New York City, NY: Ballantine Books, 2003. First Edition. First Printing.. Hardcover. Fine/Fine Dust Jacket.. New York City, NY: Ballantine Books, 2003. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. First Edition/First Printing. 304 pages. The author's third "Tony Valentine" novel. One of James Swain's finest achievements. The First Hardcover Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only. The First Edition is now scarce. Presents James Swain's "Sucker Bet: A Tony Valentine Novel". Brilliantly imagined and realized. "In the mystery genre, there's always room for a new premise, and Swain has come up with a doozy: His hero, Tony Valentine, is an ex-cop who specializes in catching casino cheats. The downside of the job is that Tony must work for casino owners, which is why he is on the lam, enjoying a romance with a lady wrestler and even participating in the odd tag-team match. But when the romance founders and Tony gets a summons from the head of security at Florida's Micanopy Indian Reservation Casino, he heads for the Everglades. The scam is several layers deep: Crooked blackjack dealers and fixed basketball games play roles, along with a couple of nasty alligators eager to test Tony's wrestling skills. The gambling details are a treat, the banter is worthy of a place at Elmore Leonard's table, and the Floridian sense of absurdity draws on Hiaasen without seeming derivative" (Bill Ott) . An absolute "must-have" title for James Swain collectors. This copy is very prominently and beautifully signed and dated (shortly after publication) in blue ink-pen on the title page by the author: "4.15.03 James Swain". It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. This title is a contemporary classic. This is one of few such signed and post-publication dated copies of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing still available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright, a pristine beauty. Please note: Copies available online have serious flaws, are subsequent printings, or are remainder-marked. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A scarce signed copy thus. One of the finest American mystery writers of our time. A fine copy. . ISBN 0345461754.

Synopsis

James Swain is a gambling expert and the author of Grift Sense , Funny Money , and Loaded Dice . Swain is considered one of the best card handlers in the world. He lives in Odessa, Florida, where he is currently working on his fifth novel featuring Tony Valentine. Visit his Web site at www.jimswain.com.

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Details

Bookseller: Modern Rare (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 10941
Title: SUCKER BET: A TONY VALENTINE NOVEL
Author: Swain, James
Format/Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Used - Fine
Jacket Condition: Fine Dust Jacket.
Quantity Available: 1
Edition: First Edition. First Printing.
ISBN 10: 0345461754
ISBN 13: 9780345461759
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Place of Publication: New York City, NY
Date Published: 2003
Pages: 304

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First Edition: In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
Fine: A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
Jacket: Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
Title Page: A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...
Crisp: A term often used to indicate a book's new-like condition. Indicates that the hinges are not loosened. A book described as crisp...