Published by Gold Medal 1960
This
behind-the-scenes drama set in a Las Vegas casino could have easily become
soapy melodrama in a lesser writer’s hands, but here is turned into a tense and
absorbing tale of love and greed.
Though filled
with a large number of characters, each with their own story, the central
narrative involves hotel manager Hugh Darren, entertainer Betty Dawson, and
oil-rich Texan Homer Galloway and their conflict with casino manager Max Hanes. Hugh
and Betty are involved, but their relationship is threatened by the controlling
and underhanded tactics of Hanes. Galloway has returned to the casino
determined to win back the small fortune that he lost on his last visit,
putting him at odds with Hanes as well. The various narrative strands circle
and bump into each other until braiding together for a brutal finale.
If the plot sounds standard the execution is
anything but. MacDonald increases the tension gradually by backing his
characters slowly into their individual corners. And then he goes and breaks
your heart a little.
This is the good
stuff. MacDonald’s prose is gorgeous and his dialogue sings. This is the first
of his novels I’ve read, and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long. But in the
plus column, since he was a prolific author I now have a whole new list of
books to look forward to.
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