The Prime Roll (Crime Line) [Mass Market Paperback]

Eugene Izzi (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Chicago gambler Juliano (Lano) Branka is on a lucky streak, a once-in-a-lifetime "prime roll" with all the breaks going his way. But Lano defies Mafia big shot Tough Tony, and Lano's "uncle" Artie the Arm, sends Lano to Atlantic City until Artie can settle Tony's hash with capo di capi Mad Mike. (Another hood is named Tommy the Tomato.) Top Atlantic City mobster Angelo Briari is suspiciously cordial to Lano, who fears a setup, possibly for the rub-out of an A.C. union head. Meanwhile, the murdered union chief's brother, a police detective from Ohio, blows into town bent on vengeance. Izzi ( The Take ) keeps the pot boiling up to the jarring and sentimental ending. But Lano, 28 going on 16, is not an empathetic figure; he's too concerned with his image and impossibly late in realizing his compulsiveness.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Crimeline; First Edition edition (February 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553283766
• ISBN-13: 978-0553283761
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,586,269 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Half sizzle, half steak, October 16, 2000

By 

M.H. "Downbeat" (Music City, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Prime Roll (Crime Line) (Mass Market Paperback)

The first half of this novel (the Chicago half) are the most intense as any crime/suspense novel you'll read. The characters are vividly drawn; Izzi has a keen sense of place (mob-connected, underground Chicagoland). The tensions are palpable and running just under the surface of every interaction. Great page-turning stuff.

Unfortunately, the second half gets a little too bogged down in sentiment. I guess I'm strange, I don't feel everything has to be resolved in one neat bow. When the action moves to Atlantic City, the writing seems to lose some of its edge.

Still a great read, by one of America's truly underappreciated writers. We lost a great talent when Eugene Izzi died.

5.0 out of 5 stars Portrait of a gambler and the mob, September 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Prime Roll (Crime Line) (Mass Market Paperback)

Eugene Izzi's style is as fresh today as it was when he first wrote this novel. His characters are believable, authentic, and interesting. A great read!