T Pharoah

Ben Mezrich is an author with the enviable ability to start his book by thrusting the reader straight into the middle of some tense action. I was immediately hooked before even knowing who the characters were, but that could be left until later. First, I just had to know how this first scene played out. Mr Mezrich can also explain the concepts, risks and gains of a gambling game (poker in this case, blackjack in 'Bringing Down The House') so even I, a gambling dunce, can grasp them. Factual and first rate I would have awarded 5 stars but the protagonists are portrayed as shallow, uncouth, barely civilised yobs so I had to wonder how they could have carried through such a complex project. More to the point, it made me care much less whether they would fail or succeed. But, a good book and worth reading anyway.