This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite
If you enjoy murder mystery laced with humor, a boatload of colorful characters, and a plot that stops evolving only on the last few pages, you’ll like The House Always Wins by Tom Minder. This is a fun read that might not appeal to the more serious fans of murder mystery, but Tom Minder’s gift as a writer is in creating vivid, movie-like scenes, where quick, natural dialogue combines with rapid action and details so graphic that on occasion it’s almost repulsive. But it’s realistic, depicting what more polite authors can’t bring themselves to write. This is most noticeable when Minder describes cops, robbers, and killers eating food.
Most of the story is set, if you haven’t yet guessed from the title, in a gambling casino where money and greed take precedence over having a good time. So bring on the crooks who are planning a massive heist. These crooks have a clever plan in place, but as there is no honor amongst thieves, the inevitable has to happen i.e. each thief has his or her own plan. Readers will be caught up in how hairy Herbie and hairy Shirley (literally!) are played by that cross bow-wielding lady florist, “The Red Dahlia”. Honestly, the action, fun and twists never stop.
Now prepare yourself for tons of bed hopping and partner swapping in The House Always Wins but it’s not graphic compared to the eating scenes. What is particularly effective is how Minder captures the casino patrons, their conversations with the levers they keep pulling in hopes of big win, and the little old ladies with their lucky trolls mounted on their slot machines. Even Trump scores as a lucky troll! But for all the fun, Minder makes a few astute observations on these patrons like this one: “People and their addictions. Rushing to bring their money to a heartless, soulless gambling den, hoping to beat them at their own game. The house always wins, folks. Save your money.” Touche!
