Customer Reviews

Loaded Dice: A Tony Valentine Novel

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3 star:		(4)
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I believe that the hallmark of a good book --- of a good writer --- is the ability to attract, and hold, a reader who has little or no interest in the core subject matter. James Swain, by this definition, is an excellent writer. I have little interest in or understanding of gambling, yet Swain's Tony Valentine novels, set against the backdrop of the gambling industry, are on my must-read list. Swain's knowledge of not only the nuts and bolts of the gaming industry but also of its history would be enough to hold one's interest, whether one is familiar with the relative value of poker chips or not. Swain's ability to weave this knowledge into a plausible situation while presenting his story in a compelling narrative makes his work irresistible.

Tony Valentine is a gaming consultant who is retained by casinos to identify grifters and the methods that they employ. LOADED DICE finds Valentine returning to Las Vegas for a twofold purpose. One is to demonstrate Deadlock, a computerized device that card cheats are using to rake in illegitimate blackjack pots. The other is Valentine's son, Gerry. Gerry, who has had a number of ups and downs, is in Las Vegas and attending a gambling school in order to learn the science of card counting so that he can assist Valentine in his consulting business.

Gerry, however, has gone AWOL, and Valentine fears that he is on an illegal frolic of his own. Indeed, Gerry has fallen in with two of his fellow students, brothers whose intentions are far more nefarious than cheating at gambling. While trying to ascertain Gerry's whereabouts, Valentine uncovers an ingenious plot by the owners of a string of casinos to bankrupt another house. Valentine finds himself racing along twin tracks, trying to save a casino while extricating his son from a situation that is on the brink of creating havoc on the city of Las Vegas and its residents.

Swain does an excellent job of explaining the ins and outs not only of casino gambling but also of casino management. What is especially impressive about Swain is that his narrative never lurches to a grinding halt while a particular aspect of his subject matter is explained. Swain seamlessly incorporates his explanation, frequently with the use of anecdotes, into the narrative. As a result the reader learns the meaning of the term "past-posting," finds out what a "sawdust joint" is, and discovers that "four-walling" is a tough way to earn a living. Swain also pulls off the neat trick of bringing a noir feel and atmosphere to Las Vegas, that most brightly illuminated of American cities.

Yet LOADED DICE is not your typical thriller. Valentine is in his sixties, but he has aged well, to say the least. For those of us who are closer to that chronological benchmark than we like to admit, it's gratifying to read a series that presents a senior citizen who is able to show the younger set how the job gets done. LOADED DICE is also, perhaps most importantly, a story of forgiveness and redemption, of second and even third chances, of mistakes and corrections. There is something for everyone in LOADED DICE.

Swain has, over the short course of a few novels (this is his fourth), created a memorable and riveting series and character. Don't miss LOADED DICE, or Swain.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

A great mystery or thriller is really about something else. Here Swain explores the mysteries of fatherhood from cradle to adulthood within the context of another primer on casino crime and the War against Terror.

Jerry, Tony's son, has gone to Vegas to learn how to count cards at a shadowy school for cheats. Nick surmises that Tony's purpose was not only to help teach Jerry how to catch cheaters but to see how well he was able to resist the temptations of cheating. By all objective standards Jerry can't, falling in with a couple of Middle-Eastern card counters with more than larceny on their minds.

Tony arrives in Vegas to teach three casino operators about a new Palm Pocket-like device called a Deadlock that can dramatically change the odds in the bettor's favor. Once there he becomes wrapped up in a new love interest as well as failing fortunes of Nick, whose Acropolis casino is rapidly heading for the dustbin of history. When Jerry's companions attract the attention of the FBI, the usually fast paced Swain slips into hyper drive. Then the tale rockets along to a thrilling climax in the desert suburbs.

This series may well be the most important new arrival since Michael Connelly and Harry Bosch made their debut. It's pure pleasure from start to finish.

Tony Valentine is probably the greatest detective when it comes to spotting gambling cheaters. A retired cop, Tony now works as a gaming consultant in Florida who is retained by casinos across the country to identify grifters and the imaginative methods they use. In "Loaded Dice" he travels to Las Vegas to demonstrate a new computerized cheating device to casino execs and to locate his son who went missing while attending a class on card counting.

Once in Vegas another casino owner, one of Valentine's friends, pleads for help to figure out how con artists are cheating at his blackjack tables before his casino goes under. Smack dab in the middle of the scam is a beautiful woman who reminds Tony of his late wife and attempts to lead him off the trail. In the meantime, Gerry is still missing and Valentine is frantically trying to find him and save his friend's casino from bankruptcy.

There are lots of twists and turns in this thriller and the pages fly by quickly. James Swain's writing style is full of energy and draws the reader into the story. I am not a gambler, but I still found Swain's technique of describing the casino operations and the scams perpetrated by cheaters to be interesting and entertaining. Swain is great at giving his characters life and it's easy to start believing they really exist. The book is jam-packed with drama and suspense, but Swain still manages to add humor to his characters and makes it is as fun as it is thrilling. And finally, he gives Valentine and his son Gerry emotional depth. There is an underlying theme of hope and forgiveness between them and of getting a second chance in life.

"Loaded Dice" is a superbly upbeat and engaging novel. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a mystery or an action thriller. But I warn you... reading this novel will turn you into a James Swain fan!

The twists and turns just keep on coming. I did not think that Tony Valentines Character could grow any further and Jim Swain was able to take him to the next level. Who would think you could take a major event such as 9/11 and tie it into a casino racket in Las Vegas!!!! Wow!!

Mr. Swain was able to put me on the edge of my seat or in some cases the edge of my bed based on the curves and changes he throws at us!!

Finally, I still don't know how he can take an awful person as Gerry and make him even worse but by the end you still feel bad for him and want to give him another chance.

Let me sum it up by saying HOME RUN!!! and can't wait for future novels.

Swain doesn't disappoint as this book has more play and subplots than his prior Valentine yarns...love the return to a Las Vegas setting, as well as the return of Frank Fontaine and Nick Nicocropolis, not to mention the addition of couple of al Qaeda terrorists...amazingly close to reality and the truths that have yet to be revealed. Swain's on a role and I can't wait for the next Tony Valentine novel to come our way.

Tony Valentine is in Las Vegas to check up on his son, a reformed bookie who's joined his father's casino consulting business (his father catches cheaters). To say much more about this book would be ruining half the fun -- the breathless action, depictions of the seemy side of Las Vegas, amazing casino scams, and the extraordinary cast of characters -- make this a terrific read, with an ending as good as any I've read in the genre.

This is the 4th book in the Grift Sense series, and the author should be given credit for coming up with a unique protagonist in Valentine, and his one genre of crime writing. After reading this book, you will not be able to gamble in a casino, and feel the same way again.

Jim Swain's latest Tony Valentine novel sees a return to the scene of the crime - Las Vegas. It starts, like any good mystery, with a dead body. The action vectors off at warp speed from there.

Swain mixes the usual casino scams, hustles and card-counting grifters with some geo-political thrills taken from the headlines involving terrorists. The reader will learn all he or she needs to know about casino security, while following the clever trail of double-crosses, vengeful lovers, and misguided Homeland Security agents.

There are also familiar faces as well: Mabel, his (platonic?) love interest/next door neighbor/ employee; Gerry, the son whose striving for paternal approval always leads to trouble; and Nick the much-married casino owner who needs Tony's help yet again.

Best of all, Mr Beauregard, the psychic chimp, puts in a cameo.

All in all, a satisfying installment in what promises to be a long-running series.

Tony Valentine,scam buster, accepts an assingnment in las vegas and draws a hand he never expected:a boy friend bent on revenge,a missing son and a lifetime freind being squeezed by a master criminal named Frank Fontaine.Tony knows he should fold but decides to stay for one more card.
He saves a would be suicide named Lois Price and finds Lois is an unwilling centerpiece in a billion dollar hustle.Meanwhile his son Gerry hooks up with a duo of unlikely card cheats and the F.B.I.is hot on Gerrys tail.For card cheating?Tony suspects that the game he is in involves a lot more then money.The appearance of Fontaine,who should be in prison,ripping off his pal Nick Nicropolis's casino tells tony his suspicions are justified.Who has the juice to spring fontaine and why bother?
With Pete Longo, an ex cop on his tail,convinced that tony killed his girl and his son calling for help from an undisclosed location Tony starts to unravel the truth.Piece by piece he finds himself drawn into a deadly game of murder, treachery , and greed that threatens tony,his son and the city of Las Vegas.Racing against time Tony struggles to prevent an unspeakable tragedy but the odds are against him.Has his luck run out?
Written with the pulse of Las Vegas beating beneath the surface,LOADED DICE,is an adrenalin rush as powerful and surprising as hitting a million dollar jackpot.If you crave an exciting adventure told by a writer who knows all their is to know about Las Vegas this book is a real find.A must read mystery.

Acropolis casino owner Nick Nicocropolis asks former Atlantic City cop turned international gaming consultant Tony Valentine to ascertain how an apparent blackjack novice using a card to explain the rules could win $25,000. Tony, who happens to be in town showing off the latest electronic cheating gizmo Deadlock, agrees. Also strange is the fact that the tyro winner Lucy Price also complains that someone stole her booty from the safe in her room.

Stripper-dancer Kris Blake happens to be the girlfriend of Las Vegas Police Lieutenant Pete Longo until he finds her dead and Tony's business card advertising Grift Sense among other evidence that the consultant sees among his beloved's belongings. Pete plans to hang Tony legally or not for he blames him for Kris' death.

Besides his troubles with Pete and the police and his dealing with Lucy, Tony's woes come in threes. His pathetic son Gerry is attending school in town studying for an advanced degree in illegal card counting. Gerry's new friends from class are not the type you introduce to your wife, kid, or especially your father the ex-cop. Gerry always means strife for Tony. All three scenarios will come together with Tony being the point of convergence.

The Grift Sense series is some of the most amusing best sleuth tales on the market over the past few years. James Swain rolls a seven with his latest caper, LOADED DICE. The story line cleverly, smoothly, and at just the right leisurely pace constructs a series of casino cheating culminating with the homicide of Kris. Fans who appreciate an action-packed fun tale will know this is a sure shot (not a SUCKER BET) twenty-one star double down winner.

Harriet Klausner

I purchased this book after reading the Kirkus review, which unlike the review above, does not have a spoiler! To wit: "A dead stripper and a novice gambler whose $25,000 winnings have been stolen turn Tony Valentine's head in the casino consultant's latest trip to Las Vegas.

If Lucy Price knew so little about blackjack that she consulted a Basic Strategy card after the turn of every card, Nick Nicocropolis wants to know how she still won virtually every $500 she put down at the Acroolis, and Lucy wants to know who took the money from the safe in her room. When Tony, in town to demonstrate the latest electronic cheating device, catches Lucy as she's about to jump off the balcony of her room, it's mututral wariness at first sight. Getting mixed up with Lucy spells trouble. But not as much trouble as getting mixed up with Kris Blake, the late strip-club artiste whose cop boyfriend, finding Tony's traveling bag in her hotel room, has vowed revenge. And not nearly as much trouble as getting mixed up with Amin and Pash, the new friends Tony's impercunious son Gerry has made in the card-counting school he's attending. Starting with a little pile of felonies, Swain builds tension through a series of beautifully calibrated lessons in fleecing casinos and hints of something bigger.

The fastest of Tony's found adventures to date is as clever as any of the first three (Sucker Bet, 2003, etc). This smooth, funny series has got to be one of the finds of the decade."