Second half of Deadman's Poker. Tony completes his work to uncover the scam at the World Poker Showdown. Highlight of this book (and last) is Rufus Steele's hustling. ( )

Swain's Tony Valentine series, no matter which one you pick up, is a
fun-to-read but hard-to-down thriller. The central character of all these
books is Tony Valentine, a retired Atlantic City officer who has "grift sense," meaning he has trained eyes that can instantly spot a scam, a
cheat, a swindle.

Deadman's Bluff continues the story begun in Deadman's Poker, which
brings Valentine to Las Vegas to catch cheaters at the World Poker
Tournament. Swain intersperses the tale of the cheating at the
tournament with tales of incredible cons by older veteran poker player
Rufus Steele from a foot race with a racehorse to a ping pong game
with a world champion to a golf game with the odds stacked against
him. Steele always has a trick up his sleeve and even Valentine can't
always figure out what he's up to.

In a parallel story, Tony's son Gerry finally matures into a full partner
with his father and has a separate string of adventures on the East
Coast.

Swain also throws in a legally blind poker player, a variety of hitmen,
mobbed-up guys, and a romantic interest for Valentine.
Overall, it was a blast to read and a thriller I would certainly
recommend to anyone although you'd be advised to read Deadman's
Poker first. ( )