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Mr. Lucky (Abridged): A Novel of High Stakes Audiobook
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(3.02) - 245 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Tony Valentine made his living and his name as a cop in Atlantic City–and is now known worldwide for his ability to spot the kinds of scams, grifts, and rip-offs that cost casinos billions every year. A man with a biting wit who drives a ’92 Honda, Tony is low-profile, old-school, and has seen it all–until he meets the luckiest man on earth. Ricky Smith was once a small-town loser. Then he went to Las Vegas, jumped out the window of a burning hotel, lived to tell the tale, and tore up the Strip on an incredible winning streak. Ricky didn’t just win at one slot machine or table game. He won at blackjack, roulette, and craps, and then beat the pants off the world’s greatest poker player. Tony knows that goofy, loudmouthed Ricky Smith–or anyone else, for that matter–couldn’t possibly be that fortunate. But when “Mr. Lucky” returns home to the little town of Slippery Rock, North Carolina, he keeps on winning everything from a horse race to a $50,000 lottery. Hired by a desperate casino, Tony starts to pry into Ricky’s past, his friends, and the strange little town that is benefiting from Ricky’s fame and fortune. Unfortunately for Tony, his cover is blown when he is forced to reveal a trick he has up his own sleeve: a pocket Glock he can shoot with laser-like precision. Suddenly, two men are dead, the cops are on Tony’s tail, and the investigation explodes in violence–putting the lives of Tony’s son and his young family in danger. For years, Tony’s son Gerry has dueled with his own criminal impulses. Now, the Ricky Smith case has lured Gerry through the gates of temptation and into a murderous confrontation with the Dixie Mafia. With Tony stuck on the slippery slope of Slippery Rock and Gerry fighting for his life, the Valentines are finding out just how bad good luck can get. Against a neon-tinted backdrop of adrenaline rushes, hard crashes, big money, and high-wire tension, the inimitable James Swain has set his best Tony Valentine novel yet: a funny, furious ride with an astounding array of crooks, marks, and one killer scam.
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"Tony Valentine investigates swindling at casinos. When the "luckiest" man in the world wins a bundle in Vegas Valentine is on the job to try and find his scams. A little mystery, some fine twists in the story and some humor on the side."
— Jackie (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Mixing humor, suspense, poignancy, and insider-lore, Swain is one terrific writer…A thoroughly winning book.”
— Wall Street Journal -
“Mr. Lucky hits the jackpot. Impossible to put down.”
— Michael Connelly, #1 New York Times bestselling author -
“The momentum is great, the writing nimble, the action intricate.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“Swain has hit on a winning combination…[Valentine] is the kind of man you wouldn’t mind having on your side in a high-stakes poker game, let alone the game of life.”
— Washington Post Book World
Awards
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A 2006 Barry Award Finalist for Best Novel
Mr. Lucky Listener Reviews
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" The most mysterious part was revelations about how gambling scams work, but the story overall left me wondering why I read it. "
— David, 8/13/2013 -
" so far, so good. It's a quick paced read. "
— Dominick, 7/9/2013 -
" Entertaining. Reads almost like a comic book. It is about gambling and cheating the games. I have always been somewhat interested in gambling. "
— Tom, 6/22/2013 -
" Another Tony Valentine novel, where he has to determine how one guy can win everywhere: Vegas, horses, lotteries, etc. "
— Skip, 5/12/2013 -
" Fast paced, intriguing characters. One of the series' best features is the "slant" of dealing with scams. "
— Harry, 5/11/2013 -
" Standard fare, guilty pleasure, modern day pulp... "
— Andrew, 12/24/2012 -
" Not bad. Nice cover art. "
— Tim, 6/28/2012 -
" This one keeps you guessing. Apparently it is the fifth in the series but I don't feel like I missed anything with just picking this one up. The characters are all intriguing and James Swain knows how to keep the story going. "
— Candace, 6/11/2012 -
" I listened to this on Audio, my husband did as well and we both liked it. "
— Christie, 4/16/2012 -
" This is an entertaining book and the story is more cohesive than that in Midnight Rambler. "
— Pete, 12/25/2011 -
" Fun, fast paced read that kept me going through out. Bob, as you mention, the relationship between father and son is great to watch - however I really like watching Gerry grow. "
— Peg, 12/8/2011 -
" This was a good read. Interesting characters. Liked the way Swain developed the plot with a couple of twists thrown in. "
— Tom, 11/20/2011 -
" Fast paced, intriguing characters. One of the series' best features is the "slant" of dealing with scams. "
— Harry, 2/27/2011 -
" This was a good read. Interesting characters. Liked the way Swain developed the plot with a couple of twists thrown in. "
— Tom, 1/17/2011 -
" Fun, fast paced read that kept me going through out. Bob, as you mention, the relationship between father and son is great to watch - however I really like watching Gerry grow. "
— Peg, 1/8/2010 -
" Another Tony Valentine novel, where he has to determine how one guy can win everywhere: Vegas, horses, lotteries, etc. "
— Skip, 5/14/2009 -
" This one keeps you guessing. Apparently it is the fifth in the series but I don't feel like I missed anything with just picking this one up. The characters are all intriguing and James Swain knows how to keep the story going. "
— Candace, 1/19/2009 -
" Entertaining. Reads almost like a comic book. It is about gambling and cheating the games. I have always been somewhat interested in gambling. "
— Tom, 1/11/2009 -
" so far, so good. It's a quick paced read. "
— Dominick, 10/8/2008 -
" The most mysterious part was revelations about how gambling scams work, but the story overall left me wondering why I read it. "
— David, 6/29/2008 -
" Standard fare, guilty pleasure, modern day pulp... "
— Andrew, 12/18/2007 -
" I listened to this on Audio, my husband did as well and we both liked it. "
— Caterry, 10/9/2007
About James Swain
James Swain is the nationally bestselling author of numerous thrillers, which have been translated into many languages and chosen as Mysteries of the Year by Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews. He has received several Barry Award nominations, a Florida Book Award for fiction, and the prestigious Prix Calibre .38 Award for Best American Crime Writing. An avid magician, he has written and lectured extensively on the subject.
About Tony Roberts
Tony Roberts is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator. He has had roles in numerous films, many by Woody Allen, as well as his starring roles on Broadway in Arsenic and Old Lace; Promises, Promises; and The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife.