Las Vegas Books

Out From Las Vegas: Adventures A Day Away by travel writer Florine Lawlor is an intriguing, informative, and "user friendly" guide to a wealth of interesting landmarks, getaways and scenic geographical significants within a day from Las Vegas, Nevada. Packed from cover to cover with fun and peculiar findings, Out From Las Vegas introduces the reader to a landscape and entity-based landmark world of Nevada never before known or recognized. Out From Las Vegas is very strongly recommended to all readers interested in travel to the Las Vegas area, or those already living in the area wishing to instill a new atmosphere or experience on their free days. Out From Las Vegas showcases the fact there there's more to do than visit the gaming tables of downtown casinos!

This book describes favorite off-road trips to the rugged natural beauty of the Las Vegas desert, including the Red Rock Canyon, an idyllic contrast of deep sandstone canyon forests and desert hills in spring bloom. Alas, though much of what is described still exists, the book is nearly thirty years out of date and requires revision. Hey, I can do that! Why? I've lived in the Radiant City for thirty-five of my forty-one years.

I am heartened that this book in the most popular purchase of the Las Vegas purchase circle. It means that those who have moved here truly wish to make Las Vegas home rather than the place they cashed in their Southern Californian real estate chips.

I really enjoyed the book because it lead me to things and places that I didn't realize were in Vegas. Everyone knows the Strip, but what's off the strip were the jewels of this book. Also, when I had last been to Vegas, the Deuce transportation system did not exist....this is a great book for not only the newcomers, but the old ones as well....I will be handing this off to some friends who are going to travel there soon...

As an actual Las Vegas native, I don't expect to be surprised by travel books about my hometown. This book, Pauline Frommer's Las Vegas, both taught me a few things I didn't know and made me laugh out loud at the same time. The writing is funny, more than a little irreverant, and to the point. Ms. Frommer had some local help from Kate Silver, who also keeps the snazzy verbiage coming. There is enough in this book to keep anyone, including LV locals, busy for weeks. And it's a hoot!

In addition to this book being a "labor of love", Steve Carp leaves no stone unturned regarding the history of the team. Chock full of facts and statistics, as well as personal observation, it is easy to read and comprehend even if one is not a fan of the team, or of the sport.

Being a local from Las Vegas I have always been a fan of the Rebels Basketball Team. "Runnin" is a great vivid look into the 'entire'history of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels. Steve does not throw any punches as he looks into the drama and glory that continually surronds this team located in the heart of 'Sin' City. A good book for any basketball aficionado or weekend couch viewer.

This book has a lot of nice shots of Vegas including a fold out panoramic view of the whole strip, however a few of the photos are a tiny bit out of focus. There is also a lot of interesting facts and history about the different hotels and the city. Other than those few pictures out of focus, I think it's a great book.

I purchased this book as a Christmas present for a friend that just made her first trip to Las Vegas. The book is filled with amazing photographs of all the popular sites in Las Vegas. The photography is absolutely beautiful. The book has some large fold-outs pictures of the strip. It makes you feel like you are right back in Vegas. This will truly be a treasured momento of fun times!!!!

done that, and it shows. His writing is lean and sharp. A fun read with no bs.

If you are a fan of Las Vegas, and great mysteries, this book is for you. The lean prose keeps the pace exciting, and this book is a lot of fun, just like the author's other works. I wish he would have written more of them.

I'll cut to the chase here and guarantee that if you enjoyed the movie CASINO, you'll enjoy Taciturn. As Miller said, "Joe Pesci played Tony Spilotro, my former employer, better than Tony could have."

Bob Miller goes by the name of Ben Walker in this book for a thousand good reasons; but it was Miller, a real person, who lived this nightmare, not some factual character named Walker.

I know of no other action adventure book, fiction or non-fiction, that has held my attention like Taciturn did, and without stupid car chases or a hero who could kill a T-Rex with his bare hands. The first few chapters could easily become a quality outline for a book in an entirely different genre. Taciturn is not one of Miller's bestsellers, but it should be.

Fast-paced and electric, this is a story that has that quality of deja vu all over again.

Rhis book needed to have more umph, more dynamite suspense. more of a sense of 'will we get away with it' to it. No pictures also makes this book lacking. I wanted to see the people who pulled all these card counting routines off. Pictures of the eye in the sky cameras. Pictures of casino bosses.

I don't read much since it's hard to find something that keeps me interested. I couldn't put this down! It's an amazing story, especially considering it's true. I didn't think there would be much suspense to the story, but man was I wrong. The way the author tells it, he hints at something that could be coming, and sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. I loved it. For those looking to buy a book to learn how to count cards...this isn't it! This isn't even really a book about basic strategy. They talk about it VERY little since it's needed for the story, but the book is focused on the journey of one young man (20s for most of the book...my age) through Vegas, Atlantic City, and finding himself and his place in the world.

I can't recommend this book enough. I loved it!

The reason why I'm focusing on the way the book relates to the movie is because this is the movie tie-in edition. After watching the movie I decided to read the book. I normally don't watch a movie unless I've read the book first. In this case, I'm glad I watched the movie first. The movie made it easier to understand the nonverbal and verbal cues they used to count cards.

It seems to me like the producers and writers just took the idea of counting cards and how the MIT kids did it and then Hollywood-ized the rest.

As a standalone, the book was good. Not only did they hit Vegas but they also a steamboat casino in the midwest, an Indian casino on the east coast and Atlantic City. The main character, Kevin joins the team because he is tired of his ho-hum life (because I'm sure life at MIT is so ho-hum).

Anyway, if you've watched the movie and are interested in a more factual and realistic setting in how they earned millions, you should read the book. Plus, there's an essay at the end by Kevin who teaches those who wish to learn how to count cards.

Loved ths book! I thought it was even more thrilling than the movie. Lots of fun and kept you enthralled and rooting for the "good guys".

This is a great story and the writing stands up to the quality of the story itself. It leads the reader through the rise and ultimate fall of a team that approaches Blackjack as if it were a sport that can be trained for and mastered rather than a game of chance. Absolutely great. Could have given greater perspective on those who developed the card counting methods that the MIT team built upon, but that's just a nit pick. Read this book if you have any affinity to playing games!

I find mysteries about clever serial killers to be especially satisfying. The sub-genre often features a killer who is stalking the police, and that's exactly what happens in The Narrows as an ex-FBI agent, Robert Backus (aka The Poet), tracks his ex-protégée, Rachel Walling, in a sequel to the non-Bosch book, The Poet.

Harry Bosch had worked homicide with LAPD for what seemed like a lifetime until he resigned after much frustration with police politics in City of Bones. Now, Harry is a private detective with a lot of time on his hands.

Harry's life has a new direction after learning at the end of Lost Light that he is the father of four-year-old Maddie by his ex-wife, Eleanor Wish. Eleanor enjoys earning a living as a high-stakes poker player in Las Vegas, and doesn't enjoy Harry's company all that much. Harry is trying to split his time between LA and Lost Wages, but is feeling drawn to the southwest more and more.

Harry stumbles into the serial murder investigation after looking into the suspicious death of an ex-partner whose heart medicine was tampered with. Naturally, the FBI wants him out of their hair . . . but Harry is always at least one step ahead of them. With a clever killer tweaking their curiosity, can Harry hope to survive between the twin anvils of a deadly murderer and the heavy-handed bureaucracy?

Because of the serial killing aspect, the book has a pace and beat that aren't always present in the Harry Bosch novels. This story built up nicely into an exciting ending that made this book qualify more as a thriller than as a detective story.

I haven't read The Poet, and I followed this story just fine. I have no idea how you will feel about this book if you did or didn't like The Poet.

Very nice!

The Narrows is a satisfying sequel to The Poet that for me was better than the first book. It also introduced me to Harry Bosch, the defining character of Michael Connelly novels. The novel moves fairly straight-forward to its conclusion, which is satisfying, if not a little brisk. Eight years after the Poet disappears, a GPS is sent to FBI agent Rachel Walling. On the GPS, she finds coordinates to the location of many, many bodies, and so begins the final quest to stop the Poet once and for all.

The Narrows just seemed to flow better, and it was easier to make sense of than the first novel. I found Walling to be a much more interesting character this time, and thought Bosch was more likable/sympathetic than Jack McAvoy of the first novel. However, it was insinuated that Jack might reappear in this novel, but it never happens.

This is another good book from Michael Connelly.

As always, Michael Connelly delivers. Since the first two books I read by Connelly, I decided to read them in order of copyright date, thereby enhancing the continuity of Harry Bosch's life. This book is getting close to the end of Mr. Bosch's career.

My favorite thing about all of the Harry Bosch novels is his three-dimensionality. We are allowed inside his head. There were times when I felt like shouting, "No, Harry! Dammit, control yourself and don't do that!" But as always, he gets himself into hot water, and manages to get out.

For readers not familiar with this author, I respectfully submit that Michael Connelly delivers as much meaningful content in 200 pages as Clancy does in 450. There is not a single word of filler. I have also never read a book where the speaker moves from the third person to the first person back and forth from chapter to chapter.

A totally enjoyable page turner!

I never knew where this story was going - I like that. The fact that the seriel killer was an FBI agent was certainly unusual.For Personal Pickup

Fans of Harry Bosch know that he is named for the Renaissance painter Heironymous Bosch. Bosch the painter specialized in sweeping panoramic paintings of hell, with details of how individual sinners were being gouged, burned and otherwise tormented by gleeful demons. Connelly has commented many times that Harry Bosch is meant to be our tour guide through the hellish side of Los Angeles - the world of serial killers, hidden sins and chaos. Interestingly, Bosch the detective sits in his house high in the hills of Los Angeles looking down on the panorama of it all, just as the viewer of a Bosch painting sees hell.

In this edition, Bosch spends a great deal of time in Las Vegas. It would not be inappropriate to say that Vegas is "Sodom" to LA's "Gomorrah" - twins in sin. Bosch is worried that his daughter is growing up in Las Vegas and he is living there part-time trying to be the best father he can be. But, mostly he's in and out of Vegas on business in this story. Bosch investigates the death of a friend, confronts the FBI, encounters hookers, bikers and just some plain old lost souls all while hunting a killer and trying to be a dad. Besides being a Bosch book, it's also the sequel to two other books in the Connelly family of books: "The Poet" and "Blood Work".

I listened to this as a book on tape and found it thoroughly enjoyable and a welcome diversion during my daily commute. Len Cariou narrates and he does a fantastic job of finding Bosch's "voice". 5 stars for Cariou. The audiobook is unabridged and lasts about 11 hours.

I've read about 8 or 10 Connelly books and have liked them. For me, Michael Connelly is someone I can grab off a shelf and be sure I'll enjoy it. Not this one, though. After 120 pages of very detailed writing of a woman getting back into her criminal ways - how to set up the scam she will commit - I gave up on this one. The beginning shows how bored she is while trying to live the straight and narrow and the writing is, well, boring. I guess that was the point, but come on!
I won't give up on his books because this one wasn't to my liking.

Having read all the Harry Bosh novels to date, I was pleasently surpirsed with VOID MOON. Connely should write more non-Bosch novels!

The author writes this one with a real sense of urgency as far as the characters are concerned and to use the old cliche 'page turner' is very appropriate.

I'm a B I G fan of Matt Helm and Travis McGee, and have always thought that Harry Bosch came in a VERY distant third. Connelly shows that he has the stuff of a great mystery writer with VOID MOON.

"Void Moon" is Michael Connelly's ninth book, and was first published in 2000. It's only his third book not to feature Harry Bosch, giving a starring role to Cassie Black instead. However, Cassie is a little different to Connelly's other heroes - instead of a cop, a lawyer, a retired fed or a journalist operating on the 'right side' of the law, Cassie is an ex-con currently on parole.

When we meet her, Cassie is working in a car dealership on LA's Sunset Boulevard. Although she spent time in prison in Nevada, she managed to have her parole transferred to LA and knows she was lucky to get the job. She suspects it's because the boss - Ray Morales - hopes their relationship will move beyond the professional. Her parole is due to run for two years and, although she's on minimun supervision and she has a very likeable parole officer in Thelma Kibble, Cassie is starting to get a little twitchy.

Cassie's past is only given away gradually : exactly what she was convicted for, who Max was and what happened to him and why a five year old girl called Jodie Shaw is so important. Cassie has been keeping a close eye on the Shaw family, and it's their proposed move to Paris that (apparently) causes Cassie's twitchiness. She's maybe a little too honest with Thelma in a parole meeting, even (foolishly) asking about the possibility if seeing out her parole in France. When it's made clear that isn't going to happen, her decision is made : one last job, with a big enough dividend to disappear on. She's barely out of her meeting with Thelma before she's on the phone to her old contact DH Reilly. DH (as in Dog House) is actually the Leo Renfro's alias and is someone she had worked closely with in the past. He had also practically raised his step-brother, Max. Roughly two weeks after Cassie makes contact with Leo, he gets back in touch with her : he's managed a identify a job that matches her requirements. Unfortunately, it sees her return to a place she'd never have wanted to see again : Las Vegas. Her problems with Vegas aren't limited to personal, however - her new assignment throws up quite a few professional difficulties also.

A very enjoyable book, and - with both Cassie and Thelma Kibble - two very likeable characters. (In fact, both have been given very small cameos in subsequent Harry Bosch books). Cassie presents two mysteries, in a way - her current job and her past life...in particular, why the Shaw family is so important to her. Connelly has been one of the best mystery writers of recent years, and "Void Moon" is no disappointment - very much recommended.

Wow. I've been slowly catching up on Connelly's older novels as I was "late" to the dance and only discovered him around 2002 or so. This guy can certainly spin a yarn. Here he has us taking sides with one crook over another. Talk about a departure from the Harry Bosch police procedural stereotype! Wonderful novel. My review is actually for the unabrided audiobook on cassette tape but Amazon doesn't list the title so I'm writing it here. Great performance by LJ Ganser. He did good with the female inflection and later in the audio performance he did great with the little girl's voice inflection. These little things made the audio performance really shine in the world of audiobooks. Fantastic! I'm a fan of the Harry Bosch series but some of my very favorite Connelly novels are departures FROM the series. Like this one, for example. Oh yeah, and Blood Work too. Gravy for the brain!

I wouldn't want to describe the plot of "Void Moon" in 100 words or less or even in 1,000 words. It's that complicated as the action shifts from past to present, from one point of view to another. Usually, in the hands of a less skilled writer, this would be cause for confusion, but Mr. Connelly pulls it off--spectacularly, I might add. It starts as a rather ordinary break in of a casino hotel room in order to steal the winnings of a very successful baccarat player. There's nothing ordinary in short order. Instead of finding his expected winnings, the take is in the millions. And that means real trouble.

The atmosphere is Los Angeles and especially Las Vegas, two cities that I've never found very interesting. It works well here, however. The descriptive detail is superb. The dialogue is quite good, as in all of Connelly's novels.

If there is a flaw in this book, it is in the characters, not that they are not well drawn, but in the fact that not one person (with the possible exception of the little girl who arrives late) worthy of our sympathy. There are thieves stealing from thieves, murderers, liars, gamblers, wastrels--not one of whom I'd want to know personally. But I have no suggestions to remedy this. The story is about a burglary that goes awry, and one can't expect to meet too many saints in such a plot. Moreover, I suspect that there are few Las Vegas casino denizens who will qualify for beatification.

The book certainly kept my attention, and I can only compare it with a Dostoyevsky novel, say, "Crime and Punishment," with respect to the way that the author peels the onion, as we go deeper and deeper into the motives of the people and into what actually occurred.

Connelly gives readers the total package in Trunk Music. Bosch plays the tough-guy investigator back on the job after a suspension. He grabs his first homicide case by the horns and goes against the FBI, the IAD and the mob as he follows the trail to Las Vegas from LA. He finds an old flame along the way that adds a complex element to the mix. This is a solid mystery novel and provides a satisfactory amount of suspense and punch in the end.

It was another entertaining Harry Bosch. I would not rate this as one of the best but it was a good read.

A beat officer on routine patrol in a deserted park on Mulholland Drive discovers a body stuffed in the trunk of a parked Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. The crime scene reveals a very professional mobster style execution with two bullets to the back of the head. Subsequent investigation determines the victim is Tony Aliso, a low level but apparently quite wealthy Hollywood executive whose company produces straight to video B movies - little better than soft core skin flicks. In a style that is now very familiar to Michael Connelly's legion of rabid fans, a less than by-the-book investigation by LAPD homicide detective, Harry Bosch, and his new team Kiz Rider, a young black female officer and veteran Jerry Edgar, leads them through a viper's nest of Las Vegas and Chicago mobster connections, dirty cops, Internal Affairs hatchet jobs, FBI cover ups and departmental police bickering.

For the very first time since I began reading the Harry Bosch canon in order, a little niggling voice inside my head was trying to persuade me to not like "Trunk Music". "Connelly," I said to myself, ... "This is too much. You've gone to that dirty cop well once too often. You're pushing your luck and this is just going to be repetitious!" Wrong! While the theme might be a little shop worn, Connelly still managed to pull yet another rabbit out of his hat and produce a superb police procedural with twists, turns, red herrings, dead ends and the requisite entirely unpredictable solution as well as allowing Bosch's character to grow at such a pace as to become almost larger than life. His relationship with former FBI Agent and now convicted felon, Eleanor Wish, paints him in warmer, more human colours than we've ever seen before. And in marked contrast to the constant butting of heads with Harvey (98) Pounds, readers will smile at a developing professional relationship with his new boss, Lieutenant Grace Billets.

Highly recommended. Sssh ... listen! That sound you can hear is the patter of running feet as Harry Bosch fans flock to their nearest bookstore to pick up the next one on the Harry Bosch reading list, "Angel's Flight".

Paul Weiss

After being out of work for over a year, Harry is finally back in the saddle, so to speak. There is a new lieutenant in charge of Hollywood's homicide team who has changed things around and Harry finds himself the leader of a three-person team - himself, his old partner Jerry Edgar, and a relatively new rising star Kizmin Rider. When they are called out on a case, it is soon apparent that the deceased was assassinated - and it looks like a mob hit - Trunk Music. There is a special group that handles Organized Crime, but Harry is reluctant to turn over his first case in over a year and a half - when he finally contacts them, much to his surprise, they say they aren't interested, don't know the guy, and have at it. His suspicions raised, Harry sets out to learn the truth.

Moving between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, this tense tale brings us face to face with the many cruelties that people can inflict upon one another. It also re-introduces us to someone from a previous book, but *lips sealed* You'll have to read the book. A definite recommendation from me!

Michael Connelly has a talent for keeping my favorite detective (Harry Bosch) fresh and constantly in new directions and this one is no different. It is a novel where it seems several times that the case is closed but since there are alot of pages remaining, the reader knows its not. Harry is his same brash self, whether he is mouthing off to IAD and other police brass, throwing himself into unwise romantic liaisons or fighting with mob guys. This book introduces Kiz Rider, who along with Edgar team with Harry for a few succeeding books. And I almost forgot Lieutenant Bullets, I mean Billets.