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Rat Pack Mysteries #1
Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime
Las Vegas, 1960.
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford are the Kings of Cool---the Rat Pack. Ocean's 11 is their first movie together and they have taken Sin City by storm---filming during the day and cavorting onstage at the Sands Casino at night. It's clear not everyone is charmed, however, when Dean begins receiving anonymous threatening letters.
Eddie Gianelli, also called Eddie G., is a pit boss at the Sands. After twelve years, he's got the whole town wired. But he's still surprised when Joey Bishop drops by his table and invites him to meet with Frank in the Rat Pack's private steam room. Frank asks Eddie to find out who's been sending the threats, as a favor to him and Dean.
Eddie wants to politely decline, but caught between his boss, Jack Entratter's, not-so-subtle nudging and being utterly starstruck by Dino, he agrees to look into it. He gets help from his P.I. best friend and a Jewish torpedo from Brooklyn. A few dead bodies and bruised ribs later, he remembers why he was reluctant. In a city of gamblers, Eddie has become the highest roller of all. The game is murder, and the stakes just may be his own life.
Robert J. Randisi, the man Booklist claims "may be the last of the true pulp writers," takes his readers on a vivid, neon-lit tour of back rooms, bars, and famed gambling dens of the desert mirage that was---and still is---Las Vegas. Broads, blackjack, and bourbon flow. Celebrities, from John F. Kennedy to Angie Dickinson, strut in and out of this amazing first in a series that Rat Pack fans and crime fiction lovers will not want to miss.
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford are the Kings of Cool---the Rat Pack. Ocean's 11 is their first movie together and they have taken Sin City by storm---filming during the day and cavorting onstage at the Sands Casino at night. It's clear not everyone is charmed, however, when Dean begins receiving anonymous threatening letters.
Eddie Gianelli, also called Eddie G., is a pit boss at the Sands. After twelve years, he's got the whole town wired. But he's still surprised when Joey Bishop drops by his table and invites him to meet with Frank in the Rat Pack's private steam room. Frank asks Eddie to find out who's been sending the threats, as a favor to him and Dean.
Eddie wants to politely decline, but caught between his boss, Jack Entratter's, not-so-subtle nudging and being utterly starstruck by Dino, he agrees to look into it. He gets help from his P.I. best friend and a Jewish torpedo from Brooklyn. A few dead bodies and bruised ribs later, he remembers why he was reluctant. In a city of gamblers, Eddie has become the highest roller of all. The game is murder, and the stakes just may be his own life.
Robert J. Randisi, the man Booklist claims "may be the last of the true pulp writers," takes his readers on a vivid, neon-lit tour of back rooms, bars, and famed gambling dens of the desert mirage that was---and still is---Las Vegas. Broads, blackjack, and bourbon flow. Celebrities, from John F. Kennedy to Angie Dickinson, strut in and out of this amazing first in a series that Rat Pack fans and crime fiction lovers will not want to miss.
276 pages, Hardcover
First published October 31, 2006
10 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
About the author
Robert J. Randisi
243 books105 followersRobert Joseph Randisi was a prolific American author, editor, and screenwriter, best known for his work in detective and Western fiction. He wrote over 650 books, including The Gunsmith series under the pen name J.R. Roberts, and edited more than 30 anthologies. A co-founder of Mystery Scene magazine, the American Crime Writers League, and Western Fictioneers, he also established The Private Eye Writers of America and created the Shamus Award. Randisi collaborated on novels with Eileen Davidson and Vince Van Patten, and created memorable characters such as Miles Jacoby, Joe Keough, and The Rat Pack. He received multiple lifetime achievement awards and the John Seigenthaler Humanitarian Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
August 17, 2014
It was with a slight amount of trepidation that I picked up this first in the Rat Pack series. It seemed like the sort of concept that could go horribly wrong. Plus, as a fan of Dean, Frank, and Sammie's music, I worried about how they would be portrayed. Luckily, all my fears were for naught and this noir story managed to hit the right notes. When Dean starts receiving some threatening letters, Frank calls in Eddie G, a pit boss from one of the Las Vegas casinos. Eddie isn't thrilled with the request but can't say no since he's quite a fan of Dean's. What seems like a simple request quickly becomes more complicated when Eddie stumbles across a few dead bodies and has his own life threatened. The author was smart to have Eddie be the main character with the Rat Pack as side characters who show up from time to time. I look forward to reading more in the series.
January 8, 2013
Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime is surely a work of fiction, but it is so full of name-dropping, supposition, and “cameos” with real historical figures and circumstances that it “fits right,” even though you know it isn’t so. I don’t know how Mr. Randisi was certain he wouldn’t be sued for his series of “Rat Pack” mysteries. I can’t imagine the estate of Francis Albert Sinatra could have been too happy with the unquestioned assertions that Frank was an “amici di amici” (I’m not sure I spelled “friend of a friend” or, as it came to be said, “a friend of ours” correctly.). Oh, yeah! I know he dated Judith Campbell, Sam Giancana’s girlfriend and I know that people like Sidney Korshak, the Chicago Outfit’s California-based mouthpiece, did favors for Sinatra. I know also that he introduced JFK to Judith when Frank was briefly part of the Cal-Neva Lodge. But I’m surprised that anyone would simply come out and say matter-of-factly that Sinatra was Giancana’s boy. [By the way, Giancana isn’t the guy that Jerry Lewis stated [in Dean and Me] was the fellow who, Godfather-style, told Tommy Dorsey that it would be his signature or his brains on the contract releasing Sinatra.]
The story is a flashback told from the perspective of Eddie G., Eddie Gianelli, a pit boss at the Sands Hotel and Casino during the days when the Rat Pack held court (the days of filming Ocean’s 11 in this novel). The prologue grabbed me by the nostalgia and yanked. Eddie G. has just spent a quiet moment standing in his old spot watching the blackjack tables prior to the implosion of the old casino. It grabbed me because I’ll never forget my first trips to Las Vegas to cover the Winter Consumer Electronics Show. Many vendors had hospitality suites in the Sands (This was before they built the big Sands Convention Center.) and, at one point, my company held a party at a poolside bungalow behind the Sands. As I was walking through there during those trips (and especially when I met Tom Clancy through MicroProse’s suite in the Penthouse of the Sands), I kept thinking of Martin and Lewis movies and, of course, imagining the Rat Pack appearing at any moment. It was like I was in a time-warp so that I was walking the casino floor in the 1950s, but I was covering the latest technology in the ‘80s and ‘90s. That was one way it grabbed me. The other way had to do with the implosion itself. I was covering a Comdex (I think) and I walked past the Sands. It had just closed but there was all sorts of detritus and destruction that looked like a war had been fought outside the main entrance. Just before the implosion, Tim Burton had used the then-closed Sands facility for one of the big scenes in Mars Attacks. I couldn’t get the Mars Attacks location with the closed casino out of my mind when the prologue began.
And, there was one other way the prologue (and epilogue) grabbed me. One of the characters wishing Eddie G. the best was none other than Sheldon Adelson, #14 among Forbes list of billionaires in the world, still CEO of the Sands, and big, big donor to conservative political action committees. So, even though I knew that the events in the novel weren’t “historical,” there were so many anchors to reality (and especially “my” reality) that I was hooked from the beginning.
But, if you were looking for a review of Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime, you’re probably losing patience with me. What’s the mystery like? The mystery itself is pretty obvious. There is adequate foreshadowing at the beginning and any reader who asks herself or himself the basic question about a person who has something to gain or follows the first lesson of crime investigation will know from very early on who the perpetrator is. That being said, however, there is a complex and irresistible “red herring” of a plotline to keep you wondering if your first inclination was correct. And, there is plenty of reason to distrust the very people that Eddie brings in to help him solve the case.
Of course, you’re probably wondering why a “pit boss” would have been brought in to solve a case. There were two reasons and both seemed plausible to me: connection and discretion. The former ties to the fact that Eddie G. was completely wired in the Las Vegas community and knew everybody involved in the world of the strip. The latter would have been desired because Sinatra wouldn’t have wanted the authorities brought into a situation because of his alleged ties to organized crime. Remember, even as late as 1966, corporations were not allowed to own casinos (much less “pension funds”) and Howard Hughes was buying up as much of Las Vegas as he could.
So, Eddie G. is requested by Sinatra to look into some death threats that Dean Martin has received. Even though he isn’t a detective, Eddie agrees to help as a favor (to both Sinatra and then manager/impresario of the Sands, Jack (Smilin’ Jack) Entratter (I well remember seeing billboards with Jack Entratter Presents on them in photographs and film.). Then, things get a bit wild. Even though he isn’t really a detective, Eddie ends up discovering bodies and, of course, immediately becoming a suspect. Even though he isn’t a hard-nosed private dick, he gets the requisite beat-down and warn-off. There are even attempts on his life.
He hires his buddy to help him, but you begin to wonder about how effective or how honest his buddy is. There is even another wrinkle about an investigative contractor that he hires. At times, the book takes on the complexity of the caper in “Ocean’s 11.” In short,
Everbody Kills Somebody Sometime is a light, intriguing, nostalgic mystery that even deals with JFK’s later annoyance with Peter Lawford. It’s more than a mystery; it’s historical fiction. That is, what little history is there rings true—even though Randisi is not trying to tie the plot to larger historical events. What is there is enough—enough that I’ll be reading the entire series.
The story is a flashback told from the perspective of Eddie G., Eddie Gianelli, a pit boss at the Sands Hotel and Casino during the days when the Rat Pack held court (the days of filming Ocean’s 11 in this novel). The prologue grabbed me by the nostalgia and yanked. Eddie G. has just spent a quiet moment standing in his old spot watching the blackjack tables prior to the implosion of the old casino. It grabbed me because I’ll never forget my first trips to Las Vegas to cover the Winter Consumer Electronics Show. Many vendors had hospitality suites in the Sands (This was before they built the big Sands Convention Center.) and, at one point, my company held a party at a poolside bungalow behind the Sands. As I was walking through there during those trips (and especially when I met Tom Clancy through MicroProse’s suite in the Penthouse of the Sands), I kept thinking of Martin and Lewis movies and, of course, imagining the Rat Pack appearing at any moment. It was like I was in a time-warp so that I was walking the casino floor in the 1950s, but I was covering the latest technology in the ‘80s and ‘90s. That was one way it grabbed me. The other way had to do with the implosion itself. I was covering a Comdex (I think) and I walked past the Sands. It had just closed but there was all sorts of detritus and destruction that looked like a war had been fought outside the main entrance. Just before the implosion, Tim Burton had used the then-closed Sands facility for one of the big scenes in Mars Attacks. I couldn’t get the Mars Attacks location with the closed casino out of my mind when the prologue began.
And, there was one other way the prologue (and epilogue) grabbed me. One of the characters wishing Eddie G. the best was none other than Sheldon Adelson, #14 among Forbes list of billionaires in the world, still CEO of the Sands, and big, big donor to conservative political action committees. So, even though I knew that the events in the novel weren’t “historical,” there were so many anchors to reality (and especially “my” reality) that I was hooked from the beginning.
But, if you were looking for a review of Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime, you’re probably losing patience with me. What’s the mystery like? The mystery itself is pretty obvious. There is adequate foreshadowing at the beginning and any reader who asks herself or himself the basic question about a person who has something to gain or follows the first lesson of crime investigation will know from very early on who the perpetrator is. That being said, however, there is a complex and irresistible “red herring” of a plotline to keep you wondering if your first inclination was correct. And, there is plenty of reason to distrust the very people that Eddie brings in to help him solve the case.
Of course, you’re probably wondering why a “pit boss” would have been brought in to solve a case. There were two reasons and both seemed plausible to me: connection and discretion. The former ties to the fact that Eddie G. was completely wired in the Las Vegas community and knew everybody involved in the world of the strip. The latter would have been desired because Sinatra wouldn’t have wanted the authorities brought into a situation because of his alleged ties to organized crime. Remember, even as late as 1966, corporations were not allowed to own casinos (much less “pension funds”) and Howard Hughes was buying up as much of Las Vegas as he could.
So, Eddie G. is requested by Sinatra to look into some death threats that Dean Martin has received. Even though he isn’t a detective, Eddie agrees to help as a favor (to both Sinatra and then manager/impresario of the Sands, Jack (Smilin’ Jack) Entratter (I well remember seeing billboards with Jack Entratter Presents on them in photographs and film.). Then, things get a bit wild. Even though he isn’t really a detective, Eddie ends up discovering bodies and, of course, immediately becoming a suspect. Even though he isn’t a hard-nosed private dick, he gets the requisite beat-down and warn-off. There are even attempts on his life.
He hires his buddy to help him, but you begin to wonder about how effective or how honest his buddy is. There is even another wrinkle about an investigative contractor that he hires. At times, the book takes on the complexity of the caper in “Ocean’s 11.” In short,
Everbody Kills Somebody Sometime is a light, intriguing, nostalgic mystery that even deals with JFK’s later annoyance with Peter Lawford. It’s more than a mystery; it’s historical fiction. That is, what little history is there rings true—even though Randisi is not trying to tie the plot to larger historical events. What is there is enough—enough that I’ll be reading the entire series.
September 16, 2014
January 1960 – the Rat Pack is simultaneously filming Oceans 11 while performing at the legendary Sands in Las Vegas. Although reliable pit boss and Brooklyn transplant Eddie Gianelli is a big fan, when he is approached by Joey Bishop, he turns down the opportunity to meet Frank Sinatra, who needs a “favor.” Despite his initial reluctance, Eddie is strong armed by his boss, casino manager Jack Entratter, into agreeing to help Sinatra, who wants someone to figure out who is sending threatening letters to his buddy Dean Martin. After all, Eddie knows Vegas better than anyone – and he knows how to keep a low profile.
This is the first in Randisi’s Rat Pack mystery series and my favorite (I’ve read 2 others out of order). A must read for any Rat Pack fan, who will enjoy descriptions of the guys’ antics. One of the things I enjoyed the most about the story is that the city and the casinos serve more as a primary character than they do a mere setting. Thanks to Randisi’s colorful descriptions, it’s so easy to visualize just how cool the Sands must have been at the time, not to mention how smooth the members of the Pack were. The author is clearly a fan of the gang and the town. This was a quick read, probably because the story and the setting so easily kept my interest. Oh, to remember the “good old days”. . .
This is the first in Randisi’s Rat Pack mystery series and my favorite (I’ve read 2 others out of order). A must read for any Rat Pack fan, who will enjoy descriptions of the guys’ antics. One of the things I enjoyed the most about the story is that the city and the casinos serve more as a primary character than they do a mere setting. Thanks to Randisi’s colorful descriptions, it’s so easy to visualize just how cool the Sands must have been at the time, not to mention how smooth the members of the Pack were. The author is clearly a fan of the gang and the town. This was a quick read, probably because the story and the setting so easily kept my interest. Oh, to remember the “good old days”. . .
July 29, 2010
Loved this book and the whole "idea" of it. Even though I was just a kid, a pretty young one at that, when this story takes place I can still remember when EVERYONE had a "smoke", women were "dames" and Frank, Dean & the boys were about the coolest cats on the planet! Randisi nails the times and he brings these legends back to life. He also has created a great character in Eddie G! The following books in this series are every bit as entertaining as this one, maybe more so! The names that turn up in the stories are almost a history lesson! Pick one of these up....pally!
July 21, 2010
Las Vegas, 1960. A pit boss at the Sands casino, Eddie Gianelli, is asked by Frank Sinatra himself to look into mysterious death threats that Dean Martin has been getting as they film "Ocean's 11" in the city. Trying to uncover the source of the threats, Eddie asks some shady characters for help and stumbles upon a dead woman. A couple more dead bodies, an assassination attempt, and a beat-down later, Eddie’s mad enough to keep digging.
This is a rather slipshod novel, poorly edited – littered with typos for one, and much more embarrassingly, two characters meet for the first time twice, within fifty pages. The main character is a bit of a cipher, relying heavily on supporting players to make headway in his task, and cannot be said to have solved the case, much less overcome the bad guy. But it's clearly a labor of love, an homage to the Rat Pack, and had me in its spell, cheesy and charming at the same time, like Sinatra and Martin themselves.
This is a rather slipshod novel, poorly edited – littered with typos for one, and much more embarrassingly, two characters meet for the first time twice, within fifty pages. The main character is a bit of a cipher, relying heavily on supporting players to make headway in his task, and cannot be said to have solved the case, much less overcome the bad guy. But it's clearly a labor of love, an homage to the Rat Pack, and had me in its spell, cheesy and charming at the same time, like Sinatra and Martin themselves.
April 23, 2018
THE has written a very unusual mystery which takes place in Law Vegas. If you knew Was Vegas in the late 50's until the early 80's then you would know how much control the mind has in Law Vegas. There were no problems because everyone was getting rich. During this time grandfather Ray Pack had a very distinctive relationship with the people in both sides. This novel is a maybe so it may be no, but it still remains an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
January 1, 2014
This was a fun-filled read for someone who is a fan of the "Rat Pack", and enjoys a good mystery. Brought back such great memories, especially since as reading you have a clear picture of Dean, Frank and the rest. Looks forward to checking out the other "Rat Pack" mysteries.
March 19, 2025
When I was a kid the Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Dean Marin, etc.) were considered the coolest of the cool.
Their music filled the airwaves, their films played to packed cinemas, and the gossip about them was a godsend for newspapers and magazine.
My personal favourite was Dean Martin and six decades later I still listen to his songs.
So, a book about them, brought back many memories, even if they have a backdrop of gloomy Dublin, Ireland, rather than sun-drenched Las Vegas.
One-time CPA Eddie Gianelli (aka Eddie G.) moved to Vegas and, though diligent work, because a pit boss at the Sands Casino. He's a sociable sort and knows just about everyone, even if its only to wave to.
He's not immune to the charms of the rich and famous and when he's asked (or ordered!) to give Dean Martin a hand with a problem he gets to work.
It's 1960, Dean has been receiving threatening letters and would like them stopped.
What seems like a puzzle Eddie won't have a chance of solving rapidly turns dangerous as Eddie is assaulted and ordered to back off.
Although the cover stresses the Rat Pack they actually are mainly background characters (along with Angie Dickinson, JFK and many others).
“Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime” turns out to have one of the best red herrings I have come across in a long time.
The idea to top and tail the story with an emotional Eddie watching the demolition of the Sands in 1996 was an inspired decision.
A very enjoyable read.
4 Stars.
Their music filled the airwaves, their films played to packed cinemas, and the gossip about them was a godsend for newspapers and magazine.
My personal favourite was Dean Martin and six decades later I still listen to his songs.
So, a book about them, brought back many memories, even if they have a backdrop of gloomy Dublin, Ireland, rather than sun-drenched Las Vegas.
One-time CPA Eddie Gianelli (aka Eddie G.) moved to Vegas and, though diligent work, because a pit boss at the Sands Casino. He's a sociable sort and knows just about everyone, even if its only to wave to.
He's not immune to the charms of the rich and famous and when he's asked (or ordered!) to give Dean Martin a hand with a problem he gets to work.
It's 1960, Dean has been receiving threatening letters and would like them stopped.
What seems like a puzzle Eddie won't have a chance of solving rapidly turns dangerous as Eddie is assaulted and ordered to back off.
Although the cover stresses the Rat Pack they actually are mainly background characters (along with Angie Dickinson, JFK and many others).
“Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime” turns out to have one of the best red herrings I have come across in a long time.
The idea to top and tail the story with an emotional Eddie watching the demolition of the Sands in 1996 was an inspired decision.
A very enjoyable read.
4 Stars.
October 14, 2020
Simply put, I loved reading EVERYBODY KILLS SOMEBODY SOMETIME. It’s the first novel in Robert Randisi’s “Rat Pack” series, which now includes 12 books, and it shows why Randisi is one of the grandmasters of mystery, crime and action/adventure novels, in the same league as writers like Lawrence Block and Donald Westlake. I’m a fan of both Randisi and the real group of celebrity friends called the “Rat Pack” – Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. So, for me, Randisi’s Rat Pack novels are doubly enjoyable and great fun to read. He clearly did a lot of research on the Pack members and what Las Vegas was like in the Sixties. He captures their personalities and coolness perfectly. And, in EVERYBODY KILLS SOMEBODY SOMETIME, which is set during the filming of the Pack’s famed 1960 movie OCEAN’S 11, he paints a vivid picture of what Vegas was like at that time. You can jump into Randisi’s Rat Pack series at any point and not be lost. But be sure to read this first one. It’s great.
March 29, 2023
I stumbled across a mention of this book on another site and took a look at it. It looked interesting. A mystery involving Sinatra's Rat Pack in 1960 Las Vegas? Sure. Like many other readers on this page I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. No one is ever going to take it for great literature - or even great mystery writing - but it's way ahead of a lot of other "noirish" authors out there. Our hero is Edddie "Eddie G." Gianelli, a pit boss at the Sands hotel. The book begins with Eddie watching the 1996 demolition of the Sands Hotel, where he worked for most of his life. Then he flashes back to 1960 when the Rat Pack was in town filming Ocean's 11, and he ended up doing a "favor" for Frank Sinatra that almost got him killed. The mystery isn't a bad one. A few twists and turns. But it's the ambience that Randisi creates that is what grabbed me - with lots of name dropping that sent me off to Google. I was also surprised to find there are a lot more books in the series, so I may just have to try the next one.
August 3, 2021
A true contradiction in terms, this book is a fast, breezy historical mystery. While shooting "Ocean's Eleven " in Las Vegas in early 1960, Frank Sinatra enlists Eddie Gianelli, a pit boss at the Sands, to quietly find out who has been sending threatening letters to Dean Martin. Eddie G. acts as our tour guide to the glamour of Vegas and the charisma of the Rat Pack. Each of is members (and just about every star of the film) is realistically depicted here. Even so, old pro Randisi never loses sight of his main characters, Eddie and his private eye pal Danny Bardini, who make an excellent pair of sleuths. With so much going for it I almost regret pointing out that the mystery at hand is nothing special. That does not matter here; the time, the place and the ambiance are all well done. This is the first of a series and I look forward to seeing how much mileage Randisi gets out of these characters and setting.
April 9, 2023
The first book in "The Rat Pack Mysteries".
I first read this about 15 years ago, and decided I wanted to start re-reading the series.
I'm glad I did!
1960 Las Vegas. Eddie Gianelli, known as Eddie G,is a Pit Boss at The Sands.
The Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford) are in town, filming Ocean's 11.
Someone is sending Dean anonymous threatening letters.
Eddie finds himself trying to figure out who it is....soon, dead bodies start turning up...
This is a wonderful look back at a magical time.
Highly recommended, if you are a fan of The Rat Pack, the early 1960s, and fast moving Mysteries.
I first read this about 15 years ago, and decided I wanted to start re-reading the series.
I'm glad I did!
1960 Las Vegas. Eddie Gianelli, known as Eddie G,is a Pit Boss at The Sands.
The Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford) are in town, filming Ocean's 11.
Someone is sending Dean anonymous threatening letters.
Eddie finds himself trying to figure out who it is....soon, dead bodies start turning up...
This is a wonderful look back at a magical time.
Highly recommended, if you are a fan of The Rat Pack, the early 1960s, and fast moving Mysteries.
October 11, 2025
I pick this book up on a whim, not my typical read, but who does love the Rat Pack, golden age of Vegas and some murder. I tore through this book, became obsessed with Las Vegas in the 1960’s. The mystery that Eddie is trying to solve just keeps unraveling and gets wilder and wilder with each turn of the page. The celebrity Cameos in this book is jammed packed. The only downsides I had were the Rat Pack are more back ground characters and the ending felt rushed. But maybe that’s just how mysteries are.
May 22, 2020
This is the first in the Rat Pack Series. I found this in the library and was drawn by the cover. It recalls the heydays of the Rat Pack in Vegas and is fun from the beginning to the end. Eddie G and Jerry are two great characters who go about helping out their famous friends. I have read all of these and have emailed the author who is currently writing another one! Go Randisi!!
August 19, 2017
I am surprised that I picked up this book since I'm not a huge Rat Pack fan, but I'm very pleased now that I did. The book is a quick read. Randisi keeps you interested all the way through and the ending was a surprise.
April 15, 2019
What a treat! Being of the Rat Pack generation, I thoroughly enjoyed this fictionalized account of what Vegas and they might have been like.
March 23, 2020
The mystery is pretty clunky, but the book captures the vibe of 60's Las Vegas.
Eddie is not the greatest detective, he seems to need a lot of help and that might be due to the fact that he spends so much of the book describing the boobs of every female character he spends more than five seconds with.
Though, he does seem to know every good place to get breakfast in Vegas, and as someone who loves diner breakfasts, I'll forgive him.
Fun, time waster that has me interested in trying some more of the series.
Eddie is not the greatest detective, he seems to need a lot of help and that might be due to the fact that he spends so much of the book describing the boobs of every female character he spends more than five seconds with.
Though, he does seem to know every good place to get breakfast in Vegas, and as someone who loves diner breakfasts, I'll forgive him.
Fun, time waster that has me interested in trying some more of the series.
January 9, 2021
I think I've found myself a new book series!
October 20, 2022
Very enjoyable.
September 19, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
definitely a fun read. found it at my local library and i’m glad i picked it up.
definitely a fun read. found it at my local library and i’m glad i picked it up.
December 19, 2013
"Everybody kills somebody sometimes" tells the story of Eddie Gianelli, a young man that knows everyone in town who gets the opportunity to help a famous group of singers(Rat Pack). The book is set in the 1960's Vegas, a time where everyone is parting like there's no tomorrow. Wanting nothing more than to meet his favorite singers in the group,Dean Martin, his ego stands in the way of knowing it could be dangerous if he had accept the offer that Frank Sinatra(the leader of the group) had given him. Eddie must find out who is giving the death letters to Dean. He did everything he possibly could to try to catch the person:Knowing that it would be life threatening, wanting nothing more than to help out his idol, and even witnessing peoples death. The book is to show how determined he is, which turns into a bunch of troubles.
The most memorable moment of the book for me was knowing how much trouble he was in when he had accepted the offer and still determined and unfazed by the threat that was coming at him. A few days after he had accept the offer he was beaten and almost killed by two people that was in a gang. Thankfully he was saved by his girlfriend who works at a coffee shop. wanting to call the police but knowing how much trouble he would cost Dean martin, he has to decide to either to risk his life and find the mystery person or just give up and disappointing everyone that counted on him to get this job done.
ultimately the story of Eddie G trying to figure out who is sending the threatening letters to the famous sing Dean, hoping to find the mystery person, wondering why would someone send those letters, and denying that this job would be a threat to his own safety. It all adds up to a tale of human dedications, an example for all humans which made us realize that as long as you try anything is possible. Everybody kills somebody sometimes tells a very well written story which told us that even if you;re trying to do the right thing sometimes its the best to just stay out of it.
I would recommend this book to those people who lives life adventurously and seeks action. This book is about the 60's in Vegas which contains some of the most famous people in that time which includes Dean Marin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis and peter Lawford AKA the Rat pack. During the day they are performing on stage in a casino called Sands, but when Dean started to get mystery letters that's when Frank asked Eddie for a favor. Eddie is a pit boss at the Sands, he knows everyone in town because he has been living there for 12 years. Caught between his bosses he was forced to accept the job, and now he is seeking to find the mystery person and on the way he finds danger and love, doing what ever it takes to catch the mystery person. So if you are interested in Romance and Action/adventurously books then this book is the perfect book for you to enjoy.
The most memorable moment of the book for me was knowing how much trouble he was in when he had accepted the offer and still determined and unfazed by the threat that was coming at him. A few days after he had accept the offer he was beaten and almost killed by two people that was in a gang. Thankfully he was saved by his girlfriend who works at a coffee shop. wanting to call the police but knowing how much trouble he would cost Dean martin, he has to decide to either to risk his life and find the mystery person or just give up and disappointing everyone that counted on him to get this job done.
ultimately the story of Eddie G trying to figure out who is sending the threatening letters to the famous sing Dean, hoping to find the mystery person, wondering why would someone send those letters, and denying that this job would be a threat to his own safety. It all adds up to a tale of human dedications, an example for all humans which made us realize that as long as you try anything is possible. Everybody kills somebody sometimes tells a very well written story which told us that even if you;re trying to do the right thing sometimes its the best to just stay out of it.
I would recommend this book to those people who lives life adventurously and seeks action. This book is about the 60's in Vegas which contains some of the most famous people in that time which includes Dean Marin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis and peter Lawford AKA the Rat pack. During the day they are performing on stage in a casino called Sands, but when Dean started to get mystery letters that's when Frank asked Eddie for a favor. Eddie is a pit boss at the Sands, he knows everyone in town because he has been living there for 12 years. Caught between his bosses he was forced to accept the job, and now he is seeking to find the mystery person and on the way he finds danger and love, doing what ever it takes to catch the mystery person. So if you are interested in Romance and Action/adventurously books then this book is the perfect book for you to enjoy.
March 25, 2010
Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime. A book about the Rat Pack, but not. It's set in Las Vegas in the 1960s (when the mob controlled a majority of the city)... someone has been sending Dean Martin threatening letters and it's got Frank Sinatra a little worried. He asks a local pit boss for his help in finding out who. The pit boss, Eddie G, knows almost everyone and everything going on in Vegas.
While the story seems like it'd be a good one, I was a bit disappointed in the overall book. The author definitely enjoys his language and the book was rather degrading to women (which may have been how it was in the 60s, I don't know - but still...). That alone would have caused me to only rate the book with one star, but there was enough intrigue and the degrading comments weren't TOO predominate, so it gets two stars. I wouldn't really recommend the book unless someone really likes the Rat Pack (though they're not IN the book all that often) but I know I won't be reading it again.
While the story seems like it'd be a good one, I was a bit disappointed in the overall book. The author definitely enjoys his language and the book was rather degrading to women (which may have been how it was in the 60s, I don't know - but still...). That alone would have caused me to only rate the book with one star, but there was enough intrigue and the degrading comments weren't TOO predominate, so it gets two stars. I wouldn't really recommend the book unless someone really likes the Rat Pack (though they're not IN the book all that often) but I know I won't be reading it again.
March 30, 2010
This is the first book in the Rat Pack Mysteries series. First the positives: I enjoyed learning how Eddie first met the guys, and Jerry. RJR once again displays his knack for setting a scene and re-creating the glory days of Vegas. I liked the portrayal of Dean Martin, and Eddie's insights into the workings/dynamics of the Summit/Clan/Rat Pack. And, at under 300 pages, it was another quick read.
The negatives: Although there's much more of the Rat Pack in this one, I found that I didn't enjoy this book as much as You're Nobody Til Somebody Kills You. I still liked it, but this one's a bit coarser and the exposition's more prevalant and a bit unwieldy at times. And, you know, I didn't think the story was as interesting - I got that Eddie was in over his head, but for my money, our hero spent much too much time without a clue about what was going on.
If one wanted to start reading this series, I'd recommend picking up a later book first, and then coming back to this title.
The negatives: Although there's much more of the Rat Pack in this one, I found that I didn't enjoy this book as much as You're Nobody Til Somebody Kills You. I still liked it, but this one's a bit coarser and the exposition's more prevalant and a bit unwieldy at times. And, you know, I didn't think the story was as interesting - I got that Eddie was in over his head, but for my money, our hero spent much too much time without a clue about what was going on.
If one wanted to start reading this series, I'd recommend picking up a later book first, and then coming back to this title.
January 7, 2015
I grew up listening to the Rat Pack and they will always be apart of my life. When I seen the fourth book sitting on the shelf at the Library where I worked, I needed to get the first one. Didn't know what was going to come of this, but i'm glad I read it. What a fabulous read, all the facts about those guys were true to the form. Even loved how the author used old terms like doll, clyde, broad and all the well known others.
Its begins with Eddie G sitting around and waiting for them to implode the Sands. Back in the day he was the Pit Boss for that casino. When they imploded it, it brought back found memories of what used to be. And now lets travel back to a time when JFK was thinking about running for President, Dean Martin was known as the dago and ol' blue eyes himself was the king of cool.
Someone has been sending Dean Martin death threats and Frank Sinatra hires Eddie to help them find out who. A couple of broads end up dead and they even try to kill Eddie.
This had me guessing until the very end. Loved it.
Its begins with Eddie G sitting around and waiting for them to implode the Sands. Back in the day he was the Pit Boss for that casino. When they imploded it, it brought back found memories of what used to be. And now lets travel back to a time when JFK was thinking about running for President, Dean Martin was known as the dago and ol' blue eyes himself was the king of cool.
Someone has been sending Dean Martin death threats and Frank Sinatra hires Eddie to help them find out who. A couple of broads end up dead and they even try to kill Eddie.
This had me guessing until the very end. Loved it.
November 11, 2011
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 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.
September 3, 2014
This is book one in a series featuring Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack. This book takes place in Vegas in the 60's. It was a fast read and an entertaining one. There are lots of movie stars wandering in and out, but the main character is a casino pit boss simply trying to solve a mystery. With the mob also wandering into the plot, there's plenty of action. While few people under 35 will know who these characters are, I loved the book and cannot wait to read the next in the series.
I read Randisi's series set in St. Louis and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I must enjoy his writing style. If you enjoy light mysteries, this might interest you.
I read Randisi's series set in St. Louis and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I must enjoy his writing style. If you enjoy light mysteries, this might interest you.
January 7, 2015
Well, here's a pleasant surprise. The idea of a mystery featuring The Rat Pack seems like it would be gimmicky and contrived, but EKSK turns out to be a decent little romp, with The Rat Pack presented as real people, not caricatures. It also helps that they're supporting players who are not front and center in the main plot, while still being integral to the story. Accurately sexist and male-centric (reflecting the setting and era); if you can go with that, and recognize that Randisi is writing about a different code of behavior and a different time, you should enjoy this. Three-and-a-half stars, really, but still good.
March 4, 2008
randomly saw this book and the title caught my interest...the author takes some facts pertaining to the rat pack and creates a story about a supposed occurrence to them while filming 'ocean's eleven' in vegas. it was a quick read and pretty entertaining. most of the guys talked like mobsters and i could hear their voices in my head. heehee. "whaddya mean ya could hear their voices in ya head?" heehee. i really had no idea that frank sinatra had mob ties or that because of those ties, jfk came to be president. interesting. maybe those mob ties went wrong and that's why he was assassinated?
July 11, 2014
First in the Rat Pack series. Introduced all the main characters in the series and we got a good look at the basics. Randisi has a good reputation for characters and plots. I recently read the latest in this series and now will look for more. The concept is that Eddie G. works at the Sands as a pit boss. The 60's see the big names in shows all over Las Vegas and many of the hotels/casinos still have ties to the crime families. Each story centers on some action with a Hollywood celeb and a tie in to The Rat Pack of Sinatra and his cronies.
August 23, 2014
This story is located in Las Vegas at the Sands Hotel. Eddie Gianelli, along with his friend Danny Bardini a PI private detective., have to find out who threaten Dean Martin with letters at his apartment. Frank Sinatra asked Eddie to find out who is sending the threats and why? That is how Eddie encounter himself with two mobs, two dead showgirls and a murderer. He also meets the Rat Pack members like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford who are filming Ocean's 11 with wonderful celebrities of the time 1960.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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