Bohjalian writes with verve and humor, and his depiction of a seedy, past-its prime casino feels just right ... Princess finds Bohjalian trying an interesting experiment that really pays off: We're not entirely sure if we're supposed to identify with Crissy.
Packs a lot of coincidence into its roll-the-dice plot, but readers should accept it as a fair price of admission to this engaging and imaginative thriller.
A thrilling symphony of royal impersonators, teenage hackers and run-down casinos ... Bohjalian has created two distinctively fascinating narrators that he then places in a setting where anything can happen, including copious violence.
Bohjalian’s lightning-speed page-turner delivers a dishy, twisty tale of suspense tempered with intriguing insights into the nature of ego, fame, and family.
Plot elements can get forced ... Bohjalian is very good at capturing both the dark underside of Las Vegas and the weird surface on which fake Arethas, Sinatras, and Michael Jacksons cavort.
Unwieldy ... Bohjalian slips in some well-calibrated satire of cryptocurrency culture. He’s less sure-footed, however, when it comes to the novel’s tone, which is curiously buttoned-up for a subject so conducive to bold treatment.
