Stroke: A Novel Book

Another enjoyable entry in this series, but falls shy of its predecessors. Tony Valentine continues to be an engaging character, especially since he's been allowed to age and is dealing with being 63 and alone (lost his wife and misses her and the sense of being loved).

He continues to do his thing' helping casinos discover how cheaters are scamming them. His neighbor and now full-time office manager, Mable, is a neat character and contributes to the breezy feel of the story.

So why 3 stars and not more? Two reasons. One, Tony's son, Gerry, is the worst screw up ever seen and why Tony won't apply some tough love is beyond me. It just feels wrong. And two, the climax of this story has nothing to do with casinos, gambling, etc. It leaves the main strength of every Tony Valentine story by the wayside and just fails to be credible.

So, while I remain a fan, this was just a little less rewarding than some of the earlier novels. Good enough, but I want more.