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The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas: A Mystery Hardcover – August 17, 2010

by Chris Ewan (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 98 ratings
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Chris Ewan's The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas is the next caper in a series that’s being called “impressive… comic…fresh” (Publishers Weekly--starred review). Charlie Howard isn’t only a part-time crime writer and part-time thief; he’s also a magician. For his next trick, he’ll relieve Josh Masters, the famous illusionist vying for the affections of Charlie’s friend Victoria, of $60,000 in casino chips stashed in his hotel safe.

Revenge would be sweet—if there weren’t a dead redhead floating in Masters’ bathtub and if Masters hadn’t just disappeared in a puff of smoke after cheating at roulette. Convinced that Charlie was in on the scam, the casino’s owners give him an impossible mission: either pull off an elaborate heist to reimburse the house for every dollar his “accomplice” made off with, or enjoy a one-way trip into the desert.

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Previous page
  1. Book 3 of 5
    Good Thief's Guides
  2. Print length
    304 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Minotaur Books
  5. Publication date
    August 17, 2010
  6. Dimensions
    5.75 x 1.5 x 8.5 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0312580827
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0312580827
  9. See all details
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Amazon First Reads | Editors' picks at exclusive prices

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Charlie Howard, the self-mocking narrator of Ewan's Good Thief Guide series who's both a mystery writer and smallscale thief, once again shows he's not terribly good at either in his diverting third outing (after 2008's The Good Thief's Guide to Paris). Set largely in the fictional Fifty-Fifty hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nev., the book opens with Howard picking the pocket of Josh Masters, the casino's resident magician. Armed with Masters's wallet, Howard visits Masters's suite (with a nice bit on breaking into the magician's personal safe) only to discover what appears to be a dead body floating in the bath. The stakes rise when Masters disappears during his own magic show-- during a trick using Howard's literary agent, Victoria, as a volunteer--and the casino's security men detain the pair. Those looking for suspense or intricate plotting will be disappointed, but fans of light comic capers will be rewarded.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Ewan, whose earlier Good Thief guides have visited Paris and Amsterdam, continues on his merry way. Charlie Howard, the crime writer who moonlights as a thief (or maybe it's the other way around), is in Sin City, planning to make off with healthy cache of casino chips belonging to a third-rate illusionist. But the dead body in the magician's bathtub ain't no illusion, and now Charlie has to pull off the toughest robbery of his career or face the consequences. The comic caper novel isn't exactly something new (Donald Westlake was doing them 40 years ago, and he didn't invent them, either), but Ewan, through a combination of engaging characterizations, suspenseful stories, and sharp writing, makes the Good Thief novels feel fresh and exciting. The comparison to Lawrence Block's Bernie Rhodenbarr series, also full of comedy and also starring a good-hearted thief, is entirely appropriate, though Ewan is no mere Block imitator. This novel will definitely appeal to fans of comic mysteries and caper novels. --David Pitt

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books; First Edition (August 17, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0312580827
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312580827
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1.5 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 98 ratings

About the author

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Chris Ewan

Chris Ewan

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Hello, and welcome to my Amazon author page!

I'm the author of the popular GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO ... series of cosy mysteries about globetrotting crime writer and thief-for-hire, Charlie Howard. The series has been praised as "crime writing at its best" (Sydney Morning Herald) and a "delightful series" (The Seattle Times). The books in the GOOD THIEF series include: THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO AMSTERDAM (winner of the Long Barn Books First Novel Award), THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO PARIS, THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO VEGAS, THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO VENICE and THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO BERLIN. I have also written a festive Good Thief's Guide story called THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO CHRISTMAS.

If you think you'd like to give the Charlie Howard books a try, why not download your FREE copy of THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO MURDER, a GOOD THIEF novella set during the Cannes film festival? To claim your copy, simply visit my website www.chrisewan.com and enter your email details.

I love to hear from readers and always respond to every email I receive.

You can contact me via:

my website www.chrisewan.com

on Twitter @chrisewan

on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chrisewanauthor

or on Instagram @c.m.ewan

My critically acclaimed standalone thrillers include the major bestseller SAFE HOUSE (which has sold more than 500,000 copies in the UK and was shortlisted for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award), DEAD LINE (which is optioned for film), DARK TIDES (an Observer "Thriller of the Month") and LONG TIME LOST (a "masterful thriller" The Independent). I'm also the author of the Kindle Single story SCARLETT POINT which, like several of my thrillers, is set on the Isle of Man.

Writing under my pen name of C.M. Ewan, I also write nerve-shredding thrillers about ordinary situations gone wrong -- the kind of thing that could happen to any of us!

My latest thriller THE INTERVIEW is about a seemingly normal job interview that turns out to be something very different and unexpected. It will be published in February 2022.

I'm also the author of A WINDOW BREAKS, a page-turning thriller that asks the question: what would you do if you woke up at 2 a.m. to hear somebody in your home?

I was born in Taunton in 1976 and graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in American Studies with a minor in Canadian Literature, then later trained as a lawyer. After an eleven-year spell living on the Isle of Man, I now live in Somerset, England with my wife and two children, where I write full time.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
98 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Heather
5.0 out of 5 stars Do you need to read the first book?
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2013
Verified Purchase
This is the third book, so should you wait and read the other two? Our main character recaps the second book that leads into this story. This gives away the second book. I would command reading Paris.

I'm half way in to the book and I can say it's just as fun as the last two.
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Chris Thatcher
4.0 out of 5 stars a good read
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2014
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Full of humour, the scrapes that seem to follow the main protagonists around, make for a good read that is both engaging and hrilling.
The series has a somewhat formulaic nature if read too closely but with appropriate gaps, become better as a result.
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sw
3.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't finish this one
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2013
Verified Purchase
Having read all of the other Good Thief books I was expecting to be just as drawn into this one but didn't happen. For me, maybe being set in Vegas was the turn off. The writing seemed to have the same snappy style but the relationship between Victoria and Charlie seems almost contrived in this one. Her character development isn't fresh and interesting but has the same tired female sidekick style. Maybe she needs a life outside of her relationship with Charlie that the reader could get glimpses of. Her family (father)has been introduced and that aspect could be explored. I'm hoping the latest GT's Guide to Berlin mystery gets me back as a fan.
One person found this helpful
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John A. Beckman
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is the best of the series so far. It is full of twists and turns that takes the reader on a thrill ride of fun.
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2016
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Really a great book, full of plot twists and turns that will leave readers gasping. Recommend this book all who love a good mystery a magic story.
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Vina Isaac
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2014
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I love the series, and this offering doesn't disappoint.
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livykat
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2016
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I love this series, and wish there were more!
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Catholic Pilgrim
2.0 out of 5 stars Borrow Not Buy
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2015
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While the author is to be commended for finishing the book, rewarding him by purchasing the book is probably a misguided notion. The reader should be able to suspend disbelief & appreciate a book. The gratuitous theft and violence in this was such that I had to keep reminding myself that it was just a book. In the only other book in this series I read, the narrator's skills were used against the bad guys, which allowed me to enjoy his exploits, and I don't recall as much bloodshed or cruelty which the narrative voice did not manage to turn into verbal slapstick. I finished it only because finishing books is a habit.
2 people found this helpful
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Lynn Eggleston
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story! I wish he would write more
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2016
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Great story! I wish he would write more.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Villette
4.0 out of 5 stars Amüsanter Teil 3
Reviewed in Germany on September 7, 2014
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Der gute Dieb Charlie ist dieses Mal in Las Vegas, zusammen mit seiner Agentin Victoria, die er praktisch mitgezwungen hat. Die beiden haben sich schließlich als ziemlich gutes Team herausgestellt, als sie in Paris mit der und gegen die Verbrecherwelt gearbeitet haben. Es wundert daher nicht, dass die beiden auch in Las Vegas wieder Einiges aufmischen. Victoria wird dabei erwischt, wie sie beim Black Jack betrügt, und Charlie wird beschuldigt, das Verschwinden des Zauberers desselben Casinohotels verursacht zu haben. Als Wiedergutmachung sollen die beiden innerhalb 48 Stunden den Zauberer wiederfinden, seine Betrügereien beim Spielen begleichen oder sterben. Eine chaotische Aufholjagd mit vielen Pannen, unerwarteten Wendungen und viel Humor beginnt. Wie schon Teil 1 und 2, so habe ich auch diesen amüsanten Teil 3 der Krimireihe gern gelesen.
One person found this helpful
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D. Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars Raffles meets Cary Grant meets The Saint meets Raymond Chandler
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2011
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Crime-writing thief Charlie Howard is having a not entirely enjoyable holiday in Las Vegas. He's lost at poker, and Victoria - his literary agent - is under the spell of the Fifty-Fifty Casino's superstar magician and illusionist, Josh Masters. Charlie's a bit miffed, not to mention a tad jealous. So he decides to pick Josh Masters' pocket and steal his wallet. And then use his keycard to break into his room. Which turns out to be an unwise move - mostly due to the nasty surprise he finds in the bathroom. This series just gets better and better with each book. It's funny, entertaining, exceedingly well-plotted and full of fascinating atmosphere. Charlie is a great character - Raffles meets Cary Grant meets The Saint meets Raymond Chandler. He's disarming, has his own - slightly offbeat - moral code, and is definitely someone you would want on your side. Of course, he's just as liable to get you into trouble as out of it - but he's so charming you wouldn't care. In fact, you'd relish the fact.
5 people found this helpful
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Sam Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars Clever Twist
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2014
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Nice continuation of the series, great twist at the end. Will follow on with the next book that Ewan has to offer.
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Blondie
3.0 out of 5 stars Easy read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 18, 2013
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As this was from the same author that I had read before I thought I would try it. It had a plot, and was quite numerous with it.
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LB
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic series
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 29, 2013
Verified Purchase
This will be more of a review for the whole series. I have read each book, and together this must be one of my favourite ever series to read. I just hope in the future there'll be more written!!

All the books are highly amusing additionally making me laugh out loud sometimes! I love the 'whodunit' aspect, if you enjoy death in paradise on the BBC, you'll enjoy this too.

All the cities are described in wonderful detail and the characters are very well and deeply developed. The locations are interesting, as are all the people the 'good thief' meets.

The plot is fast paced, and not once did I feel bored. Many surprises on the way kept the intrigue and mystery high.

Not once did I guess who had dunnit before the end.

I can't praise this book, or the entire series, enough. I completely recommend to anyone and everyone!
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