First published 1998
Ray and Jewel Kaiser stand at the slot machines in Paradise casino, feeding coins into the mechanical mouths that swallow their money. They push their luck harder each night, chasing wins that slip away like smoke. The casino buzzes with confused regulars who wander between games, teenagers sporting fresh piercings, and a grocery store manager whose appetite extends beyond food. Meanwhile, workers stage their rebellion against management, demanding better pay every hour. Ray and Jewel navigate this strange world where everyone seems lost but keeps playing anyway. The couple must learn when to walk away before the house takes everything they have. This story examines what happens when ordinary people discover that wisdom often comes at a steep price.
Genres: fiction, addiction, crime, contemporary
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, slice-of-life
Setting: Paradise Casino
Period: Contemporary
224 pages · Paperback · Mariner Books
Content warnings: addiction