Jackpot 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.

JACKPOT by James Swain Rating: A

This novel is set in modern-day with Tony Valentine's son playing a prominent role as his sidekick. Tony has a score to settle. Decades before, his brother-in-law was gunned down by a gang of ruthless con men, each of whom Valentine has sworn to track down. Now, only one is left, the cold-blooded Bronco Marchese. Valentine goes to Nevada to bring Bronco to justice, while also helping the police figure out how someone is stealing hundreds of slot machine jackpots without ever touching the machines. It's a case that only Valentine with his amazing "grift sense" can solve. Along the way, he will put his own life in peril, and risk everything that he holds dear, to bring his life-long enemy to justice.

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

"Swain is nothing short of marvelous."
–Bookreporter.com

"Wow, what a discovery. Swain is one of the best writers I've come across."
–Michael Connelly

"This series has got to be one of the finds of the decade."
–Kirkus Reviews