Review: A Page-Turning Thriller
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 28, 2011
Jimmy Fratino is a self-deprecating, wise-cracking "pit boss" for the Seven Rivers Casino and a part-time thief, who gets caught one night in the middle of a heist and needs to ask his long-suffering wife, Annette, to help him escape.  It turns out she knew nothing about his side line and is furious with him until he shows her the money he's got stashed away.When Jimmy accidentally discovers that some men are plotting to rip off his employer, Seven Rivers Casino, he teams up with Annette to go after the bad guys in this hilarious and action-packed thriller, "Punishing a Good Deed."The author really knows his characters and his territory - the Pacific Northwest - and ladles in plenty of humorous observations, while never slowing down the action.  Everetti is a dexterous and exceedingly clever wordsmith:  "Or maybe I just wasn't expecting the unexpected when it unexpectedly happened."As a once-a-year thief, Jimmy takes from the rich and gives to himself, musing, "How much money do you want to spend to hide your safe and your money from people like me?"The book is full of great dialogue and unexpected imagery, such as when Jimmy recalls jumping over a creek as a kid, flapping his arms and legs trying to get to the other side.With shades of "Get Shorty," "Prizzis Honor" and "The Sopranos," the characters in this book are never dull, and Jimmy's Danny Ocean wannabe act never gets tired.  How could you not end up rooting for a guy who says things like, "What she didn't know wouldn't kill me."Highly recommended.