About this Item
1st Printing. Signed. 304 pages. Published in 2003. 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. Seller Inventory # 10941
Bibliographic Details
Title: SUCKER BET: A TONY VALENTINE NOVEL - Scarce ...
Publisher: New York City, NY: Ballantine Books, 2003
Publication Date: 2003
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Fine
Dust Jacket Condition: Fine
Signed: Signed by Author
Edition: 1st Edition.
About this title
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