Book Review - The Last Two Aces In Las Vegas (An Alexandra Merritt Mystery by Donna Mabry

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Donna Foley Mabry has written several series and is a best selling author, despite that body of work, and the accolades she's received, I struggle with some of her books.

I started to read The Russell House on the recommendation of another voracious reader but was so disappointed I couldn't finish it. For me that is a major problem because 95% of the time when I start a book I will finish it. The Russell House was so poorly written and edited I couldn't force myself to continue.

That being said, I enjoyed the first in the series, The Last Two Aces in Las Vegas. It was lighthearted and interesting but predictable. I still found errors throughout, which is very disappointing.

This story focuses on Alex Merritt a former theater performer from Chicago who gets a job in Las Vegas and winds up staying on with an independent casino as the entertainment director. The casino is owned by a former hit-man from the east coast Alberto, but everyone thinks he is only an usher. I found this to be a bit ridiculous.

There are several secondary stories which weave in and out from chapter to chapter. Some relate back to the mob connections or set the stage for the murders. We meet Mitch, the abusive want-to-be star, Alberto and his love interest, Angela an abused young woman, and Alex's friends who visit the casino only to be involved in a second murder. Some sections of the book were simply a huge dump of backstory where the author made no real attempt to weave it into the story.

I might read the second book in this series if it's available on Kindle Unlimited. I would not purchase one of her books until she finds an editor who can ensure the typos are fixed before it hits the shelf and someone who guides her writing efforts.



Happy Trails,

Leslie

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