This is a very British crime caper. A group of ordinary
Londoners take on the shady world of the casinos and try to siphon off some
cash they all so desperately need. I enjoyed reading about their meticulous
planning, done in a suburban house in Fulham whilst enjoying a cheap bottle of
wine and some sandwiches. Julia Underwood has set this story in 1976 and she
describes that year in vivid detail, the fashion, the difficult economic times
due to high oil prices and interest rates and that incredible hot summer. (Yes
I’m old enough to remember that!) I was on tender hooks when Chris; the guy
that is going to play blackjack sits down at the table of the inside man Pete.
There is almost from the start a feeling of impending doom. They know that the
casino is run by people who would use violence if they ever discover their scam,
but are they smart enough to stay under the radar? Well you’ll just have to
read the book. I would recommend this if you love a crime thriller that
involves the murky world of gambling or a good old fashioned British crime
caper.
