The Picasso Flop (Texas Hold'em Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Vince Van Patten (Author), Robert J. Randisi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 21, 2007 | Series: Texas Hold'em Mysteries

Van Patten, host of Travel Channel's "World Poker Tour," and mystery writer Randisi team up to deliver this first novel in a new fast-paced, high-stakes poker mystery series.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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. (Feb.)
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From Booklist

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. Frank Sennett
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Mysterious Press; 1ST edition (February 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892960701
• ISBN-13: 978-0892960705
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,114,217 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun celebrity poker, serviceable mystery, May 4, 2008

By 

Aaron C. Brown (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Picasso Flop (Texas Hold'em Mysteries) (Hardcover)

The story in this book follows the basic conventions of the mystery genre and does an adequate job. Mystery fans with no interest in poker won't hate this book, but it won't make their top ten lists. Some serious poker players will think it emphasizes silly froth over pure poker.

I loved this book for the inside jokes about celebrity poker. If you're a fan, there's all kinds of fun detail, carefully-etched portraits and amusing color. If you're not a fan, and don't know any of the people involved, it will seem like shameless plugs for the World Poker Tour with lots of silliness in between the murders.

This isn't a book for everyone (as the other reviews clearly show), but if you like this sort of thing, it's a five-star book.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Winning Hand, February 20, 2007

By 

Mel Odom (Moore, OK USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Picasso Flop (Texas Hold'em Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Vince Van Patten and Robert J. Randisi launch what will hopefully be the start of a new series with THE PICASSO FLOP. With the Texas Hold'Em and Las Vegas background thrown in, the book delivers a lot of interesting information in an exotic location. Not only that, but there's a murder to solve and an amateur detective that I found easy to root for.

Jimmy Spain is an ex-con and professional poker player. Recently released from prison, he's trying to get his life back together and get his poker game back. But an offer from Landrigan, a guy he met in prison, puts Jimmy squarely in harm's way. Landrigan tells Jimmy he'll pay for all his buy-ins at the poker games as long as he watches over Landrigan's estranged daughter, Kat. Kat, however, can't know that her father is involved.

Kat is brash and somewhat offensive, everything you might expect a 22-year-old hardcase to be. She's got a definite jones for the poker game and plenty of moxie and enough talent to back it up. But Jimmy really doesn't know that much about her.

Only days into the tournament, feeling the effects of his rusty game, Jimmy gets caught up in a murder investigation. One of the prime poker players gets killed and is found with a Picasso Flop, a jack, queen, and king, on his body. The flop is a poker term, and the Picasso part refers to the fact that all the cards are face-cards.

Jimmy realizes just how little he knows about Kat when she lies about him and uses him for her alibi during the time of the murder. There was some bad blood between Kat and the dead man, but was it enough to make her kill him? Trapped between his friend, the poker tournament, and a hard-nosed cop who's got it in for him, Jimmy has to cover all the angles just to stay alive.

Vince Van Patten is one of the top spokesmen on the Texas Hold'Em scene. As host of World Poker Tonight and a frequent player and commentator on the game, he brings a lot of knowledge and connections to the novel. Robert J. Randisi is an accomplished author with hundreds of books to his credit.

Although a little slow going action-wise at first, THE PICASSO FLOP is an excellent read. Randisi's writing is smooth and effortless. Mystery and private-eye fans are going to find a lot to enjoy here. I found myself reading through to the end in a couple sittings. Pick the book up. This one's a sure bet.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Ugh! What a waste!, May 2, 2008

By 

Frank A. Shevock (Derwood, Md.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Picasso Flop (Texas Hold'em Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I really wanted to enjoy this book since I love watching the WPT poker telecasts and Vince Van Patten's commentary. I also love playing Texas Holdem. However, this book reads like it was written by a fourth grader (not to denigrate fourth graders writing ability). I got to the 10th chapter and decided I couldn't take it anymore. Vince, don't give up your day job....................