From Booklist
It's October 1980, and laid-back loner Vince Camden never misses a morning making maple bars at the doughnut shop he manages in Spokane, Washington. And he rarely misses a night relieving locals of their bankrolls at an after-hours poker game, selling his hooker pals pot at cost, and running a lucrative credit-card theft ring. Vince has landed in eastern Washington via the witness-protection plan, and he is starting to like the simple pleasures, including receiving his first voter-registration card. So even when a hit man, a local cop, and Mob-boss-in-waiting John Gotti get Vince in their crosshairs, he keeps trying to figure out if he should pull the lever for Reagan or Carter. This tale of unlikely redemption works because of Walter's virtuoso command of character and dialogue--along with a wicked second-act twist. The novel is also a gritty love letter to Spokane and all the other second-tier cities where residents don't realize how good they've got it, and with its Capara-like spirit, it serves as a surprisingly satisfying antidote to the avalanche of cynical chatter emanating from this year's political campaigns and commentators.
Frank SennettCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Review
"Rich in robust characters ad wry dialogue, with agile prose, a big heart and a finely tuned plot." (Seattle Times )
"What makes Walter's third novel so enjoyable is Vince, a flawed but sympathetic character trying to find redemption." (Library Journal )
1st Place, General Trade-Jacket, New York Book Show (No Source )
"(An) immensely entertaining crime thriller and wry social commentary." (Chicago Tribune )
"A splendidly entertaining, thoughtful book ... Jess Walter continues to impress." (Sunday Telegraph )