The Kings of Vegas

A 30-something former blackjack prodigy returns home to Nevada for her father’s funeral and gets pulled into family conflict in this immersive crime saga from Mack and Kaufman (Freud’s Mistress). Josie King’s brother, Frank, enacts harsh inheritance terms that force Josie, her horse-obsessed sister Sunny, and her troubled brother Sam to work at their late father’s Jackpot casino empire if they want to see any money. Josie’s return to Jackpot revives old rivalries as she faces union unrest, mounting debts, and a security overhaul led by mob enforcer Lionel Barrick. Meanwhile, her attraction to rival casino owner Rob McCarthy further complicates matters. As Josie investigates corruption at Jackpot, she draws on the guidance of Moe, the former head of security, and uncovers a locked room filled with skimmed cash and art, exposing her father’s mob ties. The stakes rise when Josie’s daughter is kidnapped by criminals linked to the casino, forcing Josie and Sam to undertake a dangerous rescue attempt. Mack and Kaufman’s unfussy prose and well-rounded characters balance out the larger-than-life glitz and grit of Vegas. The result is a suspenseful and entertaining trip to Sin City. Agent: Molly Friedrich and Lucy Carson, Friedrich Agency. (June)