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Tony Valentine #5
Mr. Lucky
Tony Valentine made his living and his name as a cop in Atlantic City-and is now known worldwide for his ability to spot the kinds of scams, grifts, and rip-offs that cost casinos billions every year. A man with a biting wit who drives a '92 Honda, Tony is low-profile, old-school, and has seen it all-until he meets the luckiest man on earth.
Ricky Smith was once a small-town loser. Then he went to Las Vegas, jumped out the window of a burning hotel, lived to tell the tale, and tore up the Strip on an incredible winning streak. Ricky didn't just win at one slot machine or table game. He won at blackjack, roulette, and craps, and then beat the pants off the world's greatest poker player. Tony knows that goofy, loudmouthed Ricky Smith-or anyone else, for that matter-couldn't possibly be" "that fortunate. But when "Mr. Lucky" returns home to the little town of Slippery Rock, North Carolina, he keeps on winning everything from a horse race to a $50,000 lottery.
Hired by a desperate casino, Tony starts to pry into Ricky's past, his friends, and the strange little town that is benefiting from Ricky's fame and fortune. Unfortunately for Tony, his cover is blown when he is forced to reveal a trick he has up his own sleeve: a pocket Glock he can shoot with laser-like precision. Suddenly, two men are dead, the cops are on Tony's tail, and the investigation explodes in violence-putting the lives of Tony's son and his young family in danger. For years, Tony's son Gerry has dueled with his own criminal impulses. Now, the Ricky Smith case has lured Gerry through the gates of temptation and into a murderous confrontation with the Dixie Mafia. With Tony stuck on the slippery slope of Slippery Rock and Gerry fighting for his life, the Valentines are finding out just how bad good luck can get.
Against a neon-tinted backdrop of adrenaline rushes, hard crashes, big money, and high-wire tension, the inimitable James Swain has set his best Tony Valentine novel yet: a funny, furious ride with an astounding array of crooks, marks, and one killer scam.
Ricky Smith was once a small-town loser. Then he went to Las Vegas, jumped out the window of a burning hotel, lived to tell the tale, and tore up the Strip on an incredible winning streak. Ricky didn't just win at one slot machine or table game. He won at blackjack, roulette, and craps, and then beat the pants off the world's greatest poker player. Tony knows that goofy, loudmouthed Ricky Smith-or anyone else, for that matter-couldn't possibly be" "that fortunate. But when "Mr. Lucky" returns home to the little town of Slippery Rock, North Carolina, he keeps on winning everything from a horse race to a $50,000 lottery.
Hired by a desperate casino, Tony starts to pry into Ricky's past, his friends, and the strange little town that is benefiting from Ricky's fame and fortune. Unfortunately for Tony, his cover is blown when he is forced to reveal a trick he has up his own sleeve: a pocket Glock he can shoot with laser-like precision. Suddenly, two men are dead, the cops are on Tony's tail, and the investigation explodes in violence-putting the lives of Tony's son and his young family in danger. For years, Tony's son Gerry has dueled with his own criminal impulses. Now, the Ricky Smith case has lured Gerry through the gates of temptation and into a murderous confrontation with the Dixie Mafia. With Tony stuck on the slippery slope of Slippery Rock and Gerry fighting for his life, the Valentines are finding out just how bad good luck can get.
Against a neon-tinted backdrop of adrenaline rushes, hard crashes, big money, and high-wire tension, the inimitable James Swain has set his best Tony Valentine novel yet: a funny, furious ride with an astounding array of crooks, marks, and one killer scam.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2005
About the author
James Swain
49 books357 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
March 14, 2016
This is the fifth novel in James Swain's series featuring Tony Valentine, and it's among the best in the series. Valentine is an ex-cop who now works as a consultant for casinos around the world, helping them to catch cheats. Usually this involves nothing more than Tony sitting in his recliner at his home in Florida, watching videotapes that the casinos send him and sussing out the cheater's scheme. Occasionally, though, Tony has to get out into the field and investigate things up close and personal, and this is one of those times.
Ricky Smith is a hapless loser from Slippery Rock, North Carolina, and he seems to have finally hit the end of the line one night in Las Vegas when his hotel catches on fire, trapping him on an upper floor. He has no choice but to jump from the balcony in his room and end it all quickly. But, as fate would have it, he crashes through a skylight and lands in the deep end of the hotel's swimming pool. He loses his shoes, but not his life.
Unable to believe his good fortune, he crawls out of the pool, dashes across the street into a neighboring casino and takes a seat at a blackjack table. Having lost all his money in the burning hotel, he borrows twenty bucks from a little old lady and begins to play. Racing from game to game, he cleans up everywhere. He wins at blackjack, roulette and craps. Then, as a capper to the evening, he goes into the poker room and beats the pants off a world champion player.
Those watching in disbelief, dub him "Mr. Lucky." He takes the casino for a million dollars, insisting that the miracle that allowed him to survive the fire had transformed his life. The casino is not so sure and they withhold payment, pending an investigation. Meanwhile, Ricky goes back to Slippery Rock, where his lucky streak continues unabated.
The casino hires Tony Valentine to look into things. Like the casino, Valentine simply cannot believe that anyone could have really been that lucky, miracle or not. When he can't spot anything on the videotapes, Tony reluctantly goes to Slippery Rock to investigate in person and there the sparks really begin to fly.
This is one of the most complex cases that Tony has faced yet. The usual cast of supporting characters is in place and the book is a great deal of fun, filled with action, suspense and humor doled out in just the right amounts. It's hard to imagine any fan of crime fiction who would not enjoy this book.
Ricky Smith is a hapless loser from Slippery Rock, North Carolina, and he seems to have finally hit the end of the line one night in Las Vegas when his hotel catches on fire, trapping him on an upper floor. He has no choice but to jump from the balcony in his room and end it all quickly. But, as fate would have it, he crashes through a skylight and lands in the deep end of the hotel's swimming pool. He loses his shoes, but not his life.
Unable to believe his good fortune, he crawls out of the pool, dashes across the street into a neighboring casino and takes a seat at a blackjack table. Having lost all his money in the burning hotel, he borrows twenty bucks from a little old lady and begins to play. Racing from game to game, he cleans up everywhere. He wins at blackjack, roulette and craps. Then, as a capper to the evening, he goes into the poker room and beats the pants off a world champion player.
Those watching in disbelief, dub him "Mr. Lucky." He takes the casino for a million dollars, insisting that the miracle that allowed him to survive the fire had transformed his life. The casino is not so sure and they withhold payment, pending an investigation. Meanwhile, Ricky goes back to Slippery Rock, where his lucky streak continues unabated.
The casino hires Tony Valentine to look into things. Like the casino, Valentine simply cannot believe that anyone could have really been that lucky, miracle or not. When he can't spot anything on the videotapes, Tony reluctantly goes to Slippery Rock to investigate in person and there the sparks really begin to fly.
This is one of the most complex cases that Tony has faced yet. The usual cast of supporting characters is in place and the book is a great deal of fun, filled with action, suspense and humor doled out in just the right amounts. It's hard to imagine any fan of crime fiction who would not enjoy this book.
May 16, 2017
Swain knows how to tell a story and that knowledge is evident in each and every book in his Tony Valentine series. Valentine, a retired Atlantic City detective, now makes his living as a casino consultant, catching cheaters. Each book is a thrill ride of scams, con men, and
cheaters.
The fifth book in the series, Mr. Lucky, takes place primarily outside Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Except for the opening scenes which combine scenes from the Towering Inferno with every high stakes
gambling movie, much of the story takes place in small Southern towns. Makes for a good change of pace. The storylines develop slowly with Valentine out to catch Mr. Lucky, a man who comes out of
nowheresville with the Midas touch and can't seem to lose no matter what he does. Valentine's son Gerry also plays a fairly big role in this book, running his own investigation.
This is a thoroughly fun read, well plotted, and easy to read.
cheaters.
The fifth book in the series, Mr. Lucky, takes place primarily outside Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Except for the opening scenes which combine scenes from the Towering Inferno with every high stakes
gambling movie, much of the story takes place in small Southern towns. Makes for a good change of pace. The storylines develop slowly with Valentine out to catch Mr. Lucky, a man who comes out of
nowheresville with the Midas touch and can't seem to lose no matter what he does. Valentine's son Gerry also plays a fairly big role in this book, running his own investigation.
This is a thoroughly fun read, well plotted, and easy to read.
September 8, 2018
Tony Valentine's adventures continue to prove delightful. The author does a fantastic job of weaving in gambling cheats and con games that never fail to add strength to an already great story. This time around, the story revolves around a small time guy who suddenly strikes it rich in Las Vegas-- and the casino is convinced that he cheated somehow. Valentine follows his trail as he wins lottery tickets, a high school raffle, etc. Over and over again Mr. Lucky proves lucky, but Valentine sniffs a scam-- one that is difficult to unravel. In the meantime, he manages to get the gambling ban lifted from his son, Gerry, hoping that Gerry has grown up enough to avoid more trouble. He gives Gerry a job and Gerry faces another temptation--
The one draw back to this one is an interaction with a crazed criminal family who is out to get Gerry's family. Rather than adding to the story, for me, it was just filler material that was only semi-interesting.
This one is full of clever tricks and gimmicks that makes Swain's writing really good. I also think it is excellent than when Valentine has to use lethal force he faces real regrets and stress over it, instead of being sort of a superhero good guy who does what he has to do in a matter-of-fact manner. Taking a life needs to be a moment that a hero takes stock in or he becomes a psychopath, sort of like Lee Child's Reacher character is morphing into, to my great sorrow!
Swain's Valentine series is great and I highly recommend it.
The one draw back to this one is an interaction with a crazed criminal family who is out to get Gerry's family. Rather than adding to the story, for me, it was just filler material that was only semi-interesting.
This one is full of clever tricks and gimmicks that makes Swain's writing really good. I also think it is excellent than when Valentine has to use lethal force he faces real regrets and stress over it, instead of being sort of a superhero good guy who does what he has to do in a matter-of-fact manner. Taking a life needs to be a moment that a hero takes stock in or he becomes a psychopath, sort of like Lee Child's Reacher character is morphing into, to my great sorrow!
Swain's Valentine series is great and I highly recommend it.
December 12, 2017
Swain knows how to tell a story and that knowledge is evident in his Tony Valentine series. Valentine, a retired Atlantic City detective, now makes his living as a casino consultant, catching cheaters.
This is my first book of the Mr. Lucky series. I'll never go down in history as being a reader that starts with the first book. Rarely does that happen with me. When I was in the library, I saw this and it appealed to me, so I checked it out. What a hoot. I've really enjoyed reading it, the characters are enjoyable and the protagonists are fun to read about.
The fifth book in the series, Mr. Lucky, takes place primarily outside Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Except for the opening scenes which combine scenes from the Towering Inferno with every high stakes gambling movie, much of the story takes place in small Southern towns. Makes for a good change of pace. The story lines develop slowly with Valentine out to catch Mr. Lucky, a man who comes out of nowheresville with the Midas touch and can't seem to lose no matter what he does. The tricks that Ricky used to win was amazing, and another amazing thing was that Valentine and his son Gerry piece by piece were able to break this apart and figure out how the scams were done.
Quite phenomenal actually that he was that smart. I was in quite awe when I learned how they figured it out. Valentine's son Gerry also plays a fairly big role in this book, running his own investigation.
This is a thoroughly fun, easy, and well plotted book. I enjoyed it very much.
This is my first book of the Mr. Lucky series. I'll never go down in history as being a reader that starts with the first book. Rarely does that happen with me. When I was in the library, I saw this and it appealed to me, so I checked it out. What a hoot. I've really enjoyed reading it, the characters are enjoyable and the protagonists are fun to read about.
The fifth book in the series, Mr. Lucky, takes place primarily outside Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Except for the opening scenes which combine scenes from the Towering Inferno with every high stakes gambling movie, much of the story takes place in small Southern towns. Makes for a good change of pace. The story lines develop slowly with Valentine out to catch Mr. Lucky, a man who comes out of nowheresville with the Midas touch and can't seem to lose no matter what he does. The tricks that Ricky used to win was amazing, and another amazing thing was that Valentine and his son Gerry piece by piece were able to break this apart and figure out how the scams were done.
Quite phenomenal actually that he was that smart. I was in quite awe when I learned how they figured it out. Valentine's son Gerry also plays a fairly big role in this book, running his own investigation.
This is a thoroughly fun, easy, and well plotted book. I enjoyed it very much.
November 17, 2013
MR. LUCKY, (Pub. 2005) by James Swain was my third read of this author's works, and I am still loving this guy. I'm buzzing through the books my library has, and will then be plunking down my hard-earned cash for his new books as they come out. He's catapulted his way onto my top five favorite authors list, and that is no easy trick because I've been a huge book fan my whole life, and am now a very picky reader.
What I like best about all of Swain's stories is the different angle he takes. MR. LUCKY is from Swain's Tony Valentine series, and features, Valentine, an ex-cop who left the force under questionable circumstances and no pension. He now earns a substantial living by helping casinos unearth cheaters and scammers, and he's the best in the business because that's largely what he did while working as a detective on the police force.
In Mr. Lucky, we get to follow two story threads - the main thread comes about when Valentine gets a call from a disgruntled casino owner, asking him to check into a guy the press is calling 'the luckiest man in the world'. The guy, Ricky Smith, just keeps winning at everything . . . he wins $20,000 at The Mint in Los Vegas, while a neighboring casino burns to the ground. Then goes to another casino down the road and hits it big on roulette. When he arrives home, he wins a local lottery worth a million bucks. But Valentine's no dummy--he knows nobody is that lucky, so he takes the job. But there turns out to be a deep and wide reason why Mr. Lucky is so lucky, and that reason comes packing guns and all kinds of trouble.
Meanwhile, Valentine sends his adult son, Gerry, a former gambling addict, to speak with the world's greatest poker player. Ricky Smith, Mr. Lucky, managed to play the poker expert and win. Valentines smells a dead fish and wants his son to interview the poker player. But the guy turns out to be a crafty dog, and the poker player dangles an easy $50K for Gerry, if he will agree to help cheat an unsuspecting billionaire in a game of poker. Gerry's conscience kicks in at the last minute and he bails on the deal. But unbeknownst to him, the Dixie Mafia is behind the game and they aren't happy that he walked, because it cost the cheating cartel a couple hundred grand. Of course, that leads to another barrel of trouble for Gerry and his family.
One of the things I really admire about Swain's stories is how well he fleshes out the characters, not just the MC, but all the major players. In earlier stories, we see Gerry, Valentines son, is pretty much a complete loser. One of those guys that's always got an excuse for why he can't get his life together, and our hero, Valentine, suffers through Gerry's immaturity and irresponsibility with a grudgingly caustic approach as the weary father that can see where his son is headed. But in this story, we see Gerry make a bend in the curve and start heading down the right road for a change. The author handles it with a light-touch, but in a very organic-to-the-story way, and it's fun to see someone starting to get things right, even in the midst of a hell-storm of trouble raining down.
And it's a good thing Gerry's getting his act together across the state line because Valentine is up to his eyeballs in bad guys. But he's no chicken, and he's determined to unmask Mr. Lucky for the loser and cheater the guy is underneath all that unearned dough that keeps coming his way. And sure enough, in the end, Valentine prevails and we have fun along the way, learning all the interesting and incredibly crafty ways Mr. Lucky has gotten so darn lucky.
The story ends with a twisty and satisfying end that left me feeling as though all the loose ends were tied up and the correct comeuppance has been achieve for all the players involved. It doesn't end with a bang, but it does end with some interesting angles and another unique moment for Valentine on the personal side of things, a problem with a woman that's captured his heart, and resolves a guilty conscience that's been poking at him on and off all through the book.
The thing I love about Swain's stories is they hold my interest all the way through, I learn stuff, and they make me ponder my own ways of approaching the world, open a person's eyes a little bit without ever getting preachy or too teacherly, and most importantly, without ever slowing the pace or derailing the story in progress. Plus we get action, along with some violence, an interesting story that's different than the usual murder/detective stuff, all with a regular whiff of Valentine's dry humor. If you haven't read Swain's work yet, you really are missing out.
What I like best about all of Swain's stories is the different angle he takes. MR. LUCKY is from Swain's Tony Valentine series, and features, Valentine, an ex-cop who left the force under questionable circumstances and no pension. He now earns a substantial living by helping casinos unearth cheaters and scammers, and he's the best in the business because that's largely what he did while working as a detective on the police force.
In Mr. Lucky, we get to follow two story threads - the main thread comes about when Valentine gets a call from a disgruntled casino owner, asking him to check into a guy the press is calling 'the luckiest man in the world'. The guy, Ricky Smith, just keeps winning at everything . . . he wins $20,000 at The Mint in Los Vegas, while a neighboring casino burns to the ground. Then goes to another casino down the road and hits it big on roulette. When he arrives home, he wins a local lottery worth a million bucks. But Valentine's no dummy--he knows nobody is that lucky, so he takes the job. But there turns out to be a deep and wide reason why Mr. Lucky is so lucky, and that reason comes packing guns and all kinds of trouble.
Meanwhile, Valentine sends his adult son, Gerry, a former gambling addict, to speak with the world's greatest poker player. Ricky Smith, Mr. Lucky, managed to play the poker expert and win. Valentines smells a dead fish and wants his son to interview the poker player. But the guy turns out to be a crafty dog, and the poker player dangles an easy $50K for Gerry, if he will agree to help cheat an unsuspecting billionaire in a game of poker. Gerry's conscience kicks in at the last minute and he bails on the deal. But unbeknownst to him, the Dixie Mafia is behind the game and they aren't happy that he walked, because it cost the cheating cartel a couple hundred grand. Of course, that leads to another barrel of trouble for Gerry and his family.
One of the things I really admire about Swain's stories is how well he fleshes out the characters, not just the MC, but all the major players. In earlier stories, we see Gerry, Valentines son, is pretty much a complete loser. One of those guys that's always got an excuse for why he can't get his life together, and our hero, Valentine, suffers through Gerry's immaturity and irresponsibility with a grudgingly caustic approach as the weary father that can see where his son is headed. But in this story, we see Gerry make a bend in the curve and start heading down the right road for a change. The author handles it with a light-touch, but in a very organic-to-the-story way, and it's fun to see someone starting to get things right, even in the midst of a hell-storm of trouble raining down.
And it's a good thing Gerry's getting his act together across the state line because Valentine is up to his eyeballs in bad guys. But he's no chicken, and he's determined to unmask Mr. Lucky for the loser and cheater the guy is underneath all that unearned dough that keeps coming his way. And sure enough, in the end, Valentine prevails and we have fun along the way, learning all the interesting and incredibly crafty ways Mr. Lucky has gotten so darn lucky.
The story ends with a twisty and satisfying end that left me feeling as though all the loose ends were tied up and the correct comeuppance has been achieve for all the players involved. It doesn't end with a bang, but it does end with some interesting angles and another unique moment for Valentine on the personal side of things, a problem with a woman that's captured his heart, and resolves a guilty conscience that's been poking at him on and off all through the book.
The thing I love about Swain's stories is they hold my interest all the way through, I learn stuff, and they make me ponder my own ways of approaching the world, open a person's eyes a little bit without ever getting preachy or too teacherly, and most importantly, without ever slowing the pace or derailing the story in progress. Plus we get action, along with some violence, an interesting story that's different than the usual murder/detective stuff, all with a regular whiff of Valentine's dry humor. If you haven't read Swain's work yet, you really are missing out.
March 21, 2020
The last time I finished a Tony Valentine book, I remember thinking...this is a good series, you need to read the next one.
It’s been a long time.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s funny, Tony travels to Slippery Rock, NC which doesn’t exist. But I think it would be somewhere around Hendersonville. Sliding Rock is not a municipal, but it’s a place in the mountains of NC.
The premise of this storyline...Ricky Smith has a sting of luck that surpasses anyone’s wildest dreams. Tony is tasked with finding how he cheated but a first it almost seams like he truly is this lucky. So he submerses himself in the hometown of Ricky to try and figure things out. It’s a lot more than he bargained for.
I love the premise of these books. The policing of gambling cheaters fascinates me. And this author can really write a good mystery.
The characters, Tony, Gerry, Yolanda and Mabel are great. And the added mystery just enhances the substance of the book itself.
I ordered the last 2 books of the series and I’m a little disappointed there aren’t anymore. The author is still alive but it’s been a while since he has written a book from this series.
I really like this series and I’m hoping there is more than just 2 left.
It’s been a long time.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s funny, Tony travels to Slippery Rock, NC which doesn’t exist. But I think it would be somewhere around Hendersonville. Sliding Rock is not a municipal, but it’s a place in the mountains of NC.
The premise of this storyline...Ricky Smith has a sting of luck that surpasses anyone’s wildest dreams. Tony is tasked with finding how he cheated but a first it almost seams like he truly is this lucky. So he submerses himself in the hometown of Ricky to try and figure things out. It’s a lot more than he bargained for.
I love the premise of these books. The policing of gambling cheaters fascinates me. And this author can really write a good mystery.
The characters, Tony, Gerry, Yolanda and Mabel are great. And the added mystery just enhances the substance of the book itself.
I ordered the last 2 books of the series and I’m a little disappointed there aren’t anymore. The author is still alive but it’s been a while since he has written a book from this series.
I really like this series and I’m hoping there is more than just 2 left.
Read
May 14, 2023I've enjoyed the Tony Valentine books in the past, and in particular, the clever ruses used by cheats and con men within the gambling world that Mr. Swain exposes. Yet, somehow, despite this book being one of the author's most complicated plots, I felt a bit disappointed.
The story itself is a good one, or two actually, as there is a parallel plot-line involving Tony's son, Gerry. As a world renowned expert in spotting scams, cheats, and grifts of all kinds, Tony is hired by casinos to "catch a thief" so to speak. Well, Gerry sort of rides on his dad's reputation and gets himself hired to do the same type of thing in a small southern town, only to wind up the target of the Dixie Mafia and in, as the old Dodge Challenger commercial put it, "a heap o' trouble, boy."
Tony's case is the more complicated one and for a while, he's genuinely stumped. Yep, he can't find the scam's trick-- how this one guy, Ricky Smith, who is billing himself as the "world's luckiest man" took a Las Vegas casino for a pile of cash, winning every game he played in craps, blackjack, roulette, and even poker against a world-class champ. So Valentine travels to Smith's home town of Slippery Rock, North Carolina, to figure things out. But for much of the book, he doesn't. He just can't spot the scam in any one of many instances where Ricky seems to be playing a fair game (e.g., Belmont Stakes horse racing), yet just can't lose.
Things get even stickier when Tony is forced to kill a couple of bad guys (he's an ex-cop, after all), and becomes ever more determined to foil what has to be a clever scam. Of course, the reader knows that in the end, Valentine will prevail. And watching him do so is, and has always been, the best part of these books. So why only 3 stars (actually, 3.5 rounded down)? Because, in general, it seemed as though Swain had become too mechanical in presenting the scam and revealing it's secret. It's as if the entire book is a story interspersed with facts about how various casino / gambling cheats operate, and the "emotion" of the story seemed to fade into the background. It wasn't overwhelming, more of a subtle feeling that I experienced. I longed for greater integration of explanation within the storyline, rather than what I felt was delivered.
Perhaps it's just me. I know many of my fellow GR's liked this one better than I, but I wasn't as drawn in, or fascinated by the exposé quality as I'd been in the past. I think Swain was simply following his successful formula and perhaps became a bit too enamored of same. I enjoyed the book on the whole, but feel his previous entries in this series might be better.
The story itself is a good one, or two actually, as there is a parallel plot-line involving Tony's son, Gerry. As a world renowned expert in spotting scams, cheats, and grifts of all kinds, Tony is hired by casinos to "catch a thief" so to speak. Well, Gerry sort of rides on his dad's reputation and gets himself hired to do the same type of thing in a small southern town, only to wind up the target of the Dixie Mafia and in, as the old Dodge Challenger commercial put it, "a heap o' trouble, boy."
Tony's case is the more complicated one and for a while, he's genuinely stumped. Yep, he can't find the scam's trick-- how this one guy, Ricky Smith, who is billing himself as the "world's luckiest man" took a Las Vegas casino for a pile of cash, winning every game he played in craps, blackjack, roulette, and even poker against a world-class champ. So Valentine travels to Smith's home town of Slippery Rock, North Carolina, to figure things out. But for much of the book, he doesn't. He just can't spot the scam in any one of many instances where Ricky seems to be playing a fair game (e.g., Belmont Stakes horse racing), yet just can't lose.
Things get even stickier when Tony is forced to kill a couple of bad guys (he's an ex-cop, after all), and becomes ever more determined to foil what has to be a clever scam. Of course, the reader knows that in the end, Valentine will prevail. And watching him do so is, and has always been, the best part of these books. So why only 3 stars (actually, 3.5 rounded down)? Because, in general, it seemed as though Swain had become too mechanical in presenting the scam and revealing it's secret. It's as if the entire book is a story interspersed with facts about how various casino / gambling cheats operate, and the "emotion" of the story seemed to fade into the background. It wasn't overwhelming, more of a subtle feeling that I experienced. I longed for greater integration of explanation within the storyline, rather than what I felt was delivered.
Perhaps it's just me. I know many of my fellow GR's liked this one better than I, but I wasn't as drawn in, or fascinated by the exposé quality as I'd been in the past. I think Swain was simply following his successful formula and perhaps became a bit too enamored of same. I enjoyed the book on the whole, but feel his previous entries in this series might be better.
February 9, 2015
The Tony Valentine series is great fun, due mainly to Swain's knowledge of casino security and cheating. Where Mr. Lucky and the series fall short are in the believability of the central conflicts -- the crimes that drive the plots. The protagonist's son Gerry, for example, is a bumbling loser trying to make good, yet he has miraculous good fortune as he out-maneuvers three thugs and dispatches them in extraordinary fashion.
I'm all for suspending disbelief, but some of the plot points make that a rigorous challenge.
Great fun on the beach -- or the flight to Vegas -- but not in the league of Robert B. Parker or John D. MacDonald.
I'm all for suspending disbelief, but some of the plot points make that a rigorous challenge.
Great fun on the beach -- or the flight to Vegas -- but not in the league of Robert B. Parker or John D. MacDonald.
April 2, 2009
First I read of James Swain and his hero Tony Valentine. Not bad, a very little Carl Hiassen like humor with a healthy dose of James Patterson or John Sandford mixed in. The hook in this book is that the hero chases casino cheats and it is very interesting how he outlines various ways that casinos get ripped off while chasing a suspect that he is stumped on how he won 1 million dollars in 1 night at a Vegas casino.
In real life Mr. Swain is touted an authority on crooked gambling and cheating and I believe it after reading this adventure.
In real life Mr. Swain is touted an authority on crooked gambling and cheating and I believe it after reading this adventure.
March 22, 2011
The rating should be 3.5 stars...I really liked this book and enjoyed the plot and characters. I loved reading about all the casino scams. This book had all the right elements to be a solid 4 star but the ending was not as good as it could have been so it was really 3.5 stars. Also the book had many sub-plots going on that it was pretty choppy at times. Even with the flaws just mentioned, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
January 19, 2009
This one keeps you guessing. Apparently it is the fifth in the series but I don't feel like I missed anything with just picking this one up. The characters are all intriguing and James Swain knows how to keep the story going.
August 7, 2012
Tony Valentine investigates swindling at casinos. When the "luckiest" man in the world wins a bundle in Vegas Valentine is on the job to try and find his scams. A little mystery, some fine twists in the story and some humor on the side.
June 30, 2008
The most mysterious part was revelations about how gambling scams work, but the story overall left me wondering why I read it.
January 8, 2010
Fun, fast paced read that kept me going through out. Bob, as you mention, the relationship between father and son is great to watch - however I really like watching Gerry grow.
January 17, 2011
This was a good read. Interesting characters. Liked the way Swain developed the plot with a couple of twists thrown in.
May 27, 2021
Ricky Smith was once a small-town loser. Then he went to Las Vegas, jumped out the window of a burning hotel, lived to tell the tale, and tore up the Strip on an incredible winning streak. Ricky didn't just win at one slot machine or table game. He won at blackjack, roulette, and craps, and then beat the pants off the world's greatest poker player. Tony knows that goofy, loudmouthed Ricky Smith-or anyone else, for that matter-couldn't possibly be" "that fortunate. But when "Mr. Lucky" returns home to the little town of Slippery Rock, North Carolina, he keeps on winning everything from a horse race to a $50,000 lottery.
Hired by a desperate casino, Tony starts to pry into Ricky's past, his friends, and the strange little town that is benefiting from Ricky's fame and fortune. Unfortunately for Tony, his cover is blown when he is forced to reveal a trick he has up his own sleeve: a pocket Glock he can shoot with laser-like precision. Suddenly, two men are dead, the cops are on Tony's tail, and the investigation explodes in violence-putting the lives of Tony's son and his young family in danger. For years, Tony's son Gerry has dueled with his own criminal impulses. Now, the Ricky Smith case has lured Gerry through the gates of temptation and into a murderous confrontation with the Dixie Mafia. With Tony stuck on the slippery slope of Slippery Rock and Gerry fighting for his life, the Valentines are finding out just how bad good luck can get.
Hired by a desperate casino, Tony starts to pry into Ricky's past, his friends, and the strange little town that is benefiting from Ricky's fame and fortune. Unfortunately for Tony, his cover is blown when he is forced to reveal a trick he has up his own sleeve: a pocket Glock he can shoot with laser-like precision. Suddenly, two men are dead, the cops are on Tony's tail, and the investigation explodes in violence-putting the lives of Tony's son and his young family in danger. For years, Tony's son Gerry has dueled with his own criminal impulses. Now, the Ricky Smith case has lured Gerry through the gates of temptation and into a murderous confrontation with the Dixie Mafia. With Tony stuck on the slippery slope of Slippery Rock and Gerry fighting for his life, the Valentines are finding out just how bad good luck can get.
January 1, 2018
3.5-4 stars
Mr. Lucky-james swain
I’ve been doing this series on audiobook to listen to at work.
I think this one was the best one so far!
The tony valentine series is well written & researched. Swain comes across as very knowledgeable about the gaming industry. It says in his bio that he is an amateur magician & I get that sense with his storylines.
I’ve grown to like the main characters: Tony Valentine, Gerry, Yolanda and Mabel.
I also enjoy learning about the different cheating scams.
He explains the various scams work in an easily understood way.
I enjoyed it b/c I was constantly trying to figure out what was going on/how Mr. Lucky was cheating, etc…
The action moves quickly. The tension of the suspense is intense.
I will say one thing I’ve learned is that the Tony Valentine series should be read in order (unlike other series).
I recommend this one to anyone who wants to keep their brain engaged listening to it on audio while involved in other activities. (ie. Work, driving, stuck in traffic, cleaning the house, etc)
Also anyone who is interested in a window into the gaming industry, magic, and gambling scams.
As well as people who are looking for a suspense/thriller/mystery that isn’t a typical who-done-it?/detective/cop story.
Mr. Lucky-james swain
I’ve been doing this series on audiobook to listen to at work.
I think this one was the best one so far!
The tony valentine series is well written & researched. Swain comes across as very knowledgeable about the gaming industry. It says in his bio that he is an amateur magician & I get that sense with his storylines.
I’ve grown to like the main characters: Tony Valentine, Gerry, Yolanda and Mabel.
I also enjoy learning about the different cheating scams.
He explains the various scams work in an easily understood way.
I enjoyed it b/c I was constantly trying to figure out what was going on/how Mr. Lucky was cheating, etc…
The action moves quickly. The tension of the suspense is intense.
I will say one thing I’ve learned is that the Tony Valentine series should be read in order (unlike other series).
I recommend this one to anyone who wants to keep their brain engaged listening to it on audio while involved in other activities. (ie. Work, driving, stuck in traffic, cleaning the house, etc)
Also anyone who is interested in a window into the gaming industry, magic, and gambling scams.
As well as people who are looking for a suspense/thriller/mystery that isn’t a typical who-done-it?/detective/cop story.
July 9, 2022
Quick Summary: Tony Valentine faces an unlikely opponent, not a conman, hustler, or a gambler... just a man who is lucky. He is so lucky that he took a casino for a million dollars in a single night after surviving a fall from a building. Smelling foul play, the casino hired Tony to investigate this super lucky hick from North Carolina. This leads to murder, police investigations, and rendezvous with the most terrorizing criminal of all ..... a traveling circus.
This is Tony's most complicated case so far as he is battling an overweight, divorced uncouth loser who has neither the wits nor the charm to get his way in gambling. He is essentially against dumb luck and Tony cannot wrap his brains around it. The book does follow some of the repeated tropes like his son stumbling into crime when he swears off the same, murders, and a chase by a mob, this time the dixie mob. That does not take away from the fact that this is an ingenious, fast paced gritty novel that will have you at the edge of the seat.
This is Tony's most complicated case so far as he is battling an overweight, divorced uncouth loser who has neither the wits nor the charm to get his way in gambling. He is essentially against dumb luck and Tony cannot wrap his brains around it. The book does follow some of the repeated tropes like his son stumbling into crime when he swears off the same, murders, and a chase by a mob, this time the dixie mob. That does not take away from the fact that this is an ingenious, fast paced gritty novel that will have you at the edge of the seat.
October 30, 2016
Love all the Tony Valentine series, a real insight into the world of gambling and casinos. Mr. Lucky delves into a man having a seeming run of incredible luck, starting with a big win in the casino after which his hotel starts on fire, his money winnings burn up and he has to jump out of a 5 story window and hope to survive when and if he hits the pool. After surviving the drop into the pool, he goes across the street to another casino and talks a lady into staking him on the blackjack table and wins, then he goes onto other gambling areas and continues to win. Is this guy on the luckiest streak in history or is there another explanation? The casino holds up on paying the money out until Tony investigates this seemingly impossible run of luck.
June 22, 2017
"A Novel of High Stakes" -- what a fun look into exactly how gamblers cheat to win--learning something new is always a huge plus for me in a book, that and characters who are sharply drawn and I care about. All is in here. Failed, flawed, and moving on, helping each other along the path, competent father helping floundering son learn the ropes of the cheater-catching business is a big reason this book works for me. Male authors who write tough heroes who have a compassionate side make me fall in love. High-stakes-winning shady gamblers and personal high-stakes-throwing family and friends make for fireworks. A page-turner on top of it. I'll be reading more of Tony Valentine's adventures!
September 7, 2023
The explanations of casino scams are fun but some little things are starting to bother me. Once again he shows an unfamiliarity with blackjack. Even knowing the cards, a cheater can't win every hand, and an expert card counter does not play the Basic System but uses a more advanced one which changes not just the bet but also the play depending up the card count. Also, late in the book he introduces a character that has special needs even though that is unnecessary to the plot. He also involves the FBI where he should use the SEC.
September 16, 2023
Tony Valentine 5th book on series.
Reading time 9 hours.
In this book Tony is asked to look in on the Worlds Luckiest Man. After surviving a leap from a burning hotel a man shows up in a casino and starts a wild night of playing roulette, craps, and blackjack- and winning at all of them. The problem is Valentine can’t prove he is cheating but knows the odd are too high that this man is so lucky.
Tony has brought his son on board to help out with some light work but things don’t always work out so well for Gerry…
Reading time 9 hours.
In this book Tony is asked to look in on the Worlds Luckiest Man. After surviving a leap from a burning hotel a man shows up in a casino and starts a wild night of playing roulette, craps, and blackjack- and winning at all of them. The problem is Valentine can’t prove he is cheating but knows the odd are too high that this man is so lucky.
Tony has brought his son on board to help out with some light work but things don’t always work out so well for Gerry…
September 19, 2018
I wanted to like this one more than I did. It was slow going for me to get into. I've enjoyed the previous Valentine books but this one was different. The biggest thing for me was that Tony appeared much more violent in this book than I remember in others. Why he had to shot someone to stop them from following him instead of just shooting out the tires of the SUV makes no sense to me. The ending had an interesting twist, but happy to have finished this one.
July 28, 2018
Very good read though quite violent. I am not really happy about how the protagonist has turned into action hero from a investigator. I like investigators when they don't turn into super human. Here he is shooting two men from the hip and that also bull's eye. Amazing turn of events. I like the portions of where the cheating and scams are happening but not the action part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2017
A fun read. I read this book in about 3 days. (Not one day just because I didn't have enough time with work and life and such..;). Fairly fast paced and it kept me guessing.
October 1, 2017
I did not realize this was the fifth in the series when I picked it up. Its an easy read, and the casino stuff is interesting, but the plot and characters were pretty thin.
October 16, 2018
One of the best
James Swain knows his stuff, both the gambling industry and writing. He has a great sense of place and has wonderful characters.
James Swain knows his stuff, both the gambling industry and writing. He has a great sense of place and has wonderful characters.
December 17, 2018
Good action in the story line
January 25, 2019
Really good book!
I really liked this book and I love the Tony Valentine character. I could hardly put this book down! I highly recommend you read the Tony Valentine series.
I really liked this book and I love the Tony Valentine character. I could hardly put this book down! I highly recommend you read the Tony Valentine series.
May 31, 2019
Started out very intriguing but progressively got boring.
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