Deadman's Poker

I've been a huge fan of James Swain's Tony Valentine series from the time the first book in the series, <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/408227.Grift_Sense__Tony_Valentine__1_" title="Grift Sense (Tony Valentine #1) by James Swain" rel="noopener">Grift Sense</a>, was published. But the first time I read this entry, it really annoyed me and then it annoyed me all over again the second time around, even though I knew what was coming.<br /><br />For those unfamiliar with the series, Valentine is an ex-cop from Atlantic City who retired and opened a firm called Grift Sense. Tony is a consultant who helps casinos combat "grifters" who attempt to cheat at casino games. Tony excels at spotting the myriad of ways in which unscrupulous people attempt to gain an illegal edge over the casinos. He's a unique and very engaging protagonist, and in telling these stories, James M. Swain exposes a variety of interesting cons that grifters have used over the years. <br /><br />Tony also has a son, Gerry, who has been a pain in the ass from day one. But Tony loves his son; he constantly supports him and has given him chance after chance after chance to straighten up and fly right. He's now even taken Gerry into the business with him in the hope that this will encourage the kid to grow up. The best one can say is that Gerry is making progress, but as this book suggests, he's still got a long way to go.<br /><br />The story opens with Gerry in the hospital, comforting a friend who is dying. The friend insists that he has developed a fool-proof way to cheat at poker. He taught the system to some guys who are going to use it in a poker tournament in Vegas, only now they're refusing to pay him. Someone else has offered to buy the system for $100,000. Gerry's dying friend wants him to make the sale and give the money to the dying man's mother. <br /><br />Gerry knows that his father would definitely not approve, but a friend's a friend and so Gerry agrees. But while Gerry steps out of the room, someone slips in, finishes off the dying friend and steals the bag containing the secret system. The only thing remaining is a card that the dying man is clutching from the Celebrity Casino in Vegas.<br /><br />Gerry appeals to his father for help in avenging the murder of his friend. Tony reluctantly agrees, with the understanding that Gerry will take his wife and child on a vacation while Tony sorts things out. Tony goes to Vegas and checks into the Celebrity, which is hosting the World Poker Showdown. A novice player named Skip DeMarco is beating the pants off of seasoned players and advancing rapidly toward the finals of the tournament. One of the other professional players insists that DeMarco is cheating. Tony agrees that it would be virtually impossible for anyone to be as good or as lucky as DeMarco appears, but if he is cheating, Tony can't figure out how.<br /><br />The situation is quickly complicated by the fact that Gerry being Gerry, he breaks his promise to his father and flies to Vegas instead of going on vacation. He's determined to figure out who killed his friend, but before long he's in a world of trouble and this time even his father may not be able to save him.<br /><br />The story progresses along several tracks as Tony attempts to save his son while at the same time trying to figure out how Skip DeMarco is cheating his way through the poker tournament. It's a very entertaining romp and then suddenly, with absolutely no notice, the book simply ends. Swain wraps up the thread relating to Gerry's situation, but as the reader turns the last page of the book, the poker tournament is still underway and Tony still has absolutely no idea how DeMarco might be gaming the system.<br /><br />This is why I and, I suspect, an awful lot of other readers were left so frustrated with the book. The main plot ends right in the middle of the damned story and the next book in the series, <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/5303193.Deadman_s_Bluff__Tony_Valentine__7_" title="Deadman's Bluff (Tony Valentine #7) by James Swain" rel="noopener">Deadman's Bluff</a>, picks up right where this one left off. There's absolutely no indication on the cover that this novel is part of a two-book series and that the reader will be left hanging until the second book appears. <br /><br />Like most readers, I don't expect every thread of a crime novel to be neatly tied off at the end of the book, but I don't think it unreasonable to expect that the main plot will somehow be resolved. The fact that Swain leaves the reader hanging like this really angered me when I first read the book and, as I suggested above, it angered me all over again this time, even though this time the next book is sitting right next to this one on my shelf and I can turn to it immediately. Four stars reduced to three for initially making me wait several months to see how the story would end.

OUTSTANDING!!! One of the best novels I have read in 2006. 10 of 10 stars!

I really like this series. A lot.<br />A good friend of Gerry’s is murdered as he is dying in the hospital from cancer. Gerry is bound and determined to find out who did it and get revenge.<br />And Daddy Valentine is right behind him. Literally making sure he doesn’t screw up.<br />The setting is Vegas. And Gerry requests the help of some questionable friends of his...<br /><br />The only problem I have with this book is, it doesn’t end. You have to read the next book to find out what happens. This would have been a 4 or a 5 if it had ended here. What is the point? Make it longer and finish it. I’d be pissed if I had to wait months or a year to find out what happens.<br />Thankfully I have the next book so I can keep going....<br />

In Deadman's Poker, Swain gives us yet again another terrific thriller <br />about Tony Valentine, gambling, cheaters, and more. In fact, Swain <br />gives us his most ambitious effort yet with a plot line spanning two <br />novels (Deadman's Poker and Deadman's Bluff). However, While the <br />entire plot does not play out in this book, readers are not left on a <br />cliffhanger and reading this book alone can be satisfying. <br /><br />This book takes place in Las Vegas as many of the books in this series, <br />for obvious reasons do. The focus is on a nationally televised poker <br />tournament and Valentine's role in snooping out cheaters. Valentine, if <br />you skipped ahead to this book without reading the first five in the <br />series, is a retired Atlantic City detective, who now runs a business <br />called Grift Sense, so called because Valentine has an uncanny knack <br />for spotting scams and cons so much so that just about every casino in <br />the world sends him surveillance tapes to get his take on things. <br />Interspersed with Valentine's investigation here are the antics of his <br />son Gerry who is sort of a junior partner but who can't stay out of <br />trouble as well as the comic wide-eyed betting of an old poker <br />champion determined to clean up on outrageous bets to fleece suckers <br />on such things as a foot race with a racehorse. Also, mixing it in with <br />these episodes is Valentine's romance with a crack news reporter given <br />a last chance to break a good story. <br /><br />It's a fine thriller with plenty of fights, shootings, doublecrosses, and <br />action. Juxtaposing the cops and robbers effort to get the bad guys <br />with the other episodes gives the story a fine balance. <br />As with all the books in this series, this is a terrific fun book to read <br />and highly recommended.

Seamed the transitions were amateurish and the lead up was decent but absolutely horrible ending. Most of the situations seemed contrived and not believable. He is a sixty something old man and beats up 3 young thugs ? He pins a guy with a car door and has the time to frisk him ? He leads up to this huge unbeatable poker cheating scheme then backs out at the end and never discloses what it is. I will never read another of his books just for this reason. At least FINISH the book next time. Sorry James but this one doesn't cut it. Did you write it just for the money? I did like "Grift Sense", so I know you can do it but come on don't waste my time.

Okay. The thing that keeps this from being 4 stars is that similar to some other Swain novels, the ending is kind of left up in the air. Swain provides an intricate story and it seems like he is close to resolving it at the end, but then he does not follow through. <br /><br />This novel otherwise worked well as Swain works with a couple different story lines. Especially entertaining is that of Rufus Daniels and is increasingly crazy proposition bets.

Deadman's Poker by James Swain is the 6th book of the Tony Valentine mystery series, set in contemporary Las Vegas. Tony Valentine is an expert at spotting gambling cheats. He's frequently hired by casino owners to find out who is cheating and how. Tony is an ex-policeman from New Jersey, well aware of violent crime, including organized crime. Tony's son Gerry has poor judgment and questionable friends (minor gangsters). Tony has bailed out Gerry numerous times. As a sign of good faith and incentive for improvement, Tony made Gerry his business partner. Gerry has not improved. When Tony is hired to spot a cheater at a World Championship Poker tournament in Las Vegas, Gerry figures his dad won't know if he decides to do some investigating on his own. One of Gerry's friends died in the hospital. He was terminally ill, so everyone but Gerry believes it was a natural death. Gerry is positive his friend was murdered, because he had sold someone the secret to an undetectable way to cheat. Gerry decides to go to Las Vegas, and assumes he can just stay out of his dad's sight, and never be discovered. <br /><br />Of course Gerry is spotted right away by casino executives and law enforcement, and they warn Tony his son is in town. Tony knows who is cheating, but not how. Tony links up with an aging poker champ, who is losing his stake, but has a few key tricks up his sleeve. Meanwhile Gerry and his gangster friends are kidnapped by thugs. The thugs thoroughly beat Gerry's friends, but they don't reveal anything. The thugs send Tony a photo of Gerry tied up and bleeding. <br /><br />Tony manages to track down the thugs and save his son. The book ends with the big question still unanswered: how is the cheat done?

d. pkr &amp; bluff-<br /> <br />2.5 stars<br /> <br />listened to it on audio.<br />While the Tony Valentine series isn’t amazing or anything, I needed something to listen to at work &amp; this one kept me occupied &amp; interested.<br />Tony Valentine is likeable. And I liked that he’s an older guy whose actions reflect that realisticly in the narrative.<br />I also think the relationship b/w tony &amp; his son Gerry is fairly realistic.<br />I liked learning about casinos &amp; the various cheating that occurs.<br />I chuckled out loud a few times at the dark/sarcastic humor.<br /> <br />I agree w/some of the other reviews :<br />didn’t like that Poker doesn’t end conclusively &amp; is concluded in Bluff.<br /> No reason to split the story into 2 books. It made the stories way too long.<br />I liked the rufus steel character but after a while, it did get a bit old.<br /> <br />While I was glad that Tony was moving on after mourning his wife I really, really, really didn’t like the reporter Gloria character.<br />She just pissed me off everytime she opened her mouth. Seriously! She was so snotty &amp; annoying!!!!!!! L<br />One mistake, he &amp; the sone aged 3yrs in b/w the 2 books. I noted tony said he was 60 in the first book, then said he was 63 in the 2nd book. (son 33, 36)<br />shame on the editor!<br /> <br />Overall, it wasn’t bad. It was too long but very interesting learning about the various cheating scams.<br /> <br />I will listen to several other audiobooks in the series as I find the gambling/casino/cheat angle of the ususal mystery series an appealing aspect.<br />

Another enjoyable Tony Valentine mystery by James Swain. I don't gamble but find reading about those who do interesting. Tony Valentine is an ex-Atlantic City cop who did a lot of work in and around the casinos there, then went private as an expert who catches cheaters for casinos.<br /><br />The stories are interesting and the gambling/cheating background never fails to keep my attention and make me smile. The characters are believable and the reading is quick and enjoyable. Alan Sklar reads this one and he's quite good. No disappointments from James Swain so far.<br /><br />I do have one nit to pick, however that kept this from being a 5 star. There are two main story arcs, the cheating going on the the big poker tournament and how it's being accomplished, as well as the impending danger to Tony's son. Only one gets resolved in this book. The next book in the series will supposedly wrap this up, though to be honest I bet most readers have already figured it out.

Tony Valentine is an expert at spotting cheats. He's tossed them out of gambling casinos from Atlantic City to Las Vegas and Monaco. But though Tony has never met a scam he couldn't crack, his son and partner, Gerry, has just walked into one with a body count.<br />What started with a conman's deathbed confession turns into a deadly Las Vegas grudge match during the world's biggest poker tournament. While Gerry and his shady friends tangle with the Vegas mob, Tony enlists the aid of an aging grifter who's fleecing suckers with a dazzling array of improbable betting stunts. Tony's been hired to save the tournament (and stop a blind player who's out to heist it), while Gerry's just trying to stay alive-now that murder is in the cards.