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Poker has always held a fascination for me and the fact that I cannot play means that I indulge my interest vicariously by reading mysteries that involve the world of poker. THE PICASSO FLOP is the latest in a line of poker mysteries to be written. Professional poker player Jimmy Spain used to have it all until he wound up in jail. After spending ten years behind bars, he is released and goes to visit a former wealthy jail mate who offers him a job that he finds very hard to refuse. What could go wrong? All he has to do is to mentor his only child Kat in the game of poker, Texas Hold’em to be exact. In return he will put his former cellmate up in a condominium, pay him ten thousand dollars a month as well as paying for an all-expenses poker tour. As the two of them battle their way to the World Poker Tour Championship in Las Vegas, it seems that the world is their oyster! Their good fortune, however, is rather rapidly curtailed when a fellow poker player is found murdered with a three card Picasso Flop in his pocket. This is closely followed by another murder and it falls to Spain to prove Kat innocent of the crimes. Billed as a 'Texas Hold’em mystery' THE PICASSO FLOP is written by two men who certainly know what they are doing. Vince Van Patten is a host of TV's World Poker Tour while Randisi is a well-known and respected mystery writer. The majority of the action takes place at the Bellagio in Las Vegas where a major poker tournament is taking place. This is a really enjoyable book with a number of colourful characters. These include the sultry Sabine Chevalier with whom Jimmy hooks up with, Tim Bennett the informal leader of the preppy group known as 'the posse' and Kat herself who has big dreams but very little experience. Spain himself is an enjoyable and engaging character that one would not mind spending time with. As much as I enjoyed this book, it is rather sadly let down by a couple of things. The back-story involving how Jimmy met and got involved with his former cellmate is rather too complex; and the reason why he is allowed by the investigating detective to do a bit of digging himself is a bit too good to be true. However, THE PICASSO FLOP is a delightful mix of cards, money, and mystery along with the adrenaline rush found around the poker table. It is enhanced by the amusing cameo appearances by a number of celebrity poker players such as James Woods. This is a pleasant start to what is hopefully a burgeoning series that will gain many followers in due course.
Reviewed by Ayo Onatade, January 2007
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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