I'm referring to Dead End Books, where tonight, owners Paul and Eileen Lutz welcomed expert card-handler and author James Swain. Swain writes about casino security specialist Tony Valentine in a flat-out fun series of books written with the flair of a great magic trick.
Instead of reading from his latest book, MR. LUCKY, Swain demonstrated various card tricks and casino scams ingeniously designed to fool the eye, the mind, and the security cameras. Even when I know the secrets behind a trick, I still marvel at its execution.
Again, I believe the best writing is like magic. One sentence draws readers' attention, the next holds it fast, and so on. Glad to hear Swain is under contract to write five more books.
I also bought SILVERFIN, the first Young James Bond book, by Charlie Higson.
1 comment:
Swain is great! For 4 years in a row I have been amazed at his skill at demonstrating these scams. The chip scam is so simple...yet look at all the money that little cup cost a casino.
I bought 2 copies of SILVERFIN last month, one for me and one for the boys. The boys have already finished it and loved it. We should discuss this one.
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