Bio
Rick Gadziola has been involved in gambling and the study of gambling since the age of sixteen. He is a former professional blackjack, backgammon, and poker player who combines his knowledge of the industry and the underworld of Las Vegas to spin a compelling mystery. His short story "Life's Little Pleasure" placed second in the Toronto Short Story Contest, a contest that attracted more than 8,000 entries from around the world. Rick maintains a balance in his life by writing novels and operating his own printing business with his wife Susan.
Project Description
Raw Deal (ECW Press, Spring 2004) is the first of a light-hearted mystery series set in Las Vegas. The protagonist, Jake Morgan, is an ex-cop from Boston who now ekes out a living dealing blackjack at the posh Oasis Casino. The hotel's headliner is threatened with blackmail and convinces Jake to help him. Just as Jake begins to look into it, the star is murdered, and Jake writes the whole thing off to experience--until his showgirl girlfriend is charged with the murder. Raw Deal is written in a fresh voice befitting a quirky setting such as Las Vegas.
