Official Review: Heat in the Vegas Night by Jerry Reedy

Poppy Drear · Post by **Poppy Drear** » 19 Apr 2020, 21:22

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Heat in the Vegas Night" by Jerry Reedy.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Heat in the Vegas Night by Jerry Reedy is an exceptionally polished memoir that showcases the author's experiences as part of a team that scammed casinos by cheating at blackjack. The author, who goes by Red in the book, quickly realizes that while the potential rewards are great, it's an incredibly risky endeavor. Any tiny mistake could spell disaster. It takes a great deal of social know-how, strategy, and luck to successfully scam casinos, and burnout is common, with the law always just one step behind. As faces cycle in and out of the group, the stakes are high, and they only get higher.

With memoirs, it's common to find authors with amazing stories to tell but zero writing ability. I was exceptionally pleased that this book beat the odds. The story has just the right amount of detail, from the tactics Red and his group employs to the aggressively macho environment they'd cultivated. It feels almost like you're right alongside the characters, developing strategies to beat both the casinos and the police in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse. It's certainly one of the more immersive books I've read in recent years.

The characters are interesting and engaging, too, with their own goals and mannerisms. The nicknames they're given as part of the group help make them even more memorable. It takes a very specific type of person to succeed in such a stressful environment, and many people just don't make the cut. The author does an amazing job of capturing this reality, portraying the characters in a way that feels genuine and raw.

It's worth mentioning that there isn't much of a narrative structure to speak of, as is expected with most memoirs. Despite the lack of a cohesive beginning, middle, and end, tension builds throughout the book as the authorities wise up to the group's tricks, giving the story the right amount of momentum. This pacing is perfect for the kind of story being told, and it never feels like it's rushed or dragging. There are a lot of events we only learn about after a character recounts them, and I found that this provides a real sense of discovery and narrative tension.

All in all, the book tells a fascinating, tense story with remarkable skill, so I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. It's even edited quite well, as I was only able to find a handful of minor grammatical errors. This an excellent book that anyone interested in professional gambling and casino culture should definitely pick up.

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Heat in the Vegas Night
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hasincla · Post by **hasincla** » 23 Apr 2020, 11:35

Sounds exciting! And I'm glad to hear that as a memoir the writing is strong enough to craft some memorable characters. I'm not much of a gambler, but I'm game to give this a try. Thanks for your review!

JKO · Post by **JKO** » 23 Apr 2020, 12:20

This sounds like a memoir that is captivating well written. I am eager to see how they developed strategies to beat the police and casinos. I look forward to reading. Brilliant review.

Post by **Ngozi Onyibor** » 23 Apr 2020, 17:02

The themes don't appeal to me, but it's good to know that the book is well written and adequately edited. I'm glad you enjoyed reading it.

Adanna Inya · Post by **Adanna Inya** » 24 Apr 2020, 01:02

I have only watched scamming of casinos in movies and I could feel the tension. It takes a lot of guts and trickery to succeed at it. I'll love to read this book. Nice to know that it was well edited.

Nujudee · Post by **Nujudee** » 24 Apr 2020, 15:10

Great!
Watching a book on detailed professional gambling would be worth the try. Coupled with the fact that it was edited well.
Thanks alot for your honest review.

bookreviewmi1111 · Post by **bookreviewmi1111** » 25 Apr 2020, 21:35

It makes me feel like watching a movie. I'm not so into this kind of book but it sounds entertaining. Nice review.

Ivona R · Post by **Ivona R** » 29 Apr 2020, 04:37

This plot could definitely be a movie plot. Great review.

Post by **Rebecca De Figueiredo** » 27 May 2025, 07:37

In this aptly titled book, we meet Red and his crew. Scammers online these days are annoying immoral low life’s, but the people in this book were on a different level. Crooks with slightly better traits. Nicely described by the reviewer ….

Post by **Ukaegbu Confidence** » 27 May 2025, 08:11

I could never tell from the book cover and title that "Heat in the Vegas Night" by Jerry Reedy was a memoir. However, I am particularly interested in how the author managed to outsmart the scammers [casinos]. Congratulations on BOTD.

Increase Nkechinyere · Post by **Increase Nkechinyere** » 27 May 2025, 08:12

The book tells a fascinating, tense story with remarkable skill, It's even edited quite well, as I was only able to find a handful of minor grammatical errors. This an excellent book that anyone interested in professional gambling and casino culture should definitely pick up.

Aurora Rose Reynolds · Post by **greeneyedgirl27** » 27 May 2025, 08:21

"Heat in the Vegas Night" by Jerry Reedy follows Red in his quest to scam casinos by cheating at blackjack. This suspenseful memoir tells first hand the risks and rewards of gambling. It will take intellect, skills and luck to succeed and not get caught. It sounds like a great read and BOTD.

Sue Ebert · Post by **Sue Ebert** » 27 May 2025, 08:26

This story sounds so interesting, even though casinos and gambling are not my thing. It’s intriguing enough to add to my reading list. Thanks for this great review!

Post by **Seetha E** » 27 May 2025, 09:00

I have seen movies where trained casino staff scam the unsuspecting gamblers. This will be an interesting and fun read to see the tables turned around. The strategies employed to dodge the watchful eyes of authorities will be interesting to read. Thank you for your interesting review.

María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda · 27 May 2025, 09:06

As anyone who grew up watching the Ocean's Eleven movies, I'm kind of fascinated by casino scams. I know it's wrong, but it takes an enormous amount of skill and confidence. What an interesting memoir! Thank you for your review.