- Hardcover: 336 pages
- Publisher: Minotaur Books (Jan 18 2005)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0312321996
- ISBN-13: 978-0312321994
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.7 x 3.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 590 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,245,707 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Terrorist-level blackmail threatens the Las Vegas Casino Association in first-time novelist Goodger's slow-to-boil crime thriller. Videotapes of short clips of disasters taken from TV and movies mysteriously appear in the offices of the association's head, Emmett "Droopy" Druperman, a hard-nosed negotiator who refuses to make the payoff demanded by the blackmailers. Instead, he alerts his security chief, Steve Forrester, as each new threat comes in. Despite the increasingly high stakes—poisoning, fire, an Oklahoma City–style bomb—as Druperman and Forrester work desperately to keep the gaming tables open and the public in the dark, the plot seldom gains true momentum. The budding love affair between Forrester and pit supervisor Lucy Baker does nothing for the suspense because of a lack of chemistry. On the other hand, gambling fans will relish the behind-the-scenes look at Vegas—the moment when the obnoxious, aging Sinatra-esque singer Tony Francisco steps unwittingly into danger is a nice commentary on the thrill of betting and luck playing out—and the credible if unspectacular investigative search for the blackmailers builds to a solid action-movie finale.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Goodger hits the jackpot with his first novel, a riveting tale set in the glitzy world of Las Vegas casinos. The novel offers more than its share of suspense, but it is Goodger's believable, compelling characters who lift the tale well above the typical action novel. Emmett "Droopy" Druperman, big boss at the Galaxy Casino and president of a secret consortium of Las Vegas casinos, at first dismisses a strange package that includes a movie clip of someone being poisoned. A real poisoning in the casino a short time later makes him sit up and take notice. When the second package contains video of an electrocution--and a demand for millions of dollars--Druperman is still determined not to give in to the mysterious extortionists, who call themselves "Thanatos." To solve the case, Galaxy security chief Steve Forrester strikes an uneasy alliance with his bitter former partner on the LVPD; meanwhile, he also begins an uneasy courtship of gun-shy colleague Lucy Baker. Too often Vegas-set mysteries either succumb to the glitz of the setting or become mired in the intricacies of Ocean's 11-like capers. Neither happens here, despite the complexity of the plot. Rather than questioning the believability of the story, readers may have trouble accepting the notion that this superb adventure is the work of a first-time novelist. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
4 stars to leave room to celebrate Goodger's next novel!,
By Kristin Turriff (Courtenay, BC) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Druperman Tapes (Hardcover)
Once I picked up The Druperman Tapes, I couldn't put it down. It is a captivating read with well developed characters. I found myself wondering about these people outside of the context of the story. Goodger introduced me to the dynamics of an industry centered around the compulsions of the gambler. Intelligent, action-packed, I thoroughly enjoyed Goodger's first novel and am looking forward to his next hitting the shelf.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews) 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
enjoyable investigative tale,
By Harriet Klausner - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Druperman Tapes (Hardcover)
In Las Vegas normally just irascible grumpy Galaxy Hotel and Casino CEO Emmett Druperman has watched his temperament turn hot coal irate from minor irritants. Pickets were reducing the drop in leisurely casino players who detested stepping past the "ants" picketing his facility. The agent of his entertainer wants more money or he will cancel in spite of a half million ad campaign. His hemorrhoids on fire, Emmett receives a plain envelop addressed to him as the head of LVCA (Las Vegas Casino Association) containing videotapes and demanding $10 million or else from the casino owners.Realizing he has real trouble, Emmett hands everything over to his Vice President of Security Steve Forrester who takes the threat seriously. They think of possible strip con artists such as Dan Shiller and Jurgen Voss, but Steve cannot picture either doing what happened on the tape, the poisoning of a guest. Knowing that the culprit is most likely a casino insider, Steve needs to figure out who would be bold enough to risk murder as opposed to card game scams. THE DRUPERMAN TAPES is an enjoyable investigative tale that showcases Las Vegas glitz from the perspective of those who keep the casinos safe. The cast is powerful as all the key players seem genuine (hemorrhoids will do that) and a subplot involving a romance makes former cop Steve seem that much more real. Though the cat and mouse game never quite takes the audience over the edge, John Goodger hits black jack with his first hand. Harriet Klausner
2.0 out of 5 stars
Comes up short,
By JoeV "Reader" - Published on Amazon.com
At the risk of going against the grain here - I missed the magic in this one. On the plus side, the plot line is an interesting one - i.e., the method used to extort money from Las Vegas casinos - and the author has a keen understanding of the workings and history of said place. Unfortunately the story itself doesn't flow and the characters, (as well as their development), were to me flat, wooden and very predictable. All of it reminding me of `70's TV show. Can't recommend this one.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful, Exciting Reading,
By Susie - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Druperman Tapes (Hardcover)
This book is truly a "sleeper". The more you read, the more you get pulled into this Las Vegas web of intrigue. I truly could not put this book down, nor could my sister Jane in Toronto who recommended it to me.Good work, John Goodger. I hope you continue to write. Susanne |
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