Book Review: The Prop by Pete Hautman

The Prop by Pete Hautman is definitely +EV. Mr. Hautman describes has book as “is a semi-comic quasi-thriller crime caper/mystery thing about a professional poker player who finds herself involved in duplicity, drugs, deception, and death. Poker knowledge is NOT required. “

Peeky Kane is a prop player at an Arizona casino owned by the Santa Cruz tribe. The book follows her through about one week of the most turbulent time in her life. There is a Casino Robbery, several deaths and she finds out her daughter is heavy into crack cocaine.

This book is a fast read and has a plausible plot. The poker is excellent and only adds to the book, never distracting from the story line. Poker is Peeky’s profession as well as holding a minor addiction over her. When confronted with a very trying time in her life she heads off to the casino to play poker.

As she puts it, “I really shouldn’t be here. My daughter is missing, my house is a disaster, and I don’t have enough money to be playing $15-30 holdem. But the alternative – going home – is too much to bear. I need the rhythm of the cards.
I let the game flow through me. Ace-king, I raise from middle position.
The other players look at me and throw away their hands”

This story could have been told using Peeky in any of the casino positions but making her a Prop player utilizes a lot of the psychology of poker and really adds to the story. She has that inane ability to read people, obtained from her poker background. But even she confesses that she is unable to read her daughter and missed a big read on her boyfriend.

Another great thing about this book is that Peeky doesn’t win all of the time. In fact, she takes at least one devastating loss when her …….. I’ll let you read the book to find out what happens.

Pete Hautman has written over a dozen books and at least two of them use poker in the story line. I am looking forward to reading more of his books as Mr. Hautman is definitely +EV.