Rick Robinson recommended James Swain’s Funny Money as one of his Friday’s Forgotten Books posts. You can read Rick’s review here. I had some James Swain books on my shelves (surprise!) so I figured this is a good time to read one. The first book in the Tony Valentine series is Grift Snese from 2001. Valentine retired as a cop and began consulting on casino security. Nick, the owner of the Acropolis Casino in Vegas, hires Tony Valentine in investigate a player that has taken his casino for big money. Nick suspects a beautiful dealer. who he had a relationship with years ago, is involved. Valentine’s investigation finds a much bigger threat to the casino on the eve of a Heavyweight Boxing match. If you’re looking for a quick read in the Ocean’s Eleven mode, Grift Sense delivers. GRADE: B
THE TONY VALENTINE SERIES
Grift Sense, 2001 Hardback, 2005 Softback, Balantine Books, 336 pages, Softback ISBN 0-345-48035-X ISBN 978-0-345-48035-4
Funny Money, 2002 Hardback, 2007 Softback, Atria, 304 pages, ISBN 1-4165-7502-2 ISBN 978-1-4165-7502-3
Sucker Bet, 2003 Hardback, 2004 Softback, Fawcett, 336 pages, ISBN 0-345-46323-4 ISBN 978-0-345-46323-4
Loaded Dice, 2004 Hardback, 2005 Softback, Balantine Books, 320 pages, Softback ISBN 0-345-46327-7 ISBN 978-0-345-46327-2
Mr. Lucky, 2005 Hardback, 2007 Softback, Balantine Books, 432 pages, Softback ISBN 0-345-47545-3 ISBN 978-0-345-47545-9
Deadman’s Poker, 2006 Hardback, 2006 Softback, Fawcett, 384 pages, ISBN 0-345-47549-6 ISBN 978-0-345-47549-7
Deadman’s Bluff, 2006 Hardback, 2004 Softback, Fawcett, Page 384, ISBN 0-345-47551-8 ISBN 978-0-345-47551-0
Wild Card, 2010 eBook
Jackpot, 2010 eBook
I read the first three and drifted away, although I liked them! He gave a great talk at the Vegas B’con!
Bob, I have three or four more Swains on the shelves. I’ll give them a try in the months ahead.
His talk was the hit of the Vegas Bouchercon. I expect it sold a lot of books for him. I bought a couple and enjoyed them, but like the Cap’n, I drifted away from the series.
Bill, I like the alligator cover on James Swain’s SUCKER BET.
Not me. I’ve read the first 7 (and have #8), as well as the first 3 of his Jack Carpenter series. I can add my agreement to those who said his talk was the highlight of the 2003 Vegas Bouchercon (it certainly wasn’t the dealers’ room!). I bought a couple of his books then, and later went to see a second talk he gave. Great stuff.
Jeff, I don’t know how I missed Swain’s talk in Vegas. I was at that BOUCHERCON.
Just FYI, here is Swain’s second series:
Jack Carpenter is an ex-cop from South Florida who was terminated because of using excessive force to a criminal. He turns to private eye work with a soft touch for children.
Midnight Rambler, 2007 hardback, 2008, softback, Ballantine Books, 400 pages, Softback ISBN 0-345-47547-X ISBN 978-0-345-47547-3
The Night Stalker, 2008 hardback, 2009 softback, Ballantine books, 400 pages, Softback ISBN 0-345-47553-4 ISBN 978-0345475534
The Night Monster, 2009 hardback, Ballantine books, 400 pages, Hardback ISBN 0-345-51546-3 ISBN 978-0-345-51546-9
The Program, 2010 ebook, Ballantine books, ebook ASIN B0044XUV4O
Jeff, I’ll pick up the Jack Carpenter books if I run across them. There’s a big book sale next week.
I was also a drifter. When he first wrote “Grift Sense,” he was promoting it by doing card tricks at conferences and he was absolutely amazing. If he still does those, they are a do-not-miss.
Rick, I was most interested in the operation of a casino that Swain presents in GRIFT SENSE. Fascinating stuff!
I’ve read and enjoyed several of them. Didn’t catch his panel at the Vegas Bcon, but wish now I had.
I just found a box with the arc of sucker bet, which had a mini gator which will be on it’s way to bill c. as soon as I find the safe place I put it
Maggie, Bill’s gator collection continues to grow!
We definitely have to take him to this gator store in New Orleans, though we will have to check when it opens, because whenever we walk past it, it seems to be closed. It is near the beginning of Magazine Street, heading from the Central Business District towards the Garden District.
Jeff, there was a great gator sculpture in a shop in Cleveland, too. Diane and I really enjoyed that BOUCHERCON and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!
I pick up used copies of the 4th and 5th recently, have them in the TBR.
Rick, I think I have most of the series. I’ll have to check. This Summer, I plan to work my way through the entire Tony Valentine series.