Gambling on Magic

by: Christopher G. Moore

Published by: Heaven Lake Press

Reviewed by Alex McGilvery

Gambling on Magic is set in Bangkok. The author, Christopher G. Moore, writes about the life of an ex-patriot gambler name Joey Balfour. Joey has a renewed celebrity due to his TV shows on gambling being re-released on DVD. There are people that are not at all happy about that renewal. People start showing up from Joey’s past and making demands on him. His mother comes bringing an Internet wheeler-dealer who is convinced that the FBI is trying to kill him. Thailand appears to no longer be safe.

The author has written a complex novel that winds through past and present. Errol Flynn is a main character in spite of living in a different period. He permeates the novel through Joey’s fascination with Errol Flynn movie posters. The people of this story are well developed and have their own quirks and agendas. The setting of Gambling on Magic is also carefully shaped. The ex-patriot community of Thailand is given its own unique flavor.

I found that the story got off to a slow start. There are so many characters and pieces of information to be placed in exactly the right place. Every flashback is important, but only makes complete sense at the close of the story. It was very much like setting up a long line of dominoes. There is a great deal of careful work that goes into the setup. The author makes sure that every last piece is in place, then moves into a fast-paced and satisfying ending that puts everything in order.

Gambling on Magic by Christopher G. Moor is well worth reading. The information about gambling rings true, as does the portrayal of the city of Bangkok and the community that surrounds the story.

Moore has written dozens of books with an Asian setting you can check out. This book is ONLY available at http://www.heavenlakepress.com

Armchair Interviews says: A work of fiction that has the interesting Bangkok setting.

Author’s Web site: http://www.CGMoore.com