Robert J. Randisi (1951–2024)

Number 9 in the series.
As always, I look forward to the publication of a new “Rat Pack” mystery. They are fun and easy-going.
In this episode, Edward G. Robinson needs to learn more about playing poker and try out his character for an upcoming movie, The Cincinnati Kid, with Steve McQueen. The Sands Casino owner, Jack Entratter, turns EGR over to Eddie Gianelli, pit boss, friend to the Rat Pack, and fixer of whatever needs to be fixed. And here, Eddie needs to get EGR into some high show more stakes poker games, a feat not as easy as it might seem. And of course, this is also a personal favor to Rat Pack Chairman Frank Sinatra.
In the meantime, billionaire Howard Hughes is in Vegas and wants to see Eddie. This makes Eddie a little nervous. What could Hughes want from him?
As Eddie starts to juggle those two balls, Entratter’s secretary has disappeared, only to be found strung up in the Ladies Room down the hall. Eddie calls in his pals, private dick Danny and bruise Jerry from Brooklyn. And with the gang all there, bullets and fists start to fly, plus the guys’ investigations takes them to the seedier side of Vegas.
Another easy read mystery from Randisi. I read The Way You Die Tonight on a 7-hour road trip and loved every minute of it. I give it five out of five stars. show less

The series maintains its great zingy flavor, and Jerry and Mr. G are still one of the best bromances in lit today, but this one wasn't as fun somehow. The apeal of these books is the growing friendship between the Rat Pack and the common pit boss who fixes their problems for them, and we saw very little of the Pack in this book. Still, in this one finally dealt with one of the realities of Vegas, gambiling addiction.

A light little romp set around the time when the original Ocean's Eleven was being filmed in Las Vegas. Casino pit boss Eddie Gianelli is asked by Frank Sinatra to help find out who is sending threatening letters to Dean Martin, and Vegas-style hijinks ensue. The real fun of this book is the celebrity cameos and the glitz and glamour of the time. The mystery itself ends up becoming somewhat inconsequential, as Eddie goes from confrontations with hit men to booze- and showgirl-filled parties show more and back again. All of this happens very quickly in short chapters that keep the pages turning. Overall an amusing trifle for fans of the Rat Pack in particular, or perhaps those who enjoy Ed Gorman's Sam McCain series. show less

What a fun little mystery!! This book is not one of those high-brow stories by any means, but it is a fun little read where you are wondering for the greater majority of the book who the killer is. Unfortunately it does become quickly apparent about 3/4 of the way in who it is, but I enjoyed the book regardless of this fact because you were still left wondering why up until the reveal.

I recognize that this is the first novel written by Eileen Davidson, who is primarily an actress known for show more roles on Days of Our Lives and Young and the Restless, so I thought this was a rather good attempt at creating a mystery story. I think she mixes just enough of her own individual knowledge of being an actress with the threads for the mystery aspect that it comes out just right in both directions. This is a book where you have to get through the initial few chapters because Davidson has to get her footing, but once you get past that you will greatly enjoy the book. Also she adds elements as it goes along that will make reading subsequent books interesting, such as a love triangle. Also the friend/family characters that are around the main character, Alexis, do not seem forced, but natural extensions of her. They feel like people that a real actress would have surrounding her, which adds a very believable element to this story.

There is not a lot of help in discovering the killer in this particular book because I think Davidson is used to more of the dialogue of a soap opera, which doesn't necessarily help her out in the writing here, which is why I give it only four instead of five. I believe as she progresses as an author she will get better, thus I believe the subsequent books will be a thrill to read. show less