Las Vegas Books

Charlie Stella IS the next big thing in crime fiction. He hooks you in with dialogue and reels you in with a well-crafted cast of characters that all seem to come together in a fast-paced and twisted plot. What I like most about his style of writing are the short chapters that don't just focus on one situation. It may sound clichè from some of the reviews but Stella is definitely on the level of George V. Higgins. If you have plans before reading this book then break them. Once you pick it up you will not be putting it down. Charlie Opera might put Stella over the top and get him the respect that he deserves.

Charlie Opera
Charlie Stella, Carroll & Graf, $25
(308p) ISBN 0-7867-1213-9
*(starred)
For his third brilliant crime novel, following Jimmy Bench-Press (2002), Stella once again assembles a huge cast of Made Men, DEA and FBI agents, plus local cops and gangstas, hookers and a woman on the run from her abusive husband. Charlie Pellecchia, recently retired from a successful window-washing business, thought a Vegas vacation would offer some fun, a little gambling for him and his wife, but "early the next morning, Charlie woke up in a ditch behind a construction site." Gradually, he learns that the obnoxious guy whose jaw he broke in a New York club is Nicholas Cuccia, nephew of the acting Mafia underboss, that his love for arias has gotten him dubbed "Charlie Opera" by the cops back home, and that his wife is leaving him. "His marriage was over. The sooner he accepted it, the better." To Cuccia and his goons, however, he figures he'll devote a little more effort. Stella's dialogue is electric and funny, as when a hit man asks Cuccia if he really wants him to whack a guy for breaking his jaw. "No," he said, "I want you to whack a guy for forty grand.'" This outing Stella offers us quite a few sympathetic characters, from Charlie and the cocktail waitress he's falling for, to strong-arm men Francone and Lano. You actually feel sorry for the poor New York Mafioso, dropped in Las Vegas like sharks flipped into a pool of piranhas. (Dec 8)

...and not serious noir, then you'll likely love this book. If you're a fan of Elmore Leonard or Donald Westlake, you'll really love this book.

Stella has written several volumes about east cost mobsters and wannabe mobsters and their hijinks. This is one of his funniest.

Much like the Ken Bruen/Jason Starr collaborations for Hard Case Crime, the characters are over the top. Stella could have brought them back to earth with a slow moving plot, but like a Berserker on amphetamines, these characters continue to pursue their dreams and hopes without any recognition from the real world that just maybe they should not do whatever their petty desires drive them to do. In fact, they share that quality to an amazing degree with the Bruen/Starr characters.

Of course, with that many mobsters, the various federal agencies cannot be far behind. The police are only slightly less inept than the villains in their pursuit and Stella does a great job with the rivalries between the DEA, the FBI, and other law enforcement groups.

The east coast mobster dialog is authentic and enjoyable. The only caution I would offer is that characters overlap from Stella novel to Stella novel, and reading them out of order can result in spoilers.

Charlie Opera by Charlie Stella is a reader engaging crime novel which follows the haphazard events of Charlie Pellecchia, a seemingly ordinary man with the ill fortune to cross paths with a New York mobster, the DEA, the FBI, and the Las Vegas police. A veritable organized crime soap opera of seamy characters and their tangled machinations surrounding one man who dared to break a wiseguy's jaw, Charlie Opera is genuinely gripping, vividly written, and totally exciting reading.

Kirkus Reviews
Stella's Goodfellas (Jimmy Bench-Press, 2002, etc.) do their wild and crazy thing once more. All is not harmonious in the Vignieri crime family. Underboss Anthony Cuccia, age 65, is trying to talk his recently made nephew into being sensible. Vendettas are okay, the older and wiser mobster acknowledges, if they don't interfere with business. But Nick has wires in his mouth as the result of a jaw broken by a seriously annoyed husband, and somebody has to pay. What happened was this: Nick attempted to lay claim to a portion of Lisa Pellecchia's anatomy to which he was neither legally nor morally entitled. She slapped him, he shoved her, and Charlie Pellecchia decked him. "He gotta answer for this," Nick intones. Cut from New York to Las Vegas, where opera-loving Charlie and his opera-hating Lisa are vacationing in the hope of repairing rifts in their marriage. Though Nick is indefatigable in his pursuit of vengeance, hit-men just aren't what they used to be, and Charlie proves exceptionally clever besides, good with his hands, and very elusive. Nick's hit-men (think Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in sharp suits) fail, and a variety of second-string killers don't kill any better. Still, this is the mob according to Stella, which means body bags will be piled high sooner or later. Violent, brutal at times, but the pace never slows, and you'll like tough, tenderhearted Charlie a lot.

I loved the story and the positive influences the author gave to Rob and all of us who are tempted to take a short cut. I loved how real it was and how well the story was able to help me `get into the minds' of the characters to the point that I became consumed in the plot. Esp. being able to get into the mind of the main character, Rob, him being a guy - I was impressed that the author was so realistic with his `typical guy-like' thoughts and did not try to overcomplicate him even though he was in a complicated situation.

I think the main thing I was left with was the value of the positive influences of good people in our lives. The converse of that being important to note as well: how devastating the reprocussions of negative influences...

Well done and worth the time!

For a taste of everything from suspense, romance, and actually getting into people's lives, this book contains it all. Once you start you cannot put it down because you want to read about what happens next. The characters are all believable and seem like people you know. The writer keeps you in suspense to the very end and ties all of the loose ends up in a neat package.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A NOVEL THAT CONATAINS ACTION PACKED SEQUENCES WHERE THE HERO OVERCOMES INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS OVER A PLETHORA OF ENEMIES, OR A BRANIAC ANTHROPOLOGIST WHO CAN SUMMON UP ANY MINISCULE FACT OF ANCIENT HISTORY FASTER THAN ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, THEN THIS IS NOT THE NOVEL FOR YOU. BUT, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A NOVEL THAT CHALLENGES YOUR THINKING ON HOW WE EFFECT OTHERS LIVES BY THE DECISIONS WE MAKE, NO MATTER HOW INCONSEQUENTIAL THEY MAY SEEM, THIS IS THE ONE BOOK YOU NEED TO READ. THIS STORY DOES A SUPERB JOB OF WEAVING THE CHARACTERS LIVES TOGETHER, EVEN THOUGH THEY DO EVERYTHNG POSSIBLE TO SEPERATE THEMSELVES BY TIME AND GEOGRAPHY. THE AUTHOR IS GREAT AT HOLDING YOUR ATTENTION BY USING CHARACTERS THAT ARE REAL AND BELIEVABLE. THEY COULD EASLILY BE YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR. AS THE READER, YOU FIND YOURSELF CONSTANTLY QUESTIONING THE OUTCOME OF DECISIONS MADE BY THE CHARACTERS, FORCING YOU TO READ THE NEXT PAGE JUST TO SEE IF YOU SURMISED CORRECTLY. IT IS A REFRESHING READ FROM THE USUAL TALES THAT ARE ABOUT A HOMOCIDIAL MANIC DRIVEN BY AN OVERDOSE OF TESTOSTERONE IN ORDER OT SAVE HIS PRINCESS THAT SEEM TO COVER EVERY INCH OF THE SHELVES AT OUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE. ONCE YOU PICK IT UP, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!

I strongly recommend reading this book. I couldn't put it down, I wanted to see what would happen next. The characters and plot touched my heart.

This book got me "hooked" from the start. The story never lagged. Bobby Mac has a lot of things on his plate- most of them unpleasant. I really liked his character, and those he interacted with. It can take a lot of courage to return to your past then start anew. I have never read anything quite like this and would recommend this book to anyone- literally.

I bought this book to help us decide if Las Vegas could be a family vacation destination. After reading it, I see that most of Vegas is for adults only. However, if you end up with your children in Vegas and need to entertain them, this book is priceless! It exhaustingly covers every nook and cranny of kid-accessible entertainment in and around the greater Las Vegas area. This is invaluable information written by a long-time Vegas resident and experienced mom.

Whoever this lady is, she saved our trip! My wife found this book online while we were planning a long weekend trip to Las Vegas. We thought we would figure out the kids entertainment plans when we got there, but this book did ALL the legwork for us. She has a light hearted writing style, but she obviously knows "her" town!
Ms.Espin, my children thank you, my wife thanks you, and my WALLET thanks you! (Now, can you teach me how to win at poker?)

Las Vegas and kids? Yes, it is possible to bring your children to Sin City and find a good time is had by all - thanks to Kathy Espin. With the glut of gaming books, mob tales and Elvis stories it is a delightful treat to find something that offers a fresh twist! As a long-time resident, I was happily surprised to learn that even us old Vegas 'Hound Dogs' can still learn a new trick or two!

Let me start of by saying I am not much of a reader, but when I received a copy of this book I was moved. The honesty in this book and the references are on point. I have gone to many of these places myself and done a lot of the things said in this book and they are just like kathy said they were. I find this book a good reference when I am bored and have nothing better to do. It also helped me when I had company and didn't know what to do with them. I took them to a few places that the book said to and then I gave them the book and they just had a blast. I recommend this to everybody even the locals who think they know everything about this town(I used to be one of them) its so informational that its kind of mind blowing that kathy took her time to study and find all of these places. Thank you kathy for a wonderful book and I hope there are many more to come.

As a single mother of 3 adolescent kids, this book was a godsend! I was able to find all kinds of fun things for them to do while I was enjoying myself in Las Vegas. I love the organization of the book and all the "local" tips. It is apparent that the author is a long-time resident of Las Vegas and that she has kids herself. The suggested activities are fun and wholesome, which I was worried about. I didn't know if there would be "wholesome" things for my kids to do in Las Vegas until I read this book! Thanks Ms. Espin for all the advice!

The prices in this book are out of date - it was published in 2001 and in 2005 the prices across the board were about 30% higher. Budget conscious Las Vegas visitors will want to keep that in mind.

Otherwise it was a terrific resource for "freebies" and kid-friendly attractions.

I have enjoyed Las Vegas as a single tourist in the past, but when I decided to bring my family to Las Vegas, I knew that I needed to do some planning. I never knew just how family-friendly Las Vegas really was! The Lobster Kids' Guide to Exploring Las Vegas was a critical resource that made better use of our time. This book provided me with creativity and adventure. I was able to plan out our vacation and make last minute decisions with the direction from this author, who's descriptions were "right on". And, there was a large variety of activities to choose from. My family absolutely loved our vacation and I loved the ease of it all (descriptions, tips, directions, price info, etc.). Thanks to the help from this book, I know that the memories of our vacation will last a lifetime!

This book is great if you plan on visting Vegas with the kids in mind. It gives a good description of the attractions, addresses, phone numbers, height restrictions, and prices. We've started checking off the things we've done in the table of contents. The only downfall is it doesn't really give a review of great buffets...only some suggestions of kid friendly eateries.

Now that I live in LAs Vegas, the rest of the family, and heir families are coming out. The Lobster Guide is a great tool to help them plan all the litlle trips fand activities for the kids.

I bought two copies and ship one to the folks prior to their coming to visit. They decide what they want to do and see and it saves me hours of hassle.

The book has information on attractions and shows I never knew about.

If you have kids, or have guests who have kids. GET THIS BOOK!

This book saved me a bundle of time and expenses when family came out to visit here in Las Vegas.

I was a big hero to my nephews and nieces because I knew all the best places to take them to see free shows and other exciting things. My sisters and brothers loved me because once the kids had their adventures, they were free to do the adult vegas experience.

Whether you live here (and have family and their children coming to visit) or whether you are bringing your family, this book has a complete list that will keep the little ones happy. From pirate battles to clown museums. Rollercoasters to wild life parks.

BUY this BOOK

Out of all the books I read on weddings in Vegas, this one was the best! It had everything I wanted to know about the locations and accomodations. Well worth the money if you plan on getting married there, but don't know what chapel to choose.

I was really impressed by the information contained in this book, you definitely feel confident about planning a wedding from a far. i enjoyed the little snippets of historical significance and i truely believe this book will make our journey to the states and the alter one to remember!

This is a great guide to getting spliced in Lost Wages. Van Vechten has a nice style - He's very informative, but keeps things light and humorous. Even if you're not planning on getting married anytime soon, it's a fun read and a good addition to your Vegas library.

After reading about a local couple renewing their vows in Las Vegas with an Elvis impersonator performing the ceremony, it doesn't surprise me that there's a whole book devoted to Las Vegas weddings.
This book covers the pricing, description of the facility, hours, types of ceremonies and even languages spoken. It also factors in how clean they are, how romantic, friendly and even how oddball the place might be.
If you're thinking of taking the plunge into matrimony, this book will help you plan the ultimate Las Vegas wedding.

My fiance and I are going to Las Vegas in May to tie the knot. I was so excited to find this book! It gives totally complete reveiws of each and every chapel and rates them in a fun and informative way using grades such as "Kitch Factor" and "Romance Quotient" along with hours and costs etc. Every chapel is listed....there are separate sections for stand alone chapels and those in the casinos. It gives history of the chapels and little quirks, if Elvis is in the building, or the more traditional. There are all kinds of tips along the way, and at the end is some info on great restaurants and entertainment. I have read it cover to cover and am so glad it came into my life at the right time. It has made my planning MUCH easier! If you are getting married Vegas Style you NEED this book!

Being a native Las Vegas, I knew Frank Wright very well.
We worked together on many historic preservation projects.
He has done a fine job in telling many classic stories and also some little known facts and stories.
A "keeper" for those who are interested the real stories of Las Vegas.

Finally a Las Vegas history book for everyone! Frank Wright's "Nevada Yesterday's" is the history of Las Vegas publication, that reads as if "U.S.A. Today" newspaper had commissioned the book.

Educational and entertaining reporting of the big stories from Las Vegas's past, the book reads well with great photography and graphics.

I really enjoyed the world timeline segments, that put Las Vegas history into a larger perspective.

One of the greatest services "Nevada Yesreday's" provides the reader is the contrast between the myth-Las Vegas and the REAL history that is often better than the Hollywood version.

"Nevada Yesterdays" provides a new look at Las Vegas history, from debunking the myth of Bugsy Siegel as the town's founder, to uncovering the colorful characters such as Sheriff Sam Gay, who was fired for the first time in 1910 for taking prisoners from the sweltering tin jail and tying them to a shady tree by the creek. Other gems include stories about the marriage of "Whataman" Hudson and Ma Kennedy; Tony Cornero, who built several casino and died at the craps table; the coming of Howard Hughes and what it did for Las Vegas; and much more. The pieces are filled with humor, unexpected details and above all, solid historical facts. A must read!

frank wright's 'nevada yesterdays' is a wonderful book, full of short historical essays on our much misunderstood state. wright was a good man, a good historian, and a good writer--his book reflects all these qualities. i wish i'd written it. i wish i could have!

For many years the late Frank Wright entertained the people of Las Vegas with his stories of early Nevada. For the first time his stories have been put together in Nevada Yesterdays, from the story of Whiskey Pete to the fairy tale character of the elusive nude Eve of Paradise Valley. A wonderful compilation of his beloved radio shows, Nevada Yesterdays brings the history of America's most original town to life.

I sometimes anticipate what's going to happen next, i.e., who's going to get killed and how, but even when I'm fairly close, which is not very often, McEvoy goes way beyond my anticipation. As a bonus, there's a lot about horses, racing, and jockeys that I did not know, but found it was a pleasure to learn.

Here's a fast-paced look at the dark side of racing, written by someone who obviously knows the track inside and out. Peopled with unforgettable characters, the intricate plot moves smoothly towards a truly smashing finish. A wonderful read for mystery fans and/or racing enthusiasts.

In John McEvoy's second novel, also set in the idiosyncratic world of horse racing, you know whodunit and it's still a thriller. The villain, Claude Bledsoe, has to come up with a million dollars in order to inherit his grandmother's money. Since it's too hard to fix horse races the old fashioned way, using his superhuman strength and knowledge of nearly every skill acquirable through literally dozens of undergraduate and master's degree programs, the maniacal Bledsoe starts intimidating, blackmailing and murdering jockeys to throw races. McEvoy limns the life of jockeys and their families, whom he so clearly respects. The percipient protagonist Matt O'Connor (don't we all wish we had a boyfriend like that), a journalist following his hunches, finally catches up with Bledsoe - or the other way around. Think Grace Kelly in Rear Window. For fans of Chicago and Madison, these places are rendered lovingly. Fast paced and funny, Riders Down is satisfying in every way.

John McEvoy's Riders Down is like two books within a single cover---the first full of insights into the world of horse racing which then becomes the backdrop for the second, a fast paced detective drama. McEvoy tells a good story with style, drawing on a closet full of colorful characters reminiscent of a Damon Runyon novel. And by the time the last page is turned, the reader can not help but be infected not only by the author's passion for `the sport of kings' but by his abiding love for the racetrack community that brings it to life.

I have worked at race tracks and the writer makes this world within our world come alive--we learn stuff. The characters, from Glockner the bookmaker to Maggie the trainer, are strong. You're easily drawn into them and their lives. The plot is suspenseful and the ending delivers. If you love Chicago, the world of horseracing or just a strong mystery, you'll go for this book. Hope McEvoy's got another one up his sleave.

Well my Mom and I both read this book within a few days, and let me tell you we couldn't put it down! I loved the character of Ted. I loved how honorable and valiant he was. At the same time, I totally could see him as a real person. Catia and Gorhen were hilarious together and their chemistry was undeniable. The book really made me think about free will and the consequences that can affect not only your own life, but the lives of others. It's a modern take on the battle of good versus evil. People that like theology will like this book. At the same time people that just want a good, funny read will like it as well. Angel On My Shoulder, Demon in My Ear is a great debut from a brand new author who I can foresee being around a long time to come.

I was skeptical of this book at first. A brand new author, she's young...I wondered if it would be any good, or just some teeny-bopper fad. I was floored. This book was interesting and entertaining from beginning to end. All plot matter was funny and/or thought-provoking, but there were parts where I, as a reader, found myself wondering "what does this have to do with anything?" Never was the book dull or confusing, but as it began to unravel toward the end, every last little thing came into view, and fit in to the plot and the characters' lives as perfectly as puzzel pieces. Everything made sense, and the discoveries left you breathless and content. From about Interlude 29, you can't put the book down - the feeling of "I have to know what happens next" is too powerful. The end was wonderful: a mix of sadness and inspiration that left me feeling good. I really got to love Ted. I also enjoyed how worldly the book was; taking us to different places on the globe, and introducing us to many famous deceased individuals such as: William Shakespeare, Judas the Iscariot, Oscar Wilde, and Poker Alice, just to name a few. This young author is very creative and has so much promise. I hope she writes another book soon - I will definitely be reading it.

I hate reading. It's boring, but a friend told me to read this, so I started it. I finished it two days later. This book was really good. Ted's really funny, and there aren't any sappy slow-moving parts. Gorhen is awesome. What's not to like about a suave, charming guy who has the world at his fingertips, and knows just about everybody - living and dead? The fact that he's constantly surrounded by hot girls isn't bad, either. I envy Ted for the stuff that happened to him, especially getting to hang out with Mary and Bianca. The line about him letting "the cold water reach all the extermities of his body," I get that. It made me laugh in a lot of parts. I also liked how the author had the band members of Weezer as characters in her book. They were only there for one scene, but it was cool, cause they're my favorite band. I really liked this book, and I think anybody - even people who don't like to read - will get a kick out of it.

I was interested in this book when I read the title. I thought, "Oh, what's this?" After reading the synopsis, I thought it was definitely worth checking out. I finished it in one day! I could not put this book down. The characters just popped off the page, and the dialogue was excellent. I could hear all the different voices when I read it, like the people were real and in the room with me. I liked Ted most of all, unsurprisingly, but Gorhen and Catia were fantastic as well, and a perfect match for each other. Their arguements were some of the highlights of the book. I loved the part where they were fighting about Ted, and he was right outside the door. He makes the comparison about how divorced parents act regarding their only child, and I know it's true, because I lived that. I loved this book, it was so real. I think it will give people something to believe in again.

I didn't know what to expect from this book, since this author is brand new, but I was floored! (And I read Kristina Marrick lives in Battle Creek - so she's probably 35 miles away from me!) Ted is my new hero! I fell in love with him by the second chapter. (Actually "Interlude." I think it's so cool that she calls them Interludes - it makes her book different.) Anyway, this book went really fast. Too fast! There should be a part 2! I loved the scene in Las Vegas most of all, I had to do research on "Poker" Alice for a history class, and there she was, in Las Vegas waiting for Ted! And just as vulgar and out-spoken as she supposedly was in real life. I was psyched when I saw that the author included her. Catia, the angel, is so cool - she's always calm and respectful, putting what's "right" before everything else. She so soft, almost fragile, yet, in some ways, she seems stronger than the demon, Gorhen. I found myself wishing I could be more like her. But Gorhen is awesome!!! He's so aloof and charismatic, I know I would totally fall for him if he were a real person. Good girls like bad boys and all that. I thought the epilogue was a great touch. Remember Anne Rice's "Vampire Chronicles"? I can see Gorhen the demon reaching rockstar status the way the Vampire Lestat did. Kristina, please write more soon!

Anyone who has read a Junior League cookbook knows the quality. This book is one more diamond on their necklace. Quality of content, the paper and photographs...buy it.

This wonderful cookbook has recipes from celebrities (David Cassidy, Phyllis McGuire, Rosie O'Donnell, Lance Burton) and chefs from the major Strip Hotels (Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Hilton, Spago, Rio, MGM). I found the recipes very straight-forward and easy to read. Color is the word for this book. In addition to the bright colors on the cover, those colors are carried out through the book in each chapter. There is information about Las Vegas, the surrounding areas, etc. I found it an interesting read. The pictures of the food in this book make your mouth water. I could not believe the recipes were makeable for the food I saw! The recipe on the cover was a watermelon sorbet/salsa shrimp cocktail. Only in Las Vegas! It made me glad to know that all the money generated from the sale of the book go back into the Las Vegas community. I had difficulty obtaining a copy here, they kept selling out.

This cookbook has great visual appeal, as well as excellent recipes that are not difficult to make - at least those that I have tried are not. "Salt-Encrusted Beef Tenderloin" produced the best tenderloin I have ever made and the "Garlic Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes" are absolutely the best! I've tried several other recipes with equal success. This book would make a wonderful gift for anyone who enjoys cooking or just reading cookbooks.

I received this cookbook as a gift. It didn't get stuck on the shelf; I spent several evenings looking through it. The layout and use of color and photos as well as the periodic commentary makes it great for pleasure reading. But it's a wonderful cookbook, too. I have tried several recipes already, and every one has been a success. Many are simple enough for family meals as well as savory and elegant enough for entertaining. I will be using this cookbook regularly.

This book is not only beautiful, it just sparkles with energy. Every recipe that I have tried is just outstanding! I recently had a luncheon and served the Asparagus Tart, salad with the Soy Orange Vinaigrette dressing and Key Lime Cheesecake. The meal was a real hit with my friends and the recipes were so simple that I could easily do it again! The one thing that impresses me most about this cookbook is that the recipes are straightforward, easy to follow, and delicious. I'm sure this cookbook will be used repeatedly and not sit on the shelf. The chef and celebrity recipes are great additions and the sidebars about the recipes and chefs are interesting reading.

Great information for the budget-conscious traveler. Informative and honest reviews are very helpful, especially for hotels and restaurants.

As a UK visitor to Las Vegas I have found it a very handy and the best guide on the market with up to date rieviews of shows and hotels with plenty of tips for especialy for us people across the pond

I enjoyed reading all the information from the work. A good book to take with you on your trip to Las Vegas. It well be helpful for restaurants, entertainment ideas and just places to have fun.
The maps in included with the book are also helpful.

This is a great guide book for Vegas. The author has personally visited all the hotels and attractions and is very honest in his reviews. His is an "everyman" perspective matching well with what I've found when I've visited there. He also provides updates and corrections on the website http://vegas4visitors.com , which is really helpful when this town changes on a weekly basis. I highly recommend this book for any first-time Vegas visitors and also anyone who wants to know what they missed when they were there.

I love this guidebook. I've been looking at many travel guides for Vegas lately, but this one is by far my favorite. It contains a witty writing style that matches the feel of the city. The author is brutally honest about every sight, lounge, hotel, and restaurant, lending his own experiences as trial runs for vacation planners. For me, restaurants and hotels are the areas I need the most help with while traveling, and this book did a great job of breaking down the pros and cons, fronting advice, and reassuring my travel worries. This guide really helped to sort out the overwhelming choices. I highly recommend it!