What Really Happens in Vegas - by James Patterson & Mark Seal

Book Synopsis

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas--until now. James Patterson shows the real Vegas in a dazzling journey through "lively tales of those who labor and dream in Sin City" (Kirkus).

"Wild and wonderful...The magic of Sin City doesn't just happen. Patterson and Seal tell its secrets in beautifully presented snippets that often overlap not just surprisingly, but charmingly too." --Telegraph (UK)

• Las Vegas is on Luxury Standard Time: every clock in the airport is a Rolex.
• No dream is too big, no wish is too small--the VIP hosts in Vegas fulfill guests' every (legal) desire.
• Jackpots hit when least expected. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has days to find a man who unknowingly won over $200,000 at the slots.
• "I love love" the inventor of the Elvis impersonator wedding and the drive-thru wedding has performed hundreds of marriages--and believes in them all.
• Glamorous yogis take a helicopter across the desert to the Valley of Fire, where they perform sun salutations to the glory of Las Vegas.
• A gambling VIP "whale" loses $1 million at the casinos, yet still leaves saying, "Had a great time. I'll be back."

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In What Really Happens in Vegas, full of surprises for both newcomers and Las Vegas regulars, James Patterson and Vanity Fair contributing editor Mark Seal transport readers from the thrill of adrenaline-fueled vice to the glitter of A-list celebrity and entertainment.

Review Quotes

"A breezy, nonstop narrative capturing the essence of a crazy, wide-open town ... a dazzling and fun account of America's entertainment capital."--New York Journal of Books

"Especially entertaining...What Really Happens in Vegas is a must-read for anyone wondering what really happens in the city Hunter S. Thompson once dubbed 'the savage heart of the American Dream.'"--Air Mail

"Lively tales of those who labor and dream in Sin City...the entertainment value is high."--Kirkus

"Unusual facts and tales about Las Vegas... the inner workings of those who live and work in Las Vegas and those who make the city come alive... reads like a novel."--Library Journal

"Up tempo, vivid, and fun ... an entertaining ride."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

James Patterson is the world's bestselling author. Among his creations are Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Michael Bennett, and Maximum Ride. He has collaborated on novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton and has won an Edgar Award, nine Emmy Awards, and the National Humanities Medal.

Mark Seal is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, where his piece on Gerhartsreiter was a finalist for a 2010 National Magazine Award. He is the author of The Man in the Rockefeller Suit and Wildflower. He lives in Aspen, Colorado.