relational backstory that the reader will understand, but it is best understood if you have read the backstory in the previous novels. Secondly, this entry in the series is fairly weak, which I put mostly down to a lack of editing.
Cunnnigham's driver is kidnapped and he is coerced to join another team in order to throw the Super Bowl. His desire to get his team-member back, do a great "super" con like the one put before him, but also take revenge on those who are coercing him are all elements of the satisfying plot.
What gets in the way is Swain's desire to share more inside knowledge than is needed for this story. I love reading about gambling tricks and con games, and that is one thing I love about his books. However, perhaps knowing that he will never write enough books to fit everything the knows in, he adds additional gaming or con information in almost every scene, even though it has nothing to do with this story. Though it is nice to get an insider's view of things, it dilutes the story and works against what might have been a taught thriller instead.
As I said, I would not recommend this as your first Swain novel, and unless you want to read all in a series, you might even skip this one.
Cunnnigham's driver is kidnapped and he is coerced to join another team in order to throw the Super Bowl. His desire to get his team-member back, do a great "super" con like the one put before him, but also take revenge on those who are coercing him are all elements of the satisfying plot.
What gets in the way is Swain's desire to share more inside knowledge than is needed for this story. I love reading about gambling tricks and con games, and that is one thing I love about his books. However, perhaps knowing that he will never write enough books to fit everything the knows in, he adds additional gaming or con information in almost every scene, even though it has nothing to do with this story. Though it is nice to get an insider's view of things, it dilutes the story and works against what might have been a taught thriller instead.
As I said, I would not recommend this as your first Swain novel, and unless you want to read all in a series, you might even skip this one.
September 11, 2018
Definitely a fun ride. I can't imagine where Billy might go from here, though, so is this the end of the series? Regardless, it sure was enjoyable. The author has a way of topping the previous heist, just when the reader is sure - at least, this reader was - that it couldn't be done. If I had a quibble, it would be that this installment felt a little "explain-y" (e.g., both Billy and Mags took time to explain in detail how various scams work) which seemed like it slowed down the action some. It was interesting, though, and I'm really not complaining about it.
I appreciated that the characters' behavior was true to the way they've been written over the last three books. If I've learned anything from these books, it's that (a) there's a lot of money changing hands in Vegas and (b) I have basically zero desire to go there. LOL!
I appreciated that the characters' behavior was true to the way they've been written over the last three books. If I've learned anything from these books, it's that (a) there's a lot of money changing hands in Vegas and (b) I have basically zero desire to go there. LOL!
December 27, 2017
I still think Billy Cunnigham is the craftiest and smartest cheat in Vegas. Also manages to solve the problems he faces. I look forward to the next in the series - I hope there's a next in the series!
January 8, 2018
I've enjoyed all of James Swain's stories and Super Con was another fun and suspenseful read throughout. Swain has a unique story line with the Billy Cunningham series -- it's not every day you get to ride the coattails of high-end gambling cheats dreaming up ways to swindle Las Vegas casinos on a grand scale.
Super Con is Billy's biggest scam yet, and Swain does a great job of keeping us wondering whether Billy will be able to pull off the multi-million dollar swindle, and doubles up on the suspense by putting two super cons into play, neither of which are certain, but both will put Billy on easy street if he can get away with them.
This story brings in a new gambling element than Swain's previous books -- sports betting, and gives readers a look into the NFL and its darker machinations that are kept from the public for good reason. It highlights just how multi-faceted the betting world is, and how vulnerable most of those forms can be to scammers. The timing of its release is perfect, with the biggest swindle a fix on the Super Bowl that ought to be impossible, but Billy quickly makes us realize there is always a way to cheat the system if one has the cojones and connections to pull it off.
One of my favorite aspects of Super Con is the way the author brings Maggie, a lost love for Billy, back into the picture and although her portion is kept fairly small, it really adds to the story's vibe and brings in a much-needed female and emotional aspect.
If you're looking for a serious-yet-fun, somewhat suspenseful read that is different than the usual detective/military thriller, snag this book and enjoy!
Super Con is Billy's biggest scam yet, and Swain does a great job of keeping us wondering whether Billy will be able to pull off the multi-million dollar swindle, and doubles up on the suspense by putting two super cons into play, neither of which are certain, but both will put Billy on easy street if he can get away with them.
This story brings in a new gambling element than Swain's previous books -- sports betting, and gives readers a look into the NFL and its darker machinations that are kept from the public for good reason. It highlights just how multi-faceted the betting world is, and how vulnerable most of those forms can be to scammers. The timing of its release is perfect, with the biggest swindle a fix on the Super Bowl that ought to be impossible, but Billy quickly makes us realize there is always a way to cheat the system if one has the cojones and connections to pull it off.
One of my favorite aspects of Super Con is the way the author brings Maggie, a lost love for Billy, back into the picture and although her portion is kept fairly small, it really adds to the story's vibe and brings in a much-needed female and emotional aspect.
If you're looking for a serious-yet-fun, somewhat suspenseful read that is different than the usual detective/military thriller, snag this book and enjoy!
December 29, 2017
Another fascinating ride into the con world of Las Vegas. This is the third in Swain's Billy Cunningham series, and it's wild. I always learn an incredible number of things in Swain's fast-hitting, violent, colorful world of con games. This time, the Las Vegas details on surveillance in and out of the city were quite astonishing to learn. And in this entry, Swain dives squarely into sports betting, which is absolutely riveting (and dismaying). It's Super Bowl time, and the bets are huge.
Swain knows exactly how to build up a story and leave the reader guessing to the very end. Swain's books (including his earlier Tony Valentine series) very clearly spell out how suckers get played in every casino in the world. If you love to gamble, don't read any of these books, or your little bubble of fun will burst. The truth is unpleasant -- you are a sucker, plain and simple, if you gamble. You don't have a chance between the rigged games and the cons working the other side. If you want to learn all about how gambling works, read Swain. You won't regret it, and you'll never be a sucker again.
The action is fast and dirty, and the characters are shady. It's an adrenaline ride! You won't soon forget this cast of characters. Swain hits a home run, yet again!
Swain knows exactly how to build up a story and leave the reader guessing to the very end. Swain's books (including his earlier Tony Valentine series) very clearly spell out how suckers get played in every casino in the world. If you love to gamble, don't read any of these books, or your little bubble of fun will burst. The truth is unpleasant -- you are a sucker, plain and simple, if you gamble. You don't have a chance between the rigged games and the cons working the other side. If you want to learn all about how gambling works, read Swain. You won't regret it, and you'll never be a sucker again.
The action is fast and dirty, and the characters are shady. It's an adrenaline ride! You won't soon forget this cast of characters. Swain hits a home run, yet again!
September 26, 2018
Super Con is another in the entertaining Billy Cunningham series, but it isn’t as good as many of the others. All the stories in this series feature various cons and scams aimed primarily at ripping off Vegas casinos (who knew there were so many different ways to accomplish this?). But where the better stories blend the scams into a well designed plot, Super Con seems a bit aimless.
Ostensibly it is a story about scamming the Super Bowl via some eminently corruptible players and at least one official. But that story really only takes center stage late in the book, while several other tangential plot lines occupy the rest.
Although each of these smaller stories are passable on their own, there seems to be a lack of cohesion between them, rendering the overall effect somewhat less than rewarding to read. Swain is a talented writer and so I was a bit disappointed by what seemed like a “mechanical “ effort here. The book seemed to have been written on autopilot and it lacked the soul of his previous entries.
Everyone deserves a break now and then, so 3.5 rounded down won’t prevent me from reading other Billy Cunningham episodes. After all, there has to be some limit to the number of ways to cheat in Sin City, and who better to run them down for me than Swain’s clever Mr. Cunningham?
Ostensibly it is a story about scamming the Super Bowl via some eminently corruptible players and at least one official. But that story really only takes center stage late in the book, while several other tangential plot lines occupy the rest.
Although each of these smaller stories are passable on their own, there seems to be a lack of cohesion between them, rendering the overall effect somewhat less than rewarding to read. Swain is a talented writer and so I was a bit disappointed by what seemed like a “mechanical “ effort here. The book seemed to have been written on autopilot and it lacked the soul of his previous entries.
Everyone deserves a break now and then, so 3.5 rounded down won’t prevent me from reading other Billy Cunningham episodes. After all, there has to be some limit to the number of ways to cheat in Sin City, and who better to run them down for me than Swain’s clever Mr. Cunningham?
April 30, 2025
The conclusion of the Billy Cunningham trilogy. Billy and his crew run scams to bilk money from the Las Vegas casinos, and has long been an irritant to the Gaming Enforcement team. He has partnered with another old timer for a Super Con, taking advantage of poorly manufactured card shoes, purchased by MGM-owned properties, that hide signs of cards being painted/marked. Things go sideways when his partner and family are identified by the Enforcement team, but Billy's ex warns him and they barely escape capture. Meanwhile, Broken Tooth, a Chinese mobster known for fixing games, kidnaps Billy's driver to force him to fix some prop bets for the upcoming Super Bowl. Billy gets invited to a poker game, and turns the tables on the Rebels defensive team leader, taking him for $60K. To entice them, he forgives the debt and promises them a huge payday; but, the NFL stops the play with a little blackmail of their own, to promote a young and upcoming quarterback. Lots of wheeling and dealing in this one.
October 8, 2020
An easy read, if not very challenging
My reaction to the 3rd book in the Billy Cunningham series was much like my reaction to the second: I kept trying to decide if I wanted to keep reading and inevitably found myself getting pulled back into the story. Swaim Places the story with so many Explanations on cheating That it's like passing 1 minor car rack after another. Part of you wants to stop And part of you can't help but get through the next explanation.
Plenty of cliches involved, from the scoundrel with a hint of a moral code to the former porn star with a heart of gold. Bad guys are easy to hate, but the good guys are not always as easy to love. More of a vicarious thrill to see someone else cheating their way to luxury without having to wrestle with your own conscience as you read.
Not sure y interest level will survive the wait for the next inevitable chapter in the saga.
My reaction to the 3rd book in the Billy Cunningham series was much like my reaction to the second: I kept trying to decide if I wanted to keep reading and inevitably found myself getting pulled back into the story. Swaim Places the story with so many Explanations on cheating That it's like passing 1 minor car rack after another. Part of you wants to stop And part of you can't help but get through the next explanation.
Plenty of cliches involved, from the scoundrel with a hint of a moral code to the former porn star with a heart of gold. Bad guys are easy to hate, but the good guys are not always as easy to love. More of a vicarious thrill to see someone else cheating their way to luxury without having to wrestle with your own conscience as you read.
Not sure y interest level will survive the wait for the next inevitable chapter in the saga.
February 8, 2018
I received Super Con in a Goodreads giveaway in return for my honest review and here it is.
Super Con focuses on Billy Cunningham and his crew as they traverse the Vegas gambling world and cheat it in as many ways as they can. In Super Con, a Chinese gambler, Broken Tooth, comes into the picture and threatens Billy into trying to fix the Super Bowl. On Billy and his teams' path to fixing the Super Bowl, they are faced with many different challenges and cheats that they try to pull off.
Super Con is not the type of book I would usually read, but it is full of action, gambling, and crafty ways to rip the casinos off. I found it to be an entertaining read and would recommend it to anyone who likes books about swindling in Vegas!
Super Con focuses on Billy Cunningham and his crew as they traverse the Vegas gambling world and cheat it in as many ways as they can. In Super Con, a Chinese gambler, Broken Tooth, comes into the picture and threatens Billy into trying to fix the Super Bowl. On Billy and his teams' path to fixing the Super Bowl, they are faced with many different challenges and cheats that they try to pull off.
Super Con is not the type of book I would usually read, but it is full of action, gambling, and crafty ways to rip the casinos off. I found it to be an entertaining read and would recommend it to anyone who likes books about swindling in Vegas!
May 25, 2019
Swain’s books are right in my sweet spot: constant casino heists and scams. So while I personally rate this one highly, it’s not without its flaws. The explanations for how scams are done often had really awkward setups, where one character would just ask “hey, how does this scam work?” The titular “super con” was fairly underwhelming, although the rigging of the Super Bowl was fun. It was pretty unrealistic though, as it implied that a bunch of gamblers put a bunch of money down on the underdog without the line moving (actually it moved in the opposite direction). Still, I can only hope that eventually this series results in Billy matching wits with Swain’s other character Tony Valentine.
December 20, 2017
Las Vegas where even the gambling establishments are crooked. If you enjoyed the movie's Ocean's 11 or the Italian Job you are in for a treat. Billy Cunningham is the leader of a crew of grifters whose life revolves around pulling cons on the big casinos. With the super bowl just around the corner, Billy and his crew are forced into setting up a super con for a ruthless Asian criminal named Broken Tooth who kidnaps Billy's limo driver. With the aid of his past flame actress Maggie Flynn, a Gambling agent named Grimes, another crime family and of course some not so squeaky clean football players, the con is on but will he win millions or end up in jail for a long time?
August 17, 2018
This was my least favorite in the series and there's really no one thing that makes it that.
The Billy & Mags story line is getting old. Mags has been an annoying character from the beginning, she just rubs wrong. I also keep thinking of her as much older than Billy. Which is weird.
The story is too packed with information. Now don't get me wrong, the info is great - but there is a thing of too much.
The football player aspect was also not as exciting as I think James Swain intended. (But I'm not a football fan, so this could be why)
The Billy & Mags story line is getting old. Mags has been an annoying character from the beginning, she just rubs wrong. I also keep thinking of her as much older than Billy. Which is weird.
The story is too packed with information. Now don't get me wrong, the info is great - but there is a thing of too much.
The football player aspect was also not as exciting as I think James Swain intended. (But I'm not a football fan, so this could be why)
December 21, 2017
Best at Writing Casino Heists, Bar None
Nobody can write up a casino scam like James Swain. This book has a goal so crazy - fix the biggest sporting event in the world -that it couldn't possibly work. But once Swain breaks it down you can see how easy such a thing could be. Another exciting chapter in this great series.
Nobody can write up a casino scam like James Swain. This book has a goal so crazy - fix the biggest sporting event in the world -that it couldn't possibly work. But once Swain breaks it down you can see how easy such a thing could be. Another exciting chapter in this great series.
January 12, 2018
I've never read a James Swain book I didn't completely love from start to finish. OK, bear in mind that I've never read any of the Peter Warlock books, but all of the Tony Valentine or Billy Cunningham novels are just a fantastic romp from start to finish.
This one is no better or no worse than any of the others -- because they're all great.
This one is no better or no worse than any of the others -- because they're all great.
May 9, 2018
Throw me another curve!
This book has more plot twists and turns than the Nuremburgring! Billy Cunningham continues to defy the odds, this time dealing with a Chinese gambler and the Super Bowl. Some interesting new characters, and the we get to know Mags better. Some parts stretched credulity, but I couldn’t put it down!
This book has more plot twists and turns than the Nuremburgring! Billy Cunningham continues to defy the odds, this time dealing with a Chinese gambler and the Super Bowl. Some interesting new characters, and the we get to know Mags better. Some parts stretched credulity, but I couldn’t put it down!
December 1, 2018
Somehow, Mr. Swain used an exact same scene in this book that he used in Bad Action. I don't understand how that happened from such an excellent, talented writer...
I don't read the "coming attractions" in the back of books so I didn't get confused.
Other than that, another home run by Mr. Swain.
I don't read the "coming attractions" in the back of books so I didn't get confused.
Other than that, another home run by Mr. Swain.
October 9, 2019
Con games, cheating casinos, dubious Nevada gaming agents, this novel has it all. A very fun read for people who like that sort of thing. Swain throws in enough monkey wrenches to make it interesting as a bit suspenseful.
The casino cheat scams are probably real, but well defended against in today's modern casinos. But it does give the reader an opportunity for some fantasies.
The casino cheat scams are probably real, but well defended against in today's modern casinos. But it does give the reader an opportunity for some fantasies.
December 26, 2017
A fast reading story about cheating. Cheating on casinos, sporting events and life. The story was believable and throughout the story the reader easily becomes the main character. I recommend this book to those who like auction and danger. I received this book from Goodreads for free.
August 4, 2018
James Swain is a favorite of mine, and this series is great. Billy and his crew are amazing, and this installment is no different. We have seen Billy grift and bilk the system and scam everyone and everything, but how can he possibly fix the Super Bowl? Highly recommended!
February 10, 2019
The Billy Cunningham series has been a whole lot of fun to read. Book 3 is no exception, as Billy & his crew team up with some football stars in an effort to "fix"the superbowl for a big score. As usual, Billy needs to use his cunning (get it) to deal with multiple setbacks & the gaming board. I hope to see more books in this series.
August 19, 2019
Again I say again
This is nothing but the best three books I've had the privilege of reading in quite some time this last one got my girl Mags back in the crew can't wAit for more with Billy and his crew oh right he d does not have a crew....
This is nothing but the best three books I've had the privilege of reading in quite some time this last one got my girl Mags back in the crew can't wAit for more with Billy and his crew oh right he d does not have a crew....
October 22, 2019
Fast moving
Very entertaining, lots of unexpected twists. No deep thinking, just light reading but you don’t want to put it down. A little violent but not offensive in other ways, pretty much PG.
Very entertaining, lots of unexpected twists. No deep thinking, just light reading but you don’t want to put it down. A little violent but not offensive in other ways, pretty much PG.
October 1, 2020
Excellent book! This is the third book with the character Billy Cunningham. Excellent information about gambling and cons performed at the casinos. The author actually interviewed many cheats.
I recommend this author!!!
I recommend this author!!!
December 1, 2020
Still can’t put it down
The third book in the series and I still couldn’t get myself to put it down. Looking forward to book four to see what Billy and his (or he doesn’t have a) crew get into.
The third book in the series and I still couldn’t get myself to put it down. Looking forward to book four to see what Billy and his (or he doesn’t have a) crew get into.
December 16, 2024
Bingo Get it again
I think this was His best Book to date that I've read Twists and turns And I love it when the bad guy gets his in the end and the good guys win Keep them comin mister Keep them comin mister swain Thank youswain
Bill Stanukenas
I think this was His best Book to date that I've read Twists and turns And I love it when the bad guy gets his in the end and the good guys win Keep them comin mister Keep them comin mister swain Thank youswain
Bill Stanukenas
January 11, 2018
Fun and Fastpaced
Fun and entertaining book about gambling and football. It is a page turner that was fast paced with lots of action.
Fun and entertaining book about gambling and football. It is a page turner that was fast paced with lots of action.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews