The Picasso Flop

December 4, 2006
Van Patten, a host of TV's World Poker Tour
, has teamed with veteran mystery writer Randisi to create what may be the first novel billed as a "Texas Hold'em Mystery" with so-so results. The action takes place during a major poker tournament at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and Jimmy Spain—recently released from prison—is there both to play and to coach 22-year-old Kat Landrigan, the talented daughter of a man Spain did time with (part of a pointlessly complex backstory). But the tournament is interrupted by two murders, and, for reasons that strain credulity, Spain is asked to look into the matter. The title refers to the three playing cards discovered with each body: a jack, a queen and a king, which, when dealt together, are sometimes described as a "Picasso flop" in hold'em. Spain is an engaging, likable character, and some of the poker scenes are done with flair and knowledge, but the loose plot doesn't do justice to the fine concept.

Starred review from February 1, 2007
Jimmy Spain is offered money and a condo if he keeps an eye on the wealthy Harold Landrigan's estranged daughter, Kat. Spain and Landrigan were inmates together in prison, and Landrigan believes he owes Spain for saving his life there more than once. Kat wants to become a professional poker player, and Spain is more than capable of teaching her the ropes. They go to Las Vegas to play in the World Poker Tour's Five Diamond World Classic. After the murder of a member of the Posse, a group of Internet players, Kat becomes a suspect, and Spain must figure out what is happening. Van Patten possesses the hard-boiled, professional writing skills of Robert J. Randisi; this first in the projected "Texas Hold 'em" series is a winner.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2007
Most mystery readers won't flip for this " Flop." But card players and others who shuffle past the first few chapters of clunky exposition and incessant plugs for the World Poker Tour (and a certain poker Web site that won't get additional exposure here) will discover an appealing setup: pro player Jimmy Spain is returning to the Texas hold 'em circuit after several years in the slammer, and he is schooling young Kat Landrigan for the rich father with whom he served time. The big complication: Kat hates her dad and doesn't know he hired her tutor. So when she is implicated in the murders of several players in a Vegas WPT tournament, Spain must keep her safe and unaware while working his way toward the final table and a potential $1.8 million score. Coauthor Randisi likely saved WPT commentator Van Patten from embarrassment here, but the veteran crime scribe also should have fixed the dropped subplot and an ending that's too convoluted by half. Bottom line: a quick, fun read despite its many flaws.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)