Dunne Books

Loved the book! This is my first Chin/Smith novel and I found it highly entertaining. Numerous plot twists, all of which flowed well and made sense. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't think the book was too long because there was no filler at any point - instead, the action just continued to flow. My only complaint is that Chin comes off as a bit shallow and stupid, and I think her character could be better developed. The author's description of Chinese culture and Hong Kong is generallly on point and an interesting backdrop. I also noted over 4-5 glaring errors/typos in the book that the editor should have caught. I strongly recommend the book.

This Rozan book seems to have split readers between really liking it and disappointment, so I'll walk a line between them. First, anything Rozan writes is worthy of reading because she is a master of modern commercial fiction and prose, in league with James Lee Burke and Dennis Lehane. And like Lehane, she has created a modern man/woman team of private detectives that draws from the rich legacy of such novels while chartering new ground.

My complaints are two: first, the plot is a bit convoluted and shaky, and its conclusion is offered up to them rather than discovered by them. I want the detectives to be the discoverers, not receptors, of the truth.

Second, while I appreciate Rozan switching to Lydia Chin's POV, I feel she is stronger from Bill Smith's POV. At times she paints Chin as quite insecure and bordering on inept, which didn't jibe with the Chin I see from Smith's POV. Now granted, that might be Rozan's point, that we all have a POV and Smith's is off when it comes to Chin. I also thought Rozan minimized Smith's role in this book in order to give us more of Chin.

Beyond all that, Rozan does a great job of giving us the setting of Hong Kong without hitting us over the head, as some authors do. Hong Kong becomes part of the story, not only in the present but in its past, its traditions, its cultural heritage.

Bottom line? Read it if you enjoy prose and literacy. And check out the others in this series, too.

I am a pretty tough critic most of the time, mainly because I expect perfection from authors. I know that this book has gotten pretty darn good reviews and I am kind of buckling the trend here with a three star review. This book does have several flashes of brilliance and Rozen does manage to pull off some neat plot tricks. But in the end here this is a very confusing story. I know that over and over again the characters talk about how it is very Chinese to have inexplicable occurrences and motives. But it is frustrating when as a reader you can look back over the plot of the story and poke huge holes in the plot. Perhaps even more frustrating is that in order for the plot to unfold the way it did would require very extreme circumstances of the most improbable order to occur not just once but dozens of times. In my book Lydia Chin was not being a detective here but was instead being dragged along through silly coincidence.

Perhaps my assessment here is a little harsh. I think that I am a little overly peeved because parts of this book are so great. I was bowled over at the very beginning, where the kidnapping is first unveiled. When I got to the end of this scene I thought about all of the possible scenarios that might unfold ala Agatha Christie and was delighted that I found myself loosing track of them. It was like Rozen had taken a complete Backgammon set and had thrown the pieces onto the floor. Every piece thus representing possible suspects motives, and only waiting to be uncovered by Chin's logical reasoning. Only the book did not really work out that way.

I might recommend the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series, the Patricia Cornwell books starting from the first, or Tony Hillerman's books (also good to start with the first books here) in lieu of Reflecting the Sky. Obviously others disagree with me. This is not a bad book, but it is not a masterpiece either.

The first time I read a Rozan book, it was a Lydia Chin narrated book. I didn't like it at all. The second time, I read a Bill Smith narrated book and I couldn't believe that it was the same author. Now I've read another Lydia Chin and I'm kind of back to finding it only so-so.

The Hong Kong part of the book is interesting, and the plot isn't bad as such, but so much of the book depends on Chin's inner life and I just don't find it that interesting. Accordingly, I never really managed to engage the book or really care about what happened.

Back to Bill Smith for me.

Not one of Smith and Chin's better adventures. I think the author may have got caught up on the excitement of visiting HK and spent more time detailing the stereotypical attitudes the outside world has of Planet HK, of which I am resident.

Basically, upon the death of a relative, Lydia Chin and Bill Smith visit HK to personally deliver several items as a favour to an elder family member. Upon arrival, they quickly become involved in a triad kidnapping, the hunt and the relatively innocuous resolution. The story is thin, weak and void of any real serious reader excitement.

As mentioned, the author spends far too much space on describing the environment of Hong Kong and leaves no 'urban myth' unturned. Contrary to author belief, tea is not drank to the extent she would have us believe, people do not yell 'wai!' at the top of their voices into their mobile phones everytime they are answered, the sun does not set to the south behind the Peak (as in the rest of the world, it sets in the west), there is no elevated walkway linking the Furama Hotel to other buildings (indeed, and which would be unbeknownst to the author, there is now no Furama Hotel - having been knocked down in 2002 to make way for greater commercial interests) and people will not chastize you for walking too slow in the street.

For a guide to HK, read Fodor's. For top notch Rozan, read 'Winter and Night.'

I have very mixed feeling about this book. It has a very exciting plot with suspense and deception in our corrupt capital, Washington. However, there are things in the book that are not according to history. It is fiction with a Civil War setting. The book moves along at a good pace then it drags at times. By Ruth Thompson author of "Natchez Above The River" and "The Bluegrass Dream"

Qualifying Laps: A Brewster County NovelSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County NovelWriting as a Small BusinessTravelersThe Bluegrass Dream: A Wilderness Adventure of Early SettlersNatchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil War

Not only was this book an easy and interesting read, but contained enough relevant and factual information from the era to be totally believable. I finished it in 2 days, couldnt stop reading it.

I was sort of shocked at how great Unholy Fire was. This is a book that I picked up and groaned. I thought it looked like sort of stale. But it isn't. The story rocks along to a nice clip and you are brought into a vivid world that will engage you to no end. I read a few of the reviews here by other amazon readers and I have to say that I don't know every aspect of the Civil War like some of these folk seem to. For myself, the probable vast historical inaccuracies went over my head. So unless you are a Civil War buff, these complaints by others will not matter at all.

The main beef I have against this book is the very end. It seems to have gone a little out of control and then it gets sort of sappy. I won't give away the plot, so it's kind of hard for me to express the sorrow that I hold towards this otherwise classic historical mystery/thriller. The entire story up til' the last forty or so pages is a riveting who done it that is amazing. In the end it becomes ridiculous. To try to put an analogy on this without giving the plot away, imagine if in "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," Clint Eastwood found himself in a situation where he was in a mad end race against the bad guy who suddenly had it in his hands to destroy the world. Instead of the cemetary shoot-out, Clint saves the day and the world. You'd be scratching your head at another hollywood over the top endings and the movie would not be a classic. That is what happens here. If you can over look that, you are in for a 90% treat.

I loved Stonewall's Gold, and couldn't wait to read Unholy Fire, but I was sadly disappointed in the quality of this work. Stonewall's Gold was interesting and a fascinating adventure story, but Unholy Fire dragged on and lacked an ability to engage the reader. I felt there was an obsession with the life of prostitution in Washington D.C. during the war. The fact that a 21 year-old war hero genuinely falls in love with a prostitute after she performs oral sex was just too much. I finished reading the book and tossed it. It is not worth reading.

Former Congressman Bob Mrazek has done a superb job with "Unholy Fire" following his wonderful first Civil War novel, "Stonewall's Gold." Here is a terrific page turner filled with the horrific stories of the underbelly of corruption and intrigue during Lincoln's presidency. For once the reader is not bombarded with the righteousness of the Union struggle but instead is given an underground tour of the many unfit "military" minds of the Union army combined with the crisp storytelling style and historical accuracy we have come to appreciate from Mrazek. There is much here to savor for both Civil War buffs and anyone looking for a satisfying read. For those Civil War aficiandos out there ... there are overtones here and there of Abel Jones in the wonderful Owen Parry books to be found in Mrazek's best detective narrative. What surprised me the most here is how Mr. Mrazek was able to change his approach from his first novel. The adventurer in him is still very apparent but in many ways this book is much more of a "grown-up" read. There is something for everyone here! One can only hope that there will be many more books to come from Mr. Mrazek! Thank you Congressman ... we still miss you in Huntington, NY!

This book is great for any level of golfer, especially beginners. It has great pictures and easy step by step directions for learning/improving all parts of your game. I bought one as a gift and one for myself. I really enjoy the practical advice and simple drills she gives the reader.

Very easy to understand. A must for any woman beginner.

This book was just what I needed...the total basics spelled out in east-to-understand English, like what's the difference between a wood and an iron! Plus, I like the "Prince Charming" section and how to handle unsolicited advice.

good, clear instructions.

provides details and explains golf in terms the reader can understand.

I used this book when I started to play. I have to say I learned a lot on the differences between lofts of clubs, rules and different balls to use. It really helped me when I didn't have a clue about golf. It explains good fundamental technique about the grip that was helpful. However, as I got better I read some other books on golf technique that really didn't help until this one called---"The Ultimate Golf Instruction Guide: Key Techniques for Becoming a Zero Handicap Golfer or Better" by Patrick Leonardi, ISBN---1933023090. Leonardi's book is so simple to follow and the technique described in this book is like no other book on golf instruction. It helped me to hit longer drives and hit more fairways. It even helped me to chip closer to the hole which made saving par much easier. Now when I play golf it is much more fun and I'm improving at a very fast pace.

With very, very few exceptions, golf novels are notoriously bad, full of mystical nonsense and clichés. Pelham, NY, author John Coyne has written an exception to that rule, The Caddie Who Knew Ben Hogan, a fast-paced page-turner that hinges on a dramatic golf match between the legendary Ben Hogan and a local golf pro whose shot at fame is complicated by a secret love affair. While the plot is rather predictable, Coyne's descriptions of the game resonate with authenticity. He's masterfully woven fact, fiction, and a little mystery into a story that rings true.
As a Westchester golfer myself (and a member of the Metropolitan Golf Writers' Association), I particularly found Coyne's take on how the game is played at the highest levels to be highly faithful to the sport.

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Coyne does a great job bringing the post WWII era to life as well as the insights on the pro tour back then. Could not tell you how accurate his portrayal of Ben Hogan was, but he is a terrific character in the book, as is the caddie. Was not sure I was going to like this book (wife bought it for me) but after a few pages I was hooked. Great book, fast and pleasant read. Well done John Coyne!

I really loved this book. The author did a tremendous job of weaving historical facts about Hogan (one of the legends of the game) into a compelling, yet tragic story.

I loved this book. It had me turning pages faster and faster. Really good read if you love golf. As I read the book I could imagine all the shots that were being made. Very touching, I truely enjoyed this book.

Hey! This is a great read. You'll finish the book in 2 days or less--and that's a great compliment to the author John Coyne. Of course, those who play this passionate game will enjoy it the most. Coyne's knowledge of golf as well as his sense of the game's history is dead on. So your understanding of the game will be delightfully increased while reading this excellent novel. Yes, the melodrama is not the most original, but it is satisying to read and-- to think about. Kudos, to you John Coyne, for an engrossing and delightful read. Golfers, you will love it.

Reviewed by Beth Cummings

"What color is the sea?" Early in this fascinating novel, Fujiwara-san, an elderly man who agrees to teach the young protagonist, Isamu (Sam) the ways of a samurai, asks Sam this question. He has been quizzing Sam about the colors of everything he sees for about six months, but finally Sam gives the answer the old man seeks..."I see light blue and dark blue and gray and green and black and white and yellow and orange. I see green. Gray-green, dull green, bright green, yellow-green, blue-green..."

Finally he asks Sam the color of the shadow of a fish that jumped. When Sam answers that the shadow had no color but just darkened the colors it passed, over the old man is delighted. This is the first test of many as Sam learns the way of a samurai - the ancient Japanese tradition of martial arts combined with philosophy and honor.

John Hamamura received the 2007 Alex Award for this coming-of-age story of a Japanese-American boy, born in Hawaii, schooled first in Japan then in Hawaii, and finally in California. Isamu reads and writes in both English and Japanese and he understands the both cultures. These are the years leading up to WWII. When the war begins, Sam enlists to fight the Germans, but unlike many of his nisei (Japanese born in the United States) friends, he is not sent to the European front. Instead he becomes a teacher of Japanese culture and translator for the Army that will eventually be fighting his native country. His mother, brother and sister still live in Japan. He lives a life that is torn between two honorable courses of action - serve one's country (the U.S.) or honor one's family living in the enemy land.

Hamamura himself came from a background like his character, Isamu, and has an intriguing way of telling this story. It starts slow and builds, layer upon layer. It gives a realistic look at what it meant to be a Japanese-American during WWII and also insight into what divided loyalties can do to a person in any kind of situation.

Armchair Interviews says: This would be a great book for reading group discussions.

This is a wonderful story that holds your attention throughout, and helps you learn about the clash and blending of cultures as well. It was located in the Young Adult section in my library, but as with many books today, is an excellent read for adults as well. His story should still resonate today, and reminds us of some of the casualties of wartime.

The attention to detail in establishing the martial arts discipline was very key to the understanding of the overall plot. John Hamamura did a very nice job of building that information base in almost a sen-like way allowing the reader to see the story materialize in their mind in a comforting manner rather than have the images appear like someone is using a laser pointer to circle and highlight the profound wisdoms of a teacher to be later quizzed on. Interesting internal conflicts, and the historical implications leave one to ponder, what if?

If you enjoy a story that has a multi-faceted plot then I highly recommend Color of the Sea. It is a novel that really makes you think about life.

The author paints a vivid scene with talented prose and rich description. The characters are real and engaging. This novel is for anyone who enjoys a deep read. I just can't say enough about it. I am recommending it to all my friends. Awesome!

I checked previous reviews and was astonished to find so many readers giving this book five-star raves. The topic appealed to me because little fiction has appeared (to my knowledge) about World War Two - what led up to it and how it was experienced, from the viewpoint of the Japanese and Japanese-Americans who lived through those years.

I agree with the reviewer who finds the use of present tense awkward and inappropriate to the plot. The narration and prose style reminded me of the cheap magazines my aunts were reading (and I was forbidden) in the 1920s and 1930s. There is a great story there, but it is told very badly.

I'm not a big book reader, too much riding or other things to do. This book, I just couldn't put it down! What an adventure, I want Louis to go on another trip. This book has excitement and disapointments. If you have ever gone on a bike trip, you can relate to Louis with either someone she traveled with, or it makes you see yourself in how she explains her companions. Louis- if you are out there, YOU GO GIRL!!!!!

One of the many books I've read on motorcycle travel. A good read, not many insights into what and what not to do on motorcycle travel but a very entertaining book and as an Ex-pat in the US, I loved her humour and quirky insights.

I really liked this book. It was a light, easy read, & I almost finished it in one sitting -- didn't want to put it down. Lois sounds like a really great person -- someone you'd like to meet, but I know there isn't much chance of that. I wished for a few more specific details about the places she passed through, as well as more photos & maps. I read the book as research for a similar trip. I look forward to any other things she has written. Thank you.

Great fun read. Not a great amount of detail on doing a trip of this sort but that's not what the book is about...it's about a fantastic adventure.
I get a kick out of certain movie stars doing a round the world trip with a support team, video...on big BMW bikes....and then reading about a woman who does N and S America on a 225cc dirt bike without support. Too bad there isn't any video. Now she's gone and done Africa N to S....hopefully she will continue to ride and write...there is still a lot of East to West.

As an avid motorcyclist (I currently own two)and Central American traveler I was extremely excited get my hands on this book. My disappointment in it is almost beyond words. I feel obligated to write my first Amazon review as a warning to others.

My first impression was how in the world could an author compress such an epic journey into such a small book? After a thorough reading I'm all too aware of how that is possible. She simply blew through the entire journey as fast as possible and seemingly learning as little as possible.

For her "Glory ride" she chooses to travel through thousands of miles of Latin America but, by your own admission, doesn't bother learning any Spanish beforehand. Then she proceeds to complain endlessly about communication difficulties. She breaks just about every possible cultural taboo wherever she travels then proceeds to complain about not being treated respectfully. It seems the author's paranoia of host country nationals is more fueled by her chronic total disregard of indigenous culture than by any malevolent intent on the part of those she encounters along the way. The rich Gringa bikes through the Third World staying in ultralow budget accommodations and complains incessantly about a perceived lack of cleanliness by her first world standards.

The author mixes all of this with an unbelievable dose of hypocrisy by berating almost every other traveler she encounters! There may be more insensitive and disagreeable travelers in this region but, in my experiences and author would have to rate close to the top on the obnoxious scale! She chooses to travel with only one set of clothing and by her own admission is almost constantly filthy and stinks yet sees fit to complain when she is treated better than her appearance and demeanor would justify.

This book will tell you nothing about the cultures of central or South America because the author knows nothing of those cultures. This book will tell you nothing of the technical details of riding a motorcycle in this region because the author doesn't know anything more about motorcycles than how to add fuel and oil.

This book is a how to not travel! She blows down the road so fast and so blind as to not really experience anything. This is a classic example of having made the trip but never taken the journey.

The only redeeming feature of this book is that this time at least the "ugly American" was an ugly Brit. In a nutshell the whole story is painfully sordid and poorly rendered. If you must read it borrow the book from someone or a library. Please do not support this person in her ego trip by financially rewarding her!

"Money Wanders" is a very pleasing first novel in the crime genre. Eric Dezenhall has done a good job nuancing his characters by emphasizing little details -- Vanni's facial tic, for example, helped me to understand the real viciousness of this man.

Furthermore, I found myself laughing at some of the scenes while still cognizant of the criminal nature of the participants.

Finally, I was captured by the poignancy that both Vanni and Mickey wanted to provide for their children a life better than what they had had.

In the end, romance, whimsy and a little forward-thinking nest-feathering by Mickey combine to bring a very satisfying closure to the story. Thanks, Eric!

Mickey Price is a 95-year-old kindly Jewish grandfather whose past was as notorious as Meyer Lansky's. His pal Irv the Curve was with Dutch Schultz when he was gunned down in Newark in 1935. Both have survived their prohibition era heritage by "seeming" but have not abandoned all ties to their old lives. In his final days Mickey, who sort of controls the Golden Prospect casino in Atlantic City, tells his grandson Jonah Eastman that Philadelphia crime boss Mario Vanni needs to talk with him. Jonah, a 38-year-old Dartmouth grad raised away from the business (with Mickey while he was on the lam in Europe, actually), is called the "Poll Vaulter" in D.C. because of his aggressive methods of shaping public opinion. Mickey dies and Vanni hires Jonah to make him respectable enough to get a casino license, an offer he couldn't refuse.

Here the story bumps around a bit from an "Analyze This" type farce, which it isn't, to a veiled secondhand expose of how la Cosa Nostra operates. For a while it seemed Denzenhall would be content to use characters like Mickey and Irv merely to lob in bits of Mafia lore, like it was the mob that his both JFK and Vince Foster. The subplots of the Vanni makeover, Jonah's romance with Edie the waspy klezmorim singer, his confrontations with Noel who is Vanni's psycho consigliere and everybody's quest for what Mickey left behind start to wander like the money in the title. More than once I stopped to speculate on how this phase of Jonah's life would end, but nothing I imagined came close.

In the last 50 or so pages every piece of Denzenhall's story including many seemingly insignificant references to Indian culture and the mysteries of the Pine Barrens ties together in a very satisfying conclusion. There's also a somewhat thoughtful message about what the real legacy is from one generation to the next. With the exception of a preposterous scene with Jonah and Noel in Carvin' Marvin's Cadillac Seville, Mickey and his crew did a pretty good job of letting Jonah find his way.

This has a great concept, and the first two-thirds are quite enjoyable. However, toward the end, it seems to lose its way. What I assumed to be the main plot -- the PR campaign for Vanni -- gets wrapped up abruptly, and other issues take the forefront. Unfortunately, I found those other issues less interesting, and more unlikely.

Overall, not a bad book though.

OK, here's the brief plot synopsis:
boy living in the modern world of PR/polling and the Internet is drawn back home to New Jersey and the Mob background that his grandfather was prominent in and wanted him to leave behind. It's an interesting merger of a mafia story with modern technology.

I found this on the new book shelve in the library and the synopsis caught my attention. I'm glad I picked it up. This is an entertaining read with a more substance than the typical summer novel. For a first novel, it is excellent, much richer than you would expect. For any novel, this is a fine read, well worth the time investment for you thriller fans out there.

The story was not predictable; you really had to hang in to the end to figure out what was going to happen. The characters get fleshed out as real people. I'd guess the author is from Jersey and knew these kinds of people growing up. He also knows the world of modern polling and media manipulation. Read his bio on the book jacket for some interesting background.

There were a couple of times you'd want to go back and read a sentence or two as some of the metaphors were a little strained but they stood out as exceptions. This guy is a very decent writer. I'll read his next one.

Why am I not suprirsed? A public relations professional decides to write a novel that suggests that the power or PR is so pervasive and important that it can turn the fortunes of a mafia murderer. Only a narcissist like Eric Dezenhall could suggest such a hypothesis. In this case, the main character is a maligned campaign consultant (seems to be patterned after Ed Rollins) who is then hired by a mob leader to help his quest for a New Jersey gaming license.

Suprisingly enough, the plot of the book and its unique characters almost are good enough to give the book a positive recommendation. The pages turn quickly as you read through a story that includes a number of public relations stunts to boost the mobster's standing in the community.

In the end, there are a number of plot twists that give you a bit of a surprise ending but there were too many problems with the book for me to recommend. The biggest of the problems was that dialogue is not handled very well by the author. There were far too many times where I had to put down the book for a few minutes and re-read passages to determine who was saying what in the conversation because Dezenhall did not tag the identifications well.

Finally, the main characters love interest with a musician who plays at his uncle's funeral just didn't work for me. He attempts to use her as the connection to his past/family and how he got mixed up into the the mob, but it never seems very plausible. While the ending is a bit of a surpise, it's not all that satisfying because it is a bit too contrived.

In the end, while most PR pros might think they are so good that they can make a murderer/mobster look good, the facts are that you can spin the facts only so much until people are on to you.

A fun read, slightly light on the science for technical types, but very informative about the choices volcanologists have to make, the adventure of being a volcanologist, and the risks and amazing opportunities it affords them. Reading this book made me want to be a volcanologist. ;)

Great book about volcanoes. No, not a lot of science. No, not a lot of cool pictures. Yes, the author could have used a little more editing.

BUT, those problems aside, this is a superbly fun book to read. When reading about Pinatubo, I had trouble putting the book down. You could easily make a movie about some of these events. And the author tells the stories admirably.

For armchair volcano enthusiasts everywhere, make this one of your reads. You will be very glad you did.

I'm not a scientist nor particularly interested in volcanoes, but this is some great non-fiction. It isn't a science book, although I did pick up a few facts here and there. This is a dramatic tale about the world of studying and predicting the actions of volcanoes.

The reader will learn about the economic impact of closing an area for a potential eruption, the politics of getting grants and closing areas near volcanoes, the risk of being in an active volcano area, the inside operations of the USGS, and much more. It makes for a interesting read, and I know tons more about the history of volcanic eruptions after having read this book.

Any fan of good non-fiction in the journalistic style will appreciate this book.

This was simply the best (non-technical) volcano book I have ever read! I could not put it down.

The main portion of the book details the first rumblings of two famous volcanoes and follows events up to their climatic eruptions. Even if you are familiar with the individual volcanoes physical history you'll be fascinated with how earth science is truly applied in the "real world" and how many other pressures (political, social and economic) scientists in this field have to deal with.

When you are done reading this book you will get a glimpse of what kind of passion, dedication and craziness is needed for those working in the field.

Volcano Cowboys is an excellent book about the real people behind the science. If you are looking for a book about how volcanoes form - this is not it, but it you are looking for a book about how real science is done read Volcano Cowboys!! These guys aren't the stereotypical geeky scientists we often picture sequestered in labs and pale-skinned from lack of sunlight. This is what field geology is all about - getting your feet dirty (and your pants and shirt and hands and hair)! This book is also a candid view of the politics involved in science and also the fact that volcanology, like all science, is a work-in-progress. No, we don't know everything there is to know about how volcanoes work - and that is what makes geology so very exciting!

My one disappointment with the book were the pictures/figures. I want to see a diagram of Mt. St. Helens after the eruption to compare with the nice diagram of "before"!!! The photos are also a little hard to see in the paperback version.

Very entertaining book. Just reading it, I could feel my adrenaline level rise. It felt like I was there in the casinos, trying to avoid the watchful eye of the security cameras. If you liked Bringing Down the House, I think you'll like this book too.

I can see how this book got five stars across the board. I could not pout this book down. It was a fast paced read. I never heard of past posting until this book came out. It is interested to read the authors progression into the cheating schemes and how the schemes are improved over time. I highly recommend this book, especially for those who don't like to read or don't know how to read.

While I am not sure how much of the book is poetic license, the author does a great job of describing his career as a casino cheat - down to the exact moves. What makes the book great is that you begin to really get a feel for what this life was like. While on the surface his life appeared glamorous, the work seemed to be constant stress. (you'll have to read the book to see why)
This book was almost as good as "Bringing Down the House" - just as well written, but the schemes themselves were slightly less interesting. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in gambling and/or casinos. For those that don't, I would not suggest this book.

As a big fan of caper movies and con stories (Ocean's 11, The Thomas Crown Affair, Catch Me if You Can), I can enthusiastically recommend American Roulette.

Richard Marcus (most likely not his real name, in fact, the name is the same as that of the actor in a TV series called The Pretender) tells of his successful career as a casino cheat. He started as a garden-variety gambler, lost all his money, found himself homeless in Las Vegas, and became a blackjack dealer.

Marcus was recruited by a well-to-do casino rip-off gang and rose to the top over the years. He tells great stories about which casinos the gang hit, how they engineered the con, the trouble they ran into, and how they were nearly caught several times. The gang even made their way to casinos in Europe and Australia, although their base was in Las Vegas. The opening of casinos in Atlantic City and across the U.S. made for some easy pickings as well.

American Roulette is not an instructional manual on how to scam the casinos. In fact, as Marcus points out, even if you were to learn the mechanics and technicalities of the scam, there is something more basic to the success of the con game and that is being cool under pressure. These characters are glaciers.

American Roulette is a terrific read, and would make a fantastic movie.

This book tells the author's story of how he lost everything he had gambling, took a crappy job as shill--promoted to baccarat dealer--at the Four Queens in Las Vegas, and then had the opportunity to join a group of gambling cheaters and thieves. The cheating moves described in the book are mostly "pastposting"--placing high bets after the outcome is known by swapping in a new stack of chips for the ones previously bet. The trick is that high-value chips are concealed underneath low-value chips, and the cheater often has to issue a "claim" by pointing out to the dealer that he's been underpaid for the bet. The book begins and ends with a move he calls the "Savannah" which is an opposite maneuver--a high bet is placed, with the high-value chips concealed by lower-value chips, and if the bet loses, the high-value chips are pulled off. With that move, the winning bets are legitimate and surveillance tapes show that the high-value chips were there all along.

The group also would occasionally make money with other scams, like "railing"--stealing directly out of the chip racks of their fellow players. They also narrowly avoid getting involved in a card-marking scheme, violating their own rules of not using any specialized equipment that could be incriminating.

The book is most interesting for the characters involved and how they dealt with "steam" from the casinos when they caught on to what was happening.

The author appears to have no guilt or remorse for his actions on the grounds that casinos are regularly "stealing" from people every day (though that certainly doesn't justify the thefts directly from other gamblers, and ignores that gamblers are willing participants who know the odds are stacked against them).

I read _Bringing Down the House_ about the MIT Blackjack Team about a year and a half ago, and the comparison between the teams is interesting--the MIT team's methodology was far more sophisticated (and wasn't technically cheating), but both had to use similar psychological techniques.

It's surprising that the casinos didn't come up with better countermeasures quickly (a rule that there are no payouts for high-value chips not announced in advance, for example), but I find Marcus' overall tale quite plausible, in part because of the factors he points out in the last few pages of the book--"practically all casino jobs are monotonous" (p. 369). The boredom results in lack of attention and the jobs' high turnover results in inexperienced people up against very experienced cheaters.

The Gardens of Covington: A Novel (Covington)

IF YOU HAVE BEEN A FAN OF JAN KORAN'S MIDFORD SERIES...THEN YOU TOO WILL LOVE THE LADIES FROM COVINGTON. YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF ONCE AGAIN TRANSPORTED TO A TIME WHEN LIFE WAS A BIT SLOWER, LESS HECTIC AND SIMPLY CHARMING IN IT'S SIMPLICITY. THE PACE OF THE READ IS PERFECT FOR EITHER A LAZY RAINY DAY OR A RELAXING SUMMER DAY...BUT BELIEVE ME YOU WILL BE ANYTHING BUT BORED! BOOKS LIKE THESE ARE SO ENDEARING THAT YOU FIND YOURSELF CONTINUALLY GOING BACK IN YOUR MIND, MANY TIMES A DAY AND JUST
WANTING TO PULL UP A WHITE ROCKER AND JOIN THE LADIES ON THEIR FRONT PORCH FOR A CUP OF TEA AND A BIT OF CONVERSATION. THIS SERIES IS A CLASSIC THAT WILL FOREVER REMAIN ETCHED IN YOUR MIND'S EYE AND HEART FOR YEARS AFTER YOU HAVE READ THEM. ENJOY! P. SMITH

Another good book in the Covington Series, the elderly ladies are delightful as they were in the previous books. Can't wait to get the next in theseries.

This book is good for light reading. It's a little like the "Golden Girls" without the humor. Each of the three ladies in the book have a definite personality and obstacles to overcome in order to live a fulfilling life. The message here is that life doesn't end at 65 and new beginnings are possible. While some of the situations seem a bit contrived and you do have suspend belief the book doesn't suffer for it. That is the wonderful thing about books.

In this sequel to the first Ladies of Covington Send Their Love, the 3 ladies Hannah, Grace and Amelia's lives continue in their new home in Covington.

A landowner of Covington poses a threat to buy out the property there, and the ladies, who are very upset by this take action, especially Hannah who goes all the way to the city coalition, environmental agencies, and gathers the support of the whole neighborhood to hang on to the beautiful Covington area. The whole town turns against Hannah for this, and she almost gets herself into trouble with some of the people. It is the wealthy Maxwell's that will step in here in the end, and Hannah will get more then she ever thought possible.

Grace is still in a courtship with her Rich, and the two decide to open a tea shop, which turns out to be a very bad choice since it takes all of Grace's time away from everything else, and she has no time for rest. They have this little shop up and running well, but decide later it is best to sell it out.

Amelia, the most fragile lady of the bunch, and always headed for trouble gets herself into a car wreck going up to visit her gay male friend Mike. The man that comes to rescue her is Lance, who seems to fall in love with Amelia at first sight. He soon takes over her whole life so that she has no time for anyone else or any of her photography. Amelia falls under his spell and is headed for a heap of trouble. Hannah and Grace try to warn her, but she goes on ahead with this courtship until she gets badly hurt.

Tyler, Rich's grandson and Grace's "adopted" grandson is having a problem when his dad is in love with a new lady, Emily. Tyler and his dad Russell have a very bad time for awhile until they get things straightened out between all of them. Tyler has had a very bad time losing his mother to a bad car accident and can't understand why his dad loves someone else now.

And Grace also has made great friends with 81-year old Lurina who is a lonely old maid 81 years of age. When 'old man,' Joseph Elisha comes along though, the two have a romance and get married. Lurina is a very isolated type of soul and doesn't like to wander out of the house at all. So the ladies try to help her plan a wedding. When the newspaper gets hold of this story though, and reporters persist on barging in. Lurina feels threatened and wants no part of a big wedding after the ladies went to all the trouble of planning a fancy one. So Lurina and Joe get married in her home, but still find the reporters there anyway after someone spills the beans about the private ceremony.

The Gardens of Covington is a part of an interesting and fun series, While you could pick up the story without reading the first book(s) I think it more enjoyable to read such books in sequence.
Joan A. Medlicott writes well, and combines the story of three, "Senior" ladies with recipes, gardening information, AWA intertwining into the books, their families/friends. The series is in the category of "Light" reading, and by now, I have read about 6 books in the series and am hooked.
Now I am worrying that she will stop writing more books in this series - then what will I do?