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Summary: Loved it!
Review: "This is a very entertaining novel that had me guessing until the very last page. The depictions of Las Vegas are right on the money, and there were laughs on practically every page. I really enjoyed this."
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Summary: This book hits the jackpot
Review: 62 year old Tony Valentine is a retired cop who helps stop casino fraud from the security of his retirement home in Florida. The impending visit of his prodigal son, however, convinces him a little vacation is necessary. He allows himself to be pulled into the investigation of a hustler in Las Vegas. No one recognizes the guy but he is just too good to appear out of the woodwork. Valentine eventually recognizes him as Sonny Fontana, the greatest hustler ever - and apparently not dead, as reported. Valentine gradually uncovers both Fontana's accomplices and his intricate plan.Along with a cracking good heist mystery, the characters in this book are myriad and distinctive. There's casino owner Nick, the little Greek lover who can't remember who he has slept with. Nola, the down-at-luck but trying-to-find-happiness blackjack dealer. Roxanne, the beautiful desk clerk with a thing for older men. Valentine's son Gerry, his geriatric neighbor Mabel, and lots more. The great bonus in Grift Sense is the inside secrets of life in a casino. Scattered through the story are the scams, the hustles, the rip-offs, plus the tedium and wretchedness, behind the scenes of the gambling world. This book hits the jackpot on all levels.
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Summary: A fun trip to Vegas
Review: A fun detective book, plenty of action including con games. Take a short trip to Las Vegas, the content of this book won't tax your brain too hard. The writing is very readable.
Rating:
Summary: A very, very entertaining first novel!
Review: A great first effort by Swain. You'll love Tony Valentine, not your usual hardbody hero. The author keeps Valentine very human and real and somewhat self deprecating. Great sense of humor and good, if somewhat stereotypical, character development. The story revolves around scams in Las Vegas and Valentine's ability to "sense" such scams - "Grift sense". The story rushes at the end but has a good twist, is very entertaining, and has a satisfying conclusion. Assuming "Introducing Tony Valentine" means a sequel is coming, I'm anxiously awaiting it!!! Great read!
Rating:
Summary: First time author wins
Review: A new character, a new milieu, this book is a winner and I look forward to the next. The casino background is fascinating; Tony Valentine is a middle aged, tired baby boomer with all too familar life problems whose brain is still turned on! A great read!
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Summary: Scam the Scammer
Review: A strong debut novel by James Swain- observe his portrait. He just looks like a guy that would be wise to the ways of Las Vegas. Widower Tony Valentine, retired Atlantic City cop, lives the relaxed life in Florida while keeping his hand in with an occasional consulting job. He has a son who is so annoying, they only communicate via voice mail, and a lovely neighbor lady whose hobby is placing anonymous ads in the local paper, such as: "Depressed, overweight, domineering older woman, slight drinking problem, hyper, on food stamps and oxygen. Would like to meet a cute young professional man with big abs and a foreign sports car, low mileage. Please send current, blood test results, and nude photo for a platonic relationship." As you can see, there is lots of humor. The characters are Runyonesque with a dash of Ellroy. The best part of the novel is the scams; what they are and how Tony detects them. The ambience is more '50's Las Vegas than the present day. You expect any moment to see Bugsy Siegal sashay in with the gorgeous Virginia Hill on his arm. The fictional casino has more than a passing resemblance to the old mob-controlled Flamingo. The reader has more to figure out than the standard whodunit; with the help of expert Swain, we have to figure out "HOW" he dunnit as well. A fun and fascinating read. Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: As a mystery fan and blackjack aficionado, I was enthusiastically looking forward to reading GRIFT SENSE. Mr. Swain does have a feel for the inner workings of Las Vegas casinos, and he delivers the goods throughout. What he does not have is a feel for the workings of a mystery novel. The implausabilities of plot are numerous and some of the details are just plain wrong; somewhere along the line, an editor should've picked up Mr. Swain's time-zones error: it's three hours LATER on the east coast. Some of the blackjack details might be questioned as well, not a small matter when the plot hinges on possible dealer malfeasance. Most serious, however, is the sense of not knowing who we're supposed to be rooting for. Without a real hero, the reader is left on his own, trying to figure out why he or she is following the double-crossings of a bunch of lowlifes. Having said all this, I think Mr. Swain has it in him to deliver something better next time, a thriller with a casino background that truly satisfies.
Rating:
Summary: The first of many, I hope.
Review: Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiaasen and now James Swain. His Grift Sense is a wonderful read. It is fast, entertaining and has many "laugh out loud" moments. The story is good and has some neat twists and turns. The details of casino gambling operations and how cheaters cheat are fascinating. Best of all, the characters are fresh, creative and funny. Especially Mabel, Tony Valentine's neighbor. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
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Summary: Ocean's 11 and The Sting wrapped up together in one!!!!
Review: EXCELLENT BOOK! Grift Sense takes you right back to the classic Hustler/Scam artist scene. It was a very simple, yet witty read.
I highly recommend it if you're looking for a FAST and ENTERTAINING book avoiding the Murder and Lawyer books that are a dime a dozen out there.
I can't wait until FUNNY MONEY comes out. Keep up the good work!
Rating:
Summary: Grift Sense
Review: Grift Sense by James Swain is the most interesting and rivoting book I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I had the day off and I thought I'd read a few pages or perhaps one chapter. I was hooked from the very first page and I couldn't stop until the entire book was finished. I live in Las Vegas and I know a few things about how casinos (and cheats) operate. Mr. Swain's work was 100% right on the money. He knows what he's writing about and he obviously has inside information on the hows and whys behind various scams and cons. Mr. Swain also has a deep understanding of the psychology and the working of the gambler's (and criminal) mind. The book was suspenseful, intreaging and exciting! I can't wait for the next adverture!
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