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| Plot Summary of Loaded Dice |
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"
Ballantine, Jun 2004, 22.95, 320 pp.
ISBN: 0345463269
Acropolis casino owner Nick Nicocropolis asks former Atlantic City cop turned international gaming consultant Tony Valentine to ascertain how an apparent blackjack novice using a card to explain the rules could win $25,000. Tony, who happens to be in town showing off the latest electronic cheating gizmo Deadlock, agrees. Also strange is the fact that the tyro winner Lucy Price also complains that someone stole her booty from the safe in her room.
Stripper-dancer Kris Blake happens to be the girlfriend of Las Vegas Police Lieutenant Pete Longo until he finds her dead and Tony's business card advertising Grift Sense among other evidence that the consultant sees among his beloved's belongings. Pete plans to hang Tony legally or not for he blames him for Kris' death.
Besides his troubles with Pete and the police and his dealing with Lucy, Tony's woes come in threes. His pathetic son Gerry is attending school in town studying for an advanced degree in illegal card counting. Gerry's new friends from class are not the type you introduce to your wife, kid, or especially your father the ex-cop. Gerry always means strife for Tony. All three scenarios will come together with Tony being the point of convergence.
The Grift Sense series is some of the most amusing best sleuth tales on the market over the past few years. James Swain rolls a seven with his latest caper, LOADED DICE. The story line leisurely constructs a series of casino cheating culminating with the homicide of Kris.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Loaded Dice |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- very humorous
How difficult to spot villain?
- Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story:
- present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 60%
Kind of investigator
- skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- theft/fraud investigation
Crime Thriller
Yes
Crime plotlets:
- casino crime
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
General Crime (including known murderer)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- champion of justice
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use?
- a little
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- money/treasure
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- West
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 1
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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