::READERS REVIEWS::

Twist, Turn and Enjoy - This story pits con artist against con artist. And although the entire cast lacks scruples, you'll still take sides and have fun trying to guess how the good guys will outwit their adversaries. One of the nice things about "Chinaman's Chance" (and Ross Thomas novels in general) is that, even though the reader enters a world of corruption, there is very little violence. And that allows you to more fully enjoy the storyline and, at times, really humorous conversation, without knowing that every confrontation will end in explicit bloodshed. I also like how Thomas wraps up his tale and doesn't leave readers wondering about a lot of unanswered questions.

Great character development, but . . . - As usual, Ross Thomas does a great job in developing the characters early in the book, but then, as usual, gets tangled up in plots and subplots that take you way too far in before revealing why what's been going on has been going on. He provides a rich narrative, and character development is certainly one of his strengths, but the tendency to keep so much hidden takes away from the novel. "The Fools in Town are all on Our Side" was similar-great character development early, then a complex, incredible, complex, late to be revealed plot.

Enjoyable, but Not the Masterpiece I expected - I've heard a lot about Ross Thomas, who is considered by many people to be one of the most underrated thriller novelists out there. Thomas died in 1995, and most of his books are either out of print or difficult to find. Many people consider CHINAMAN'S CHANCE to be Thomas' best novel, so I thought I would give it a shot.

In short, I liked this book but didn't love it. This is a book brimming with wit and intelligence. It was obviously written by a highly intelligent, perceptive man -- Thomas is a highly skilled wordsmith. However, I found the plot remarkably convoluted. The blurb from the NEW YORKER for this book states that CHINAMAN'S CHANCE has "enough plot to overwhelm a trilogy" and I agree with that statement. Unfortunately, too much plot is not necessarily such a good thing. I ultimately found the storyline confusing and the twist-filled ending kind of ridiculous.

Also, there are too many colorful characters in this novel to keep track of. Every couple of pages, Thomas changes the point of view. Virtually every character is eccentric and over-the-top. This can be fun, but I thought it was overdone here. There was no one in this book I related to, and I never found myself emotionally invested in the storyline.

In the end, CHINAMAN'S CHANCE is okay if you like witty, humorous caper novels. But if you're looking for a book with genuine thrills and characters you genuinely care about, you may want to look for something else.

Laugh out loud funny - I really enjoy a well-written book that makes me laugh out loud, and this book is certinly that type. Right from the beginning the plot ensnares you, and you just go along with all of the strange and loony doings of the extremely well-drawn characters. The author plays fair with the reader: there are no hidden shocks that change the ending, or plotlines left unconnected at the end. It's unfortunate Mr. Thomas is deceased, for more new books from him would be quite welcome in my house!

The ultimate Los Angeles caper novel - This was the first of Thomas' Wu and Durant novels, and in my opinion, the best. Two things make this novel memorable. First, there is the remarkable array of supporting characters, many of them sleazebags, most of them bizarre, all of them memorable. Second, at some level, Los Angeles is the main character, especially the South Bay. Thomas' descriptions of the cities, the neighborhoods, buildings, the marginal businesses, are absolute gems. I have spent a great deal of time trying to match the places, especially the coastal cities, to actual locations in Los Angeles, without much success, but who cares. I don't know if the Los Angeles he described ever really existed, but it should have.

Delicious - Wickedly funny and a great page turner. I've been reading a lot of crime fiction lately: Connelly, Rankin, Mankell, Francis, Child. All good in their own way. But I've found Thomas, and this book specifically, to be the most "delicious" and memorable.

foul language - I chose to stop reading the book due to the wide usage of foul language.