Wild Card Book

DEADLY PLEASURES MAGAZINE Review by George Easter

I've been a big fan of this series since its inception with GRIFT SENSE. Swain has a natural gift for storytelling. The various scams are fascinating in their ingenuity and for the clever detection that thwarts them. And Tony Valentine
and his crew are among my favorite characters in crime fiction. He's also published two other e-book originals – one a Jack Carpenter novel and the other a stand-alone (his first novel). I'd say that it's almost worth buying an ereader to read them, but I'll let you make that decision.

WILD CARD by James Swain Rating: A

This novel takes us back to Tony Valentine's early days as a policeman in
Atlantic City, New Jersey and how he came to be an expert on gambling scams and crime. It also treats the reader to his wife, the love of his life. In all the books in the series to this date, Tony is a widower and we know little about his
beloved wife and Swain gives us a sweet portrait of that loving relationship.
We also see the forces that shape his son, who at this time is just about to enter his teens. It's 1979, and the Boardwalk Empire of Atlantic
City is being torn down, replaced by a glitzy casino and all the crime that goes with it. Cops on the take,mobsters stealing a million dollars a day, a serial
killer preying on young women, and more con men and hustlers than you can shake a stick at, define the new Atlantic City. Detective Tony Valentine uses his newly gained skills to combat this crime wave.


PRAISE FOR THE TONY VALENTINE SERIES

"Top class suspense... must reads for me, and one of my favorite series."
– Lee Child

"In this series, the main character is a big winner."
– Janet Maslin, The New York Times

"The momentum is great, the writing nimble, the action intricate."
– Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Swain has hit on a winning combination."
–Washington Post Book World

"Mixing humor, suspense, poignancy and insider-lore, Swain is one terrific writer.
A thoroughly winning book."
–The Wall Street Journal

"Ingenious entertainment."
–The New York Times Book Review

"Swain's mysteries are a sure bet."
–The Chicago Tribune