Alexa Albert has written a masterpiece on the lives of brothel prostitutes: Their opinions, activities, feelings and the inter-action with each other and their "Johns." It should be mandatory reading for any serious student of psychology, sociology and anthropology~~~and for the "general" adult population which often has preconceived opinions about prostitution and prostitutes~~~especially about "legalized" prostitution and brothels. Alex gained the respect and confidence of the "girls" and thus, was able to elicit from them their histories, feelings, "likes" and "dislikes." Alexa puts a realistice "human face" on a group of young women in legal brothels who are often misunderstood,and underdeservidly ostrasized! Unlike "steet walkers" who are terribly mistreated outside of the legalized brothels, these "girls" live in a highly regulated environment. To Alexa, and any reasonable person, prostitutes are "real" human beings, with feelings, hopes, desires and dreams. Alexa describes the interaction between the "girls" which is akin to a "love/hate/competitive" relationship. If you want a "peek" into a brothel and get to "know" some of the "girls", read this book! It's written in a style that will captivate you as well as inform you~~~so that you understand that prostitutes are deserving of consideration and respect, even though you might consider unworthy of your respect.

A fascinating and open-minded view of Nevada's Mustang brothel. The author begins visiting this ranch for condom samples, trying to discover why the women at the ranch have not been touched by the AIDS virus. She becomes intrigued by the lifestyle at the ranch and turns out to be a regular face studying daily habits of the brothel from quarels among the workers to s&m parties, forming good acquaintance with the workers there. The writer is engaging and engaged, not in the least pretentious or judgmental and takes an all-rounded view enquiring after local perspectives as well as carefully probing the opinions of the prositutes who work there. Alexa Albert gives an incredibly convincing argument for the legalization of prostitution. This book intelligent, insightful, engrossing and well-written. I can't recommend the book highly enough and would say it's easily one of the best non-fiction books I've read all year.

Alexa Albert's book ``Brothel: Mustang Ranch and its Women'' is a work that was nearly seven years in the making. The reader is the beneficiary of Albert's patience and persistence. What started out as a public health study while Albert was a medical student, has resulted in a compelling, thoughtful report on prostitution. It took Albert nearly three years to get her foot in the door at the country's most notorious brothel - the Mustang Ranch, just outside of Reno, Nev. Over the next four years, Albert would live at the brothel off and on. In that time, Albert was given a rare glimpse into the very private world of legalized prostitution. At the outset, Albert admits that she ``fundamentally believed prostitution was a dehumanizing, objectifying business that did women real damage.'' But by withholding judgement, Albert got to know the women and they were eager to confide in her. What she came to realize was ``knee-jerk moralists speak of prostitutes as flawed characters lacking in values. But no easy formula fit the women I met in Nevada's brothels.'' The stories Albert tell are fascinating. She also intersperses her discussions with the women with perspectives on the history of prostitution in Nevada and legendary brothel owner Joe Conforte. Albert's effort is hardly a clinical, overview of prostitution -- it is a thorough, thoughtful study.

Although not as well-written as Barr's three previous efforts, "Firestorm" is still a major page-turner, especially if, as happened to this reviewer, it is being read while major forest fires are raging in Colorado and Arizona.

Barr's usual descriptive genius doesn't fail her here, as she places Anna and her colleagues in a vicious forest fire blazing out of control in northern California's Lassen Volcanic National Park. As spike camp medic, Anna is deep in the fray. But her security officer side doesn't get called into play until later in the book--after a terrifying firestorm that traps Anna and her colleagues in an inferno from which there is no escape. Barr's description of the firestorm is so realistic, and so frightening, that I must believe she has lived through such an experience herself. As always with her books, I felt that I, too, was huddled beneath the fireproof foil the firefighters call "Shake and Bake," desperately trying to breathe while intense flames roared over the top of the flimsy little shelter. I won't be a spoiler and say who survives and who does not--but I will say that murder rears its ugly head even as Anna and crew are struggling to survive the flames' holocaust.

Those who have read the three previous books will be glad to see the return of FBI agent Frederick Stanton, whose interest in Anna has gained much momentum. Feisty southern ranger-in-training Jennifer Short is also in this book, fighting a personal tragedy that threatens her survival even more than the aftermath of the firestorm--when she, Anna, and several others are trapped in the burned-out forest with no food, no medical facilities for the badly burned, and the knowledge that whoever committed the murder is among them.

The mystery, as usual with Barr's novels, is secondary to the fascinating venue of Anna Pigeon's world. I will never watch TV footage of a forest fire, as I did while I was reading this book, in the same way again. I feel like I have been on the front lines as well, which is Nevada Barr's great talent as a writer. This is a terrific read!

Nevada Barr has 2 books that are closed to "locked room" mysteries - that is, where the action and events are in a tightly controlled environment. Firestorm has it's events in the middle of a firestorm, on a mountain top where rescue is delayed. (Blind Descent is the other - inside a subterranean cave.)
Barr's description of the firestorm, and being trapped inside of a tiny fireproof tent are gripping! The murders are solved by Frederick and Anna. Frederick is working on the outside, and supplies info to Anna via hand radios. Anna uncovers facts and fights the growing tension between survivors who are trapped on the mountain together.
There are suspects galore - but I was totally surprized by the identity of the true murderer and Anna's judgement call in handling the murderer.
This is probably one of Barr's best novels - a "hot, hot" read!

FIRESTORM smokes. Anna Pigeon is a great mystery character, one of my favorites. I especially enjoyed this Nevada Barr novel. Anna is dispatched to the scene of a massive forest fire where she is trapped by a shifting fireline along with a group of firefighters. One of the firefighters is a killer, and suspense builds throughout the story. FIRESTORM is an excellent book.

This is quite an adventure book, but it has crude humor and the adventure is, well, boring. The beginning got you into it, but at the end Yep slacked off. An excellent book, along with cons.

Have you been searching for a book that helps you learn on what to do to become a man? Look no further because Dragon's Gate is a book that you can't put down!
A teenage Chinese boy named Otter lives with his Mother while his Uncle Foxfire and Father go to "The Land of the Golden Mountain" [also known as America] to help build a transcontinental railroad. When Otter kills a Manchu, he gets in trouble and will not go to America. Somehow, he escapes with strangers and he went there because he wanted to avoid his punishment. He also wanted to see his Father. As Otter progresses in building the railroad, he developes character and really impresses his Father. Otter fights for rights to be able to have less work and larger breaks, but the atrocious Kilroy [the "Master"] does dreadful things. The only way to find out the horrible actions and the rest of the rest of the inspiring story [the consequences of Otter's actions and the way he talks about his Uncle] is to read Dragon's Gate!
I highly recommend kids from grades 5/up to read this book because it is very advanced. The events that I like this are the decisions Otter tried to work out and the hard work Otter demonstrated when he did work. I liked these events because Otter's character really developed. Dragon's Gate is an amazing book. If you want adventure, Dragon's Gate is the specific book to choose!

This truly excellent book, Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep, is a magnificently written book that most certainly deserves a five star rating. In this adventure filled-book, Otter, a boy from the Middle Kingdom, China, is forced to join his father, Squeaky, and his Uncle Foxfire in America, the Land of the Golden Mountain. Back in China, Otter's father and uncle were always beheld as heros and legends, but Otter soon learns the truth that Squeaky and Foxfire are no greater than the rest of the Chinese laborers working on the enormous task of completing the transcontinental railroad. To make matters worse, Otter has barely any friends, he gains no respect from the other workers, and has had no expirience with physical labor before in his life. In his time of need Otter's own uncle deserts him and refuses to help him in any way.
The headman of this massive project is an almost heartless man named Kilroy. Kilroy pushes the Chinese workers to exaustion and gives them a measly amount of supplies. When Otter's father is blinded by an accident on the job, Otter forces himself to work harder and help out more. Eventually Otter gains more friends, he earns respect from his fellow workers and also ajusts to the backbreaking work that he and the other workers have to do.
In the end, Otter and his uncle take on a mission that will determine the fate of the entire camp and change Otter's life forever in a way that Otter will never forget.
If you like to read adventure-filled, action-packed, stupendously written books, Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep is the perfect book for you!

We originally bought the 1996 version of this book before our first trip to Las Vegas. We used it as a bible of sorts. We found its reviews to be on target. The authors are not afraid to give advice on where not to go and what not to see. It rates hotels, casinos, restaurants, shows and about anything else you could want rated. It also provides the basics of gambling and even gives tips for planning your trip. We have since made Las Vegas our adult vacation spot, a place we go without the kids once a year. We always bring the book and read it ahead of time. We decided to get the latest 1999 edition prior to the trip we are taking in about a month. The book has only minor changes since 1996 and does not have much of anything on any new hotels which opened after New York/New York. The shows information is pretty much identical to the 1996 edition, save a few new shows. My suggestion is to buy the book if you do not have a fairly recent edition. It will more than pay for itself with excellent advice. It also helped us save about a hundred dollars by giving suggestions on booking the trip. If you have a 1996 edition or newer, you really don't need it unless you have worn your other copy out.

This volume will show you everything you'll ever want to know about the true City That Never Sleeps. With new casinos opening on almost a monthly basis this unbiased source will direct you to the nicest hotels, the biggest buffets, the best gaming opportunities and all the attractions Las Vegas has to offer. Want the inside scoop on how to score free rooms? It's in here. The list of the Top 10 free attractions? It's in here. Best bargain hotels? It's in here. The best pools for sun worshippers? You know what I'm gonna say. Also includes an expansive guide to gambling and a detailed listing of restaurants and nightspots, with price guidelines and clientele to boot. You will not need another guide for your vacation.

The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas, 2000, is the only book you'll want to read when planning your trip. It goes into great detail about all the hotels and casinos, what their rooms are like, what the hotels offer, what the casinos offer, and lots more. It tells you how to obtain "comps" and how to play the games, with easy to understand rules and diagrams. With their 100+ pages of Dining and Restaurant information, you know where to find the best food and the best prices. The Hotel Information Chart in the back is extremely helpful because you can compare hotels without having to flip through a lot of pages. Chapter 5 talks about shopping and the sights around Nevada, in case you plan on doing more than gambling. The Unofficial Guide gives you the pros and cons of each show so you can decide wether or not it's worth 100.00 a person, to see Siegfried & Roy at the Mirage. There is also a little section that tells you where you have the best odds of winning at each game, and at which casino. Another great thing about this book are the maps of The Strip and of Downtown. It lets you know how far you are from point "A" to point "B", because hotel properties are deceiving in their size. A walk from your room at the Venetian, to Caesars Palace may take 20 minutes or so. All 544 pages are packed full of helpful and accurate information. The Unofficial Guide made planning our trip extremely easy. I highly recommend this book, and only this book, to anyone planning on going to Las Vegas!

I found this book in the "Staff Selections" section at my bookstore. I was nicely suprised.

This novel tells a rather interesting story. Neil, the high school football quarterback, runs over Ian while driving home under the influence of alcohol. Panicking, he stuffs Ian's body in the trunk, only to have his father, the town sheriff, move it and hide it without telling him. The story really takes off from there. Throw in a father and son conflict, the FBI, and sexual tones here and there, and you have a pretty decent novel.

The character development could have been a little better, and I felt that the story ended a little abruptly, but overall, it was a good book. There were quite a few twists and turns that kept me guessing, which made for a fairly quick and enjoyable read.

In his first novel, Alan Watt put together a nice cohesive plot, and an interesting conflict of interest. Diamond Dogs was a lot of fun.

A fine book buried behind a lousy cover and poor marketing, "Diamond Dogs" is a real treat that I might easily have over-looked had a friend not mentioned it to me. It is the engaging narrative of Neil, a high school football star from a troubled family who, after a night of drinking and recreational cruelty, accidentally kills a classmate. His father, the local police chief of their Nevada town (just outside of Las Vegas) disposes of the body without even talking to Neil, and thus begins three days of tension and mayhem.

Some of the elements of "Diamond Dogs" are a bit over-cooked. I found the father's obsession with Neil Diamond more gimmicky than believable, which is too bad because the rest of the father/son relationship is drawn brilliantly. I found Neil's problems with his father, his yearning for his long-departed mother, and his relationships with his friends and girlfriends both believable and moving. Neil is not a particularly likable character, but what makes this novel so compelling is that Alan Watt had built him around an utterly irresistible narrative voice. I was hooked from the first page, and I just kept on reading.

I don't know if it is true, but I have heard a rumor that Watt wrote this novel in six weeks. If that is the case, I tip my hate to him and bow in awe. Even if it is not the case, I am very impressed and I look forward to more good things from this talented young author.

Powerfully written, deep but approachable, Diamond Dogs is a great read. The book's best quality is the first-person narrator. Seventeen-year-old Neil tells us the story in his own voice, but unlike other first-person teenage narrators, Alan Watt captures the thoughts, actions, fears and emotions of a young person extremely well. In so many other books the narrator seems like a kid written by an adult, either too wise or to naïve for his (or her) supposed years. As Neil tells us his story, Watt deftly moves from action to thoughts, from detail of the crime to the results of the action within the walls of his school, at home and in Neil's private world. Terrific teenage first-person narrative of a multi-layered story makes Diamond Dogs an important book.

It would appear that there is a general consensus from Nevada Barr fans that they like this book and feel it is consistent with her other novels. This being the first Nevada Barr book I have read, I can only provide prospective of an avid mystery fan.

Nevada Barr clearly does a good job of putting you in the setting. You can visualize the Natchez Trace Park and the surrounding area. It is apparent that she spent the time working there and she translates her experience well.

That being said, the amount of detail about the area becomes exhaustive. I found myself skimming thru pages (not paragraphs) that went into the description of the area. This made the book move slow.

As far as the mystery itself, it almost plays an incidental part in the novel. The solution itself is pretty weak and only plays a key part in the last 30 pages or so. The book revolves mainly around the life and surroundings of park ranger, Anna Pigeon. This approach to the book made it very easy to put down, and I would hardly call it a page turner. The sign of a good mystery is a book that keeps you guessing and has you eager to get the next page to find out what will happen next or what clue will surface. This lacked that.

If you want a book that puts you in the middle of Mississippi, with a mystery on the side then this is for you. However, if you are looking for a solid mystery book then I would suggest you move on.

This is the first novel that I have read by Nevada Barr, but I plan to "go back" and read the rest in this series because I really enjoyed the Anna Pigeon character. Also, the book had vivid descriptions of the area and persons surrounding the Natchez Trace which added much to the tale.

Anna has just assumed a management forest service job on the Natchez Trace. She is the first woman in such a position in this area of the "Deep South," and is subject to significant animosity on several fronts, especially from her two long-timer subordinates. Unfortunately, within days a local girl is found murdered in her jurisdiction, under peculiar circumstances. Along with her charming counterpart in the Sherrif's office, Anna dives into the investigation, although she has little understanding of the relationships and dynamics among the locals.

This is not the most suspenseful page-turner that I have read, although the mystery remains well-concealed until the end. It is, however, a very pleasant read. I highly recommend it.

I've enjoyed every Nevada Barr mystery I've read, which is all of them except for "Blind Descent." "Deep South" is no exception. In fact, it's one of my favorite entries in the Anna Pigeon series, even though I've never been farther south than Virginia and am a native of California who's always lived there. I've enjoyed the other novels immensely with their predominant western venues, but one of the joys of reading about Anna Pigeon's adventures in law enforcement as a U.S. National Park Ranger is the vicarious experience of traveling and experiencing new places. Nevada Barr is excellent at making the reader feel as if he or she were actually there.

In "Deep South," we readers get to have an experience of the southern portion of the Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi. Some interesting characters are introduced -- people who make Anna's professional life interesting, positively and negatively, as she has assumed a management position in a completely unfamiliar park venue and a part of the country that is utterly new to her.

The plot is specific to the place and reveals much about local residents who live in towns and cities adjacent to the Trace. If I have a complaint at all, it's that Anna is subject once again to great injury and this time I found it upsetting. I had to put the book down and tell myself, "This is fiction. Anna Pigeon is not a real human being." I came to realize is that I wish she were a real human being.

One of the best parts of this book is the introduction of a new character who looks to be a promising love interest for Anna, someone she actually deserves who deserves her, too. We shall see in forthcoming books what happens in this regard as Anna progresses through her 40s.

Read "Deep South" and you'll feel the heat and humidity, experience aspects good and bad of Southern culture and politics, and learn the obvious truth that racism there, while firmly entrenched and prevalent, isn't universal.

Nevada Barr writes this novel very convincingly as she ought to -- her most recent post as a ranger with the National Park Service was on the Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi and even though she's now working as a novelist, she still lives in that state.

When reading Nevada Barr, it's wise to remember that it's not the mystery, but the medium. In this second of the delightful Anna Pigeon series, our intrepid Park Ranger is stationed at Lake Superior, probably the most unforgiving and treacherous of all the Great Lakes.

Just like her first book in the series, "Track of the Cat," Barr draws the reader quickly and completely into the medium--in this case, the cold, eerie and wicked Lake Superior. In no time, I was suited up with Anna, ready to make a life-threatening dive down to a well-known shipwreck that houses five ghostly bodies--and one very new one.

Who killed fellow ranger Denny Castle, himself a skilled and "superior" diver? How did his body, dressed in macabre costume, become lodged in the engine room of the wreck? Anna and her fellow Rangers, an eclectic and motley crew if there ever was one, set out in their various ways to solve the mystery. They are aided, whether they like it or not, by a brash young FBI operative who is certain that the murder is drug-related.

The identity of the murderer and the motive behind the murder take a back seat to the truly unique and wonderful descriptions of the place, the people, and especially Anna, who is one tough cookie. Almost.

A great, quick, summer read. I recommend "A Superior Death" to anybody who enjoys a well-written, if not a psychologically challenging, mystery. Anna Pigeon, in my mind, is one of the great characters, and well worth this reader's time.

Anna Pigeon is a Park Ranger who has been transferred from the hot Texas desert (read Track of the Cat) to the cold reaches of Lake Superior where her skills as a diver are tested by ghostly images from a sunken ship to the very real danger of a murderer.

Nevada Barr does not simply tell the story, but she reveals it through details that give the reader insight into both the world of the Park Rangers and underwater spectacles that delight the imagination. As she learns about this cold world, so do we.

As Anna solves the mystery, we feel the fear building because we know that she is in danger and that she didn't get into that danger by ignoring her common sense, but by following her basic intelligence to logical conclusions. Logic can sometimes take too long, which always adds to great suspense.

Each of Ms. Barr's books I pick up is her best! I have read nearly all of her books now. I think I have one to go. It really is like finding an old friend. Anna Pigeon is a real person, with foibles and vulnerabilities, strengths, weaknesses, skills and awkwardness. In this story she is law enforcement ranger again in cold north (Lake Superior of the title) and scuba diving and boat handling. This is an excellent plot. Much like murder in the locked room. How WAS it done? You will be hooked on it. Then you will realize you have become rather fond of Ranger Anna Pigeon, and in the end you will be a fan of Nevada Barr. I know. I have been there. This book, and all her books, I highly recommend.

As an open-minded skeptic I'm game to all kinds of weirdness, if the evidence presents itself. In turn I was somewhat familiar with the folklore surrounding Area 51 in Nevada. On a recent cross-country vacation I drove through some of the areas described in this book (though not nearly so extensively), traversing a portion of Nevada 375, and making a personal contribution to the unauthorized bumper sticker tradition. I got this here book later in the trip in Roswell, New Mexico, another center of weirdness that has a much better sense of humor. Here Darlington is not focused on the top-secret military operations at the base known popularly as Area 51 (which would be mostly impossible), but with the folklore practiced by conspiracy buffs and UFO enthusiasts who frequent the area. Centered in the nowheresville of Rachel, this book is populated with all kinds of colorful characters with bizarre theories and backgrounds, with names like Agent X and Ambassador Merlyn Merlin II of Alpha Draconis. Darlington keeps a detached stance, merely reporting each figure's theories and trying not to pass judgment. While most of these folks claim to be activists trying to unveil military and government secrecy, just about all of them come across, through their own words, as the highest class of crackpots, publicity seekers, and connect-the-dots conspiracy theorists that could be debunked by a pre-schooler. Unfortunately, Darlington's detached method leads to a book that can be quite dry and tedious at times, as he tends to use extremely long interviews and speeches verbatim, which sometimes last for several pages in a row. Darlington doesn't bother to propose any universal conclusion about this whole phenomenon, which would be interesting from a cultural standpoint at least. This book is outdated also, with several predictions from the interviewees of momentous events at the turn of the millennium. These sure didn't happen, and I bet it's because the year 2000 is a number based on a human calendar, so why would aliens care? Duh. In the end, this book accomplishes little more than rehashing the weirdness you can get for free from any number of internet news groups.

I picked up this book as I am interested in the folklore of the area, plus in anything related to X-FIles and conspiracy. The theme of my own website is Area 51 inspired. I found this book to be entertaining and informative, a real page turner. It was written with wit and sanity, and not one of those off the wall UFO's everywhere new agey type books. It offers an indepth study of the history, key people involved, the area itself and the general folklore of Dreamland, a military research base that the gummint claims does not exist. Anyone who is interested in learning more about Area 51 should definitely read this book.

David Darlington has written what is my favorite book on the most secretive place on earth. He mixes fact with fiction, in the form of what the self-proclaimed Area 51 "experts" believe to be fact.

His research into this book is meticulous. He recounts a pretty good history of the base up through the first flights of the F-117. Many people whose names have become synonymous with Area 51 appear in this tale. Glenn Campbell, Tom Mahood, and Mark Farmer are portrayed as being more rational, while others,such as Bob Lazar, are shown as the charlatans that they are.

Fact is often stranger than fiction, or so they say. If that is true, it also means that fact is funnier than fiction. Darlington captures the colorful personalities of the people who call Dreamland their home. I was particularly amused by Glenn Campbell's affinity for Las Vegas buffets (and Bob Lazar's affinity for Las Vegas brothels...)

If the book can be faulted, it can be said that Darlington writes it from a somewhat skeptical point of view. But he really lets the characters write the story for him. Everyone has their own theory abut the mysterious base. The entertainment comes from these stories.

Don't let the title fool you. This book's really about the Area 51 fanatics, not the base. But, based on our limited knowledge of what really happens at Area 51, the Area 51 sub-culture has taken the base's place in our hearts and minds.

This book has also been published with the title "Mountain of Bones" so don't buy it twice like I did!

I like these books. They are not predictable, which is unusual and good. After reading so many crime novels and about forensics, it is refreshing not to be able to pick the killer, and be thinking for half the book "c'mon stupid main character, he/she's the killer!"

The only problem I have is the long bits of describing the scenery.

After reading Liberty Falling, I became Nevada Barr's Fan #1. I definitely wanted more Anna Pigeon. The reviews suggested that Ill Wind was not only a good suspense mystery, but also a good character novel. Thus I read my second Anna book. I was not disappointed.

The characterization of Anna is superb. With her soul-searching and sometimes late-night-drinking as well as her love of the natural world and a somewhat love of a temporary ranger, she makes for a very well-rounded heroine. Only problem is I just finished the book this morning, and I already miss her and her adventures.

The other characters in Ill Wind were excellent too -- the young ranger from Tennessee, who was a little "too sweet" but had a hidden bravery -- the lovable dwarf child Bella, who was a poignant mixture of vulnerability and toughness -- and even an FBI agent with a heart -- all seemed entiredly believable.

The story didn't disappoint either. I had my guesses early on as to what was causing the calamities, but it was a great ride following Anna and her fellow rangers as they solved the mystery.

Hmmm. Better start reading the reviews to see which book I'll get next!

Nevada Barr really hit her stride in Ill Wind, the third in her wonderful Anna Pigeon series.

In this tale, park ranger Anna is stationed at Colorado's Mesa Verde park, where the famous cliff dwellings draw tourists from all over the world. As in her other two books, Barr makes the reader experience the site. It is her great gift--reading about the kivas and mesas and the haunting spirits of the primitive Anasazi, who originally constructed the mesas, I felt I was there. I could feel the heat of the air, smell the surrounding vegetation, feel the sandstone. And, along with Anna, who is becoming more likeable with every book, I worried about seemingly nefarious activites in the park--of of which ends in the death of a fellow ranger. Anna knows the death is not accidental, but try as she might, she cannot put together the increasingly strange and seemingly unrelated clues.

Along comes "Fred the Fed," whom we met the last book. He and Anna team up to solve the mystery, and the interplay between them is a true delight.

I find this series a true delight as well; the concept of a park ranger as law-enforcement detective is so different, and so perfect, as are the descriptions of the incredible national parks. I am getting a real education, here! This is the perfect book to take to the beachl or the pool or the park--easy, fun, gently suspenseful, and perfect.

My rating on this book is really a three and a half, if given the option to rate a half-star, that is.

I enjoyed tremandously learning about the Teamsters, the politicians and of course the Mafia involvement in the Las Vegas casino operations. The book exceled in the abundance of information.

However, the writing itself was not so great therefore lowering the reading experience. Just as in real life, when people tell you their side of the story, it hardly ever concurs with someone else's account. Since the book was really a collage of vaious narrations, the author had a hard time weaving together different points of views and tones. Sometimes readers are left wondering what really happened.

I would recommend this book for people who are interested in information and stories regarding the Mafia. The topic is very interesting, but for those who prefers a bit more drama and fluency of writing, then this may not be your top choice.

Everybody who likes true life/crime/mafia/Las Vegas stories will enjoy this book. Casino shows the develoment of the mafia and their business interaction between legal and illegal operations. I could not put it down once I started. It is fascinating to see what stories life can write and what bad can happen to bad people.

This gripping narrative exposes Midwest mob influence in Las Vegas during the 1970-80's. Author Nicholas Pileggi focuses on four major characters. The most prominent was ex-sports handicapper and bookie Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, who became an innovative casino manager. Lefty ran the casino at the Stardust Hotel, the location from where the Chicago and Kansas City syndicates skimmed millions in gambling revenues. We also read about Lefty's friend and mob enforcer Tony Spilotro, front man Allen Glick, and Lefty's glamorous but volatile wife Geri. The author describes casino operations, financing by teamster pensions, and gambling executives who knew enough to look the other way. We also see how unchecked greed and ego can destroy casino operators as surely as it does some of their customers. The book's only weakness was that Pileggi seemed to go easy on a couple of the major characters.

"Casino" became a 1995 movie of the same name. Pileggi also wrote "Wiseguy," basis for another excellent mob film ("Goodfellas") by Martin Scorsese. "Casino" doesn't quite match "Wiseguy," but it's a highly readable and informative book.