Jackpot Bay — Martin Hegwood

Johnnie the Dime Koscko: don't be fooled, he's not really a gangster. But he'd like to be one, and that might just make him even more dangerous. He left the Mississippi coast thirty years ago in search of the big leagues in Las Vegas. But the closest he ever got was as a sometime flunky for the Mafia wannabes in the Rat Pack. Now he's back in Mississippi, and he's got a vision for his old hometown. With gambling legal, he's going to turn his Jackpot Bay casino into the classiest, swankiest attraction this side of the Rockies-If only he can expand his business beyond blue-haired locals and low rollers in polyester suits.


He's off to a good start. Rulon Hornbeck, the suave manager he reluctantly took on to give his place "class," has booked the spectacularly popular Snow Mountain Band to play a gig in the showroom. That's drawing some big-ticket gamblers from Europe. If they come and like the place, that puts Johnnie the Dime one step closer to realizing his dream.

Problem is, Snow Mountain hasn't made itself too popular with some religious folks, and it's not patching things up that the concert's on a Sunday. Enter the Narrow Path Independent Bible Church of Charismatic Believers. They have a bullhorn and they're not afraid to use it.

Then there's the other problem: Tara Conrad, a no-nonsense, hyper-liberated security auditor has been sent by the insurance auditor to figure out why Jackpot Bay's been losing so much money. She's not afraid to assert herself, and that doesn't sit right with Johnnie.

And, of course, there's the small matter of a bloody shoot-out that erupts on the gaming floor when Johnnie's oafish, violent nephew, Clyde, decides he can treat the staff however he wants.

Maybe the Jackpot Bay's future isn't such a sure thing after all. In fact, things might start getting pretty bloody pretty soon. And that's why Jack Delmas is there. Delmas, the hero of Martin Hegwood's critically acclaimed southern mystery novels had just accepted another routine assignment from his employer: introduce Johnnie and Tara and make sure they play nice.

But when the stakes are this high, playing nice is for losers.