Review by Sarah Dsouza -- Heat in the Vegas Night
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Sarah Dsouza
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Review by Sarah Dsouza -- Heat in the Vegas Night
[Following is a volunteer review of "Heat in the Vegas Night" by Jerry Reedy.]
Who would have known that a simple game of Blackjack could be cracked wide open with a shiny little object?
Heat in the Vegas Night is a captivating book that creates an illusion that you’re reading someone's secret journal that you shouldn’t have been reading in the first place, offering a descriptive account of a scandal taking place in the casinos back in the early 1980s.
An epoch-making phone call turns the author's life around, as he gradually transforms from a naive, broke country boy into a sharp, professional card cheat. Recruiting from small towns, the crew was run by a narcissistic mastermind, Steve Kammeyer.
They were mercilessly trained as a team to position a tiny mirror on the counter, in order to catch a glimpse of the dealer's hole cards that delivered a predictable win. Every card move was well-calculated. Each signal shared among the crew was subtle and thoroughly rehearsed. Admirably, they were always two steps ahead of the authority, and managed to evade getting busted most of the time.
Although the story revolves around the card scam, it was the attitudinal transition of the author that appealed to me the most. Hailing from a small town with limited exposure to the world, he was driven out of his comfort zone, and used this opportunity as a fulcrum to evolve into a confident man with skills aplenty; loyal, and unyielding. He rose to every challenge thrown his way, and overcame it with flair, proving his worthiness over and over again.
I would gladly rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
Apart from a couple of spelling errors, the book appeared to be well-edited. The 340 page read had an exciting start but the second half seemed riddled with repetitive material. Moreover, the dialogues exchanged had unnecessary padding, which gave it a prolonged and unnatural feel all throughout. For these reasons, I would have to deduct a point from the rating.
Albeit, the author certainly has a knack for telling a story which made this book a page-turner. Notably, in chapter 16, Jerry Reedy pens down an applaudable comparison of a nineteenth-century wingback chair amidst postmodern furnishings, symbolising himself as a misfit in that environment.
I truly appreciated the addendum listed at the end. I owe it to the author's skill to elaborately describe a topic without compromising its allure, despite my lack of knowledge of the game, I was effectively able to cope up with the story.
This memoir, based on real life events, keeps the momentum going by inviting a rollercoaster of emotions to the reader, ranging from nerve-wrecking moments to adrenaline rushes. I would definitely recommend this thriller read to anyone who is curious about the work and personal expense that goes into swindling a casino and being on the run.
******
Heat in the Vegas Night
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Who would have known that a simple game of Blackjack could be cracked wide open with a shiny little object?
Heat in the Vegas Night is a captivating book that creates an illusion that you’re reading someone's secret journal that you shouldn’t have been reading in the first place, offering a descriptive account of a scandal taking place in the casinos back in the early 1980s.
An epoch-making phone call turns the author's life around, as he gradually transforms from a naive, broke country boy into a sharp, professional card cheat. Recruiting from small towns, the crew was run by a narcissistic mastermind, Steve Kammeyer.
They were mercilessly trained as a team to position a tiny mirror on the counter, in order to catch a glimpse of the dealer's hole cards that delivered a predictable win. Every card move was well-calculated. Each signal shared among the crew was subtle and thoroughly rehearsed. Admirably, they were always two steps ahead of the authority, and managed to evade getting busted most of the time.
Although the story revolves around the card scam, it was the attitudinal transition of the author that appealed to me the most. Hailing from a small town with limited exposure to the world, he was driven out of his comfort zone, and used this opportunity as a fulcrum to evolve into a confident man with skills aplenty; loyal, and unyielding. He rose to every challenge thrown his way, and overcame it with flair, proving his worthiness over and over again.
I would gladly rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
Apart from a couple of spelling errors, the book appeared to be well-edited. The 340 page read had an exciting start but the second half seemed riddled with repetitive material. Moreover, the dialogues exchanged had unnecessary padding, which gave it a prolonged and unnatural feel all throughout. For these reasons, I would have to deduct a point from the rating.
Albeit, the author certainly has a knack for telling a story which made this book a page-turner. Notably, in chapter 16, Jerry Reedy pens down an applaudable comparison of a nineteenth-century wingback chair amidst postmodern furnishings, symbolising himself as a misfit in that environment.
I truly appreciated the addendum listed at the end. I owe it to the author's skill to elaborately describe a topic without compromising its allure, despite my lack of knowledge of the game, I was effectively able to cope up with the story.
This memoir, based on real life events, keeps the momentum going by inviting a rollercoaster of emotions to the reader, ranging from nerve-wrecking moments to adrenaline rushes. I would definitely recommend this thriller read to anyone who is curious about the work and personal expense that goes into swindling a casino and being on the run.
******
Heat in the Vegas Night
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
