Mr. Lucky

A Novel of High Stakes

By: James Swain

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Tony Valentine made his living and his name as a cop in Atlantic City–and is now known worldwide for his ability to spot the kinds of scams, grifts, and rip-offs that cost casinos billions every year. A man with a biting wit who drives a ’92 Honda, Tony is low-profile, old-school, and has seen it all–until he meets the luckiest man on earth.

Ricky Smith was once a small-town loser. Then he went to Las Vegas, jumped out the window of a burning hotel, lived to tell the tale, and tore up the Strip on an incredible winning streak. Ricky didn’t just win at one slot machine or table game. He won at blackjack, roulette, and craps, and then beat the pants off the world’s greatest poker player. Tony knows that goofy, loudmouthed Ricky Smith–or anyone else, for that matter–couldn’t possibly be that fortunate. But when “Mr. Lucky” returns home to the little town of Slippery Rock, North Carolina, he keeps on winning everything from a horse race to a $50,000 lottery.

Hired by a desperate casino, Tony starts to pry into Ricky’s past, his friends, and the strange little town that is benefiting from Ricky’s fame and fortune. Unfortunately for Tony, his cover is blown when he is forced to reveal a trick he has up his own sleeve: a pocket Glock he can shoot with laser-like precision. Suddenly, two men are dead, the cops are on Tony’s tail, and the investigation explodes in violence–putting the lives of Tony’s son and his young family in danger.


For years, Tony’s son Gerry has dueled with his own criminal impulses. Now, the Ricky Smith case has lured Gerry through the gates of temptation and into a murderous confrontation with the Dixie Mafia. With Tony stuck on the slippery slope of Slippery Rock and Gerry fighting for his life, the Valentines are finding out just how bad good luck can get.

Against a neon-tinted backdrop of adrenaline rushes, hard crashes, big money, and high-wire tension, the inimitable James Swain has set his best Tony Valentine novel yet: a funny, furious ride with an astounding array of crooks, marks, and one killer scam.©2005 James Swain; (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

PRAISE FOR JAMES SWAIN

Mr. Lucky

“Mr. Lucky hits the jackpot. Impossible to put down.”
-Michael Connelly

Loaded Dice

“A sure bet . . . an involving plot that moves faster than a pair of dice and with a bigger payout than a game of blackjack.”
–Sun-Sentinel

“Swain builds tension through a series of beautifully calibrated lessons in fleecing casinos and hints of something bigger. . . . This smooth, funny series has got to be one of the finds of the decade.”
–Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Sucker Bet

“Ingenious entertainment.”
–The New York Times Book Review

“Impossible to put down . . . endless fun . . . Sucker Bet is its own best payout.”
–St. Petersburg Times

“An avalanche of breathless action.”
–Los Angeles Times

Great Summer Read!

I got more than I bargained for on this one! I purchased the book based on the other online review... and I'm so happy I did! If you enjoy books about the inner workings of casinos, gambling or even if are just a fan of books with action, snappy dialogue and characters from all walks of life... then this one is for you! Similar in style to the writings of Janet Evanovich' "Stephanie Plum", John Sandford's Prey series, or, yes, even Elmore Leonard (although most comparisons to the great Leonard pale in comparison). Light, fun, entertaining, and a good use of audible bucks!

Fun light reading!

From the first 10 words I was captured. I just loved this book. I'm only 1/2 way through but it's so good I wanted to let people know how fun it is.
I've been listening to alot of the heavier stuff lately and needed a break with something different. This book is in the elmore leonard line of books. Light reading with entertaining characters, subplots and subcharacters. But liked this one better than any Elmore book I've ever read.

Narration is tremendous, he makes the characters come alive. Try this one it won't dissapoint.

Unless you're in the mood for War and Peace!!

If you liked Skinny Dip you will like this.....

A darn fine story with characters that hook you and a plot lines, or lines...that keeps you both guessing and learning interesting things. Well read and engrossing I wandered around the house listening to the last hour to get the ending.

mable

please decide where Mable comes from--new Jersey, as in book 3 or the south as in this book.

Very Disappointing

Sophomoric, cliche-ridden writing. I love books about Las Vegas and the gambling culture, but this one was poor. The plot premise was intriguing but I kept getting diverted by the comic-book style writing. Swain- Never again.