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THE ALEXANDRA MERRITT MYSTERIES #1
The Last Two Aces in Las Vegas: An Alexandra Merritt Mystery
Las Vegas casino owner, Alberto Minnelli, has everything a man could want; wealth, power, family, friends, and a woman he loves. The only thing he needs that he can't buy, is time. He finds there are still three people on his list, his nephew, Michael Bart, whom he raised as a son, his beautiful, young, talented Director of Entertainment, Alexandra Merritt, and Dr. Zachary Peters. Before it's too late, Alberto wants to care for two of them, and he intends to kill the third.
363 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
About the author
Donna Foley Mabry
189 books217 followersA Michigan native who studied writing in school, Donna first came to Vegas to make costumes and soon was weaving the stories she heard in the back of the girls' dressing room into her first novel. Now she is the author of The Alexandra Merritt Mysteries, which include 'The Last Two Aces in Las Vegas', 'The Las Vegas Desert Flower', 'The Las Vegas Special', 'Rough Ride in Vegas', 'M.I.A. Las Vegas' and 'The Las Vegas Sophisticate'. Her latest novel, 'The Vegas Tycoon' is also set in Las Vegas
Donna has written several other stand-alone novels, recent releases 'Kaleigh McKenna' and 'The Russell House', as well as 'Desperate Ambition', 'The Right Society', 'The Other Hand', 'Conversations with Skip', and an anthology, 'Killer Coffee and a Batch of Cookies'.
In addition to those stand-alones and others, Donna has a popular series of historical romances, 'The Manhattan Stories', and a series of female detective stories 'The Case Files of Molly Evers".
Her most popular novel, 'Maude', the story of her Grandmother, is a #1 best-seller on Amazon and spent 16 weeks on the Wall Street Journal's Top-10 list. 'Maude' is available as an audiobook, and is published in Italian, Russian and German. Donna is actively working on the screenplay for 'Maude'.
She has also written three screenplays, a stage play, poetry, short stories, and a children's story.
Donna lives in Henderson, Nevada, sharing her home with two cats and her dog, Abigale, all three shelter rescues. She has two children, a daughter in Las Vegas and a son in New York and a grandson who is the light of her life!
Donna still takes occasional classes at UNLV and at writer's conferences and is an active member of the Anthem Author's in Henderson, NV.
donnafoleymabry.com
facebook.com/donnafoleymabry
twitter.com/donnama12
Donna has written several other stand-alone novels, recent releases 'Kaleigh McKenna' and 'The Russell House', as well as 'Desperate Ambition', 'The Right Society', 'The Other Hand', 'Conversations with Skip', and an anthology, 'Killer Coffee and a Batch of Cookies'.
In addition to those stand-alones and others, Donna has a popular series of historical romances, 'The Manhattan Stories', and a series of female detective stories 'The Case Files of Molly Evers".
Her most popular novel, 'Maude', the story of her Grandmother, is a #1 best-seller on Amazon and spent 16 weeks on the Wall Street Journal's Top-10 list. 'Maude' is available as an audiobook, and is published in Italian, Russian and German. Donna is actively working on the screenplay for 'Maude'.
She has also written three screenplays, a stage play, poetry, short stories, and a children's story.
Donna lives in Henderson, Nevada, sharing her home with two cats and her dog, Abigale, all three shelter rescues. She has two children, a daughter in Las Vegas and a son in New York and a grandson who is the light of her life!
Donna still takes occasional classes at UNLV and at writer's conferences and is an active member of the Anthem Author's in Henderson, NV.
donnafoleymabry.com
facebook.com/donnafoleymabry
twitter.com/donnama12
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 24, 2015
Different from previous books written by this author; just as enjoyable
I have found a new favorite writer! Great story; fast paced,engrossing. So glad I bought the series, as I read this so fast it ended far too soon. My you continue to be so prolific.
I have found a new favorite writer! Great story; fast paced,engrossing. So glad I bought the series, as I read this so fast it ended far too soon. My you continue to be so prolific.
April 9, 2015
Loved The Story!!
I gave this book 5 stars!! It's a good read, and well written. I love the characters, very believable, and a few twists and turns, too. I'll continue on with Ms. Mabry's next mystery for sure!!
I gave this book 5 stars!! It's a good read, and well written. I love the characters, very believable, and a few twists and turns, too. I'll continue on with Ms. Mabry's next mystery for sure!!
February 7, 2017
More entertaining than Las Vegas
A smooth entertaining read. The ending is predictable but satisfactory nonetheless. I recommended it even before half way to finishing it. I left it with a smile.
A smooth entertaining read. The ending is predictable but satisfactory nonetheless. I recommended it even before half way to finishing it. I left it with a smile.
March 4, 2015
3.5 stars. Good read, not outstanding, but kept my interest.
May 24, 2015
Manhattan Wins
Very good story but I have to say that I loved the Manhatten series the best. Loved those characters. You are just great with your research and I thank you for that.
Very good story but I have to say that I loved the Manhatten series the best. Loved those characters. You are just great with your research and I thank you for that.
July 24, 2015
Very fun.
Held my interest. Looked forward to reading every night. Can,t wait to start the next one in the series. Just fun reads.
Held my interest. Looked forward to reading every night. Can,t wait to start the next one in the series. Just fun reads.
January 8, 2016
This was a great mystery book. A thriller, I don't know about that, but it had good elements of mystery and you find yourself really rooting for Alex and Angela. And the ending
January 28, 2017
YesWould like to read it
November 27, 2023
The Last Two Acres in Las Vegas (An Alexandra Merritt Mysteries Book 1)
I liked this novel. It's a mystery series with ties between business owners, corporations, and/or the mafia. Who-done-it murder suspects are key to the everyday employees at the Independent casino. Or are they? Read this Merritt Mystery and find out what really happens. . .
Read Sun 11/26/2023.
I liked this novel. It's a mystery series with ties between business owners, corporations, and/or the mafia. Who-done-it murder suspects are key to the everyday employees at the Independent casino. Or are they? Read this Merritt Mystery and find out what really happens. . .
Read Sun 11/26/2023.
December 30, 2023
I listened to the audio version of this book.
I thought this was a brilliant listen. Fast paced and written in a way that almost took you to the Independent Casino in Las Vegas. Riveting plot that keeps you listening to the very end. Highly recommended.
I thought this was a brilliant listen. Fast paced and written in a way that almost took you to the Independent Casino in Las Vegas. Riveting plot that keeps you listening to the very end. Highly recommended.
August 14, 2017
What a read!!
I absolutely loved this book. A far cry from Maude or the other series of books I've read from my favorite author, Donna Foley Mabry.
I absolutely loved this book. A far cry from Maude or the other series of books I've read from my favorite author, Donna Foley Mabry.
March 9, 2017
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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews