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The Kings of Vegas: A Vegas Thriller of Mob Intrigue Family Betrayal and a Sister Who Won't Fold
Succession
in Las Vegas! From bestselling writing duo Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman, a sexy and suspense-packed thriller about the prodigal daughter of a Las Vegas casino empire who returns to take over her family business, only to discover that she’s up against the Mob, the Feds, and her own brothers.
When Josie King left Las Vegas in the 90s, she never looked back. The daughter of gambling mogul Roy King, spirited math whiz Josie grew up on the casino floor but deliberately turned away from the family business. She’s been living a quiet life in LA as an accountant and a single mom when she finds herself summoned back to Sin City. Now, fifteen years later, her father has died unexpectedly, and Josie’s siblings are already gathered for the reading of his will...only to discover that in order to inherit they must spend three years working together at the notorious family casino, The Jackpot.
Josie’s pride won’t let her walk away from the family empire again, so she agrees to take charge of the casino’s finances. She quickly discovers that while Roy King was once the most powerful man in Vegas, times have changed. These days, everyone has a piece of the Josie’s brothers, the FBI, the local mobsters, even the sexy rival casino owner who’s more than a friend. Las Vegas is more dangerous than ever, but Josie knows that to save the family business she’ll have to wade in deeper…
Stacked with sex, crime, sibling rivalry, and mountains of cash, The Kings of Vegas is an electrifying thriller with a tough and irresistible heroine at the center of the action.
When Josie King left Las Vegas in the 90s, she never looked back. The daughter of gambling mogul Roy King, spirited math whiz Josie grew up on the casino floor but deliberately turned away from the family business. She’s been living a quiet life in LA as an accountant and a single mom when she finds herself summoned back to Sin City. Now, fifteen years later, her father has died unexpectedly, and Josie’s siblings are already gathered for the reading of his will...only to discover that in order to inherit they must spend three years working together at the notorious family casino, The Jackpot.
Josie’s pride won’t let her walk away from the family empire again, so she agrees to take charge of the casino’s finances. She quickly discovers that while Roy King was once the most powerful man in Vegas, times have changed. These days, everyone has a piece of the Josie’s brothers, the FBI, the local mobsters, even the sexy rival casino owner who’s more than a friend. Las Vegas is more dangerous than ever, but Josie knows that to save the family business she’ll have to wade in deeper…
Stacked with sex, crime, sibling rivalry, and mountains of cash, The Kings of Vegas is an electrifying thriller with a tough and irresistible heroine at the center of the action.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published June 30, 2026
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June 30, 2026
Josie King is the daughter of the famous Roy King, owner of The Jackpot casino. Although she spent half of her life in Las Vegas, she has no desire to return, enjoying her quiet life in California. However, after her dad's death, she finds herself back in Sin City, forced to work at the family casino to earn her inheritance. As she gets deeper into the finances of the casino, Josie realizes something isn't adding up - literally and figuratively. Someone else clearly has a hand in The Jackpot, and it isn't for good intentions. Someone is skimming millions off the profits, but who and where is it going? Whoever it is doesn't want Josie to find out, and they will do anything to keep their secret.
I didn't love this one. It didn't feel too much like a thriller to me until the very end of the book. Most of the story felt a little too background-heavy, setting the stage for a big twist that didn't come. I thought the premise was great, but something fell flat for me. I would have loved more tension between Josie and the "bad guy" (to not give away the plot point) to really drive home how he would do anything to keep her out of the business. For a family that claims family is everything, they sure do love to screw each other over. It was a relatively quick read, but I can't highly recommend it. Definitely give it a try if this is your kind of book, but it clearly wasn't made for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Karen Mack for a copy of this book. I received this ARC for free and am leaving a review voluntarily.
I didn't love this one. It didn't feel too much like a thriller to me until the very end of the book. Most of the story felt a little too background-heavy, setting the stage for a big twist that didn't come. I thought the premise was great, but something fell flat for me. I would have loved more tension between Josie and the "bad guy" (to not give away the plot point) to really drive home how he would do anything to keep her out of the business. For a family that claims family is everything, they sure do love to screw each other over. It was a relatively quick read, but I can't highly recommend it. Definitely give it a try if this is your kind of book, but it clearly wasn't made for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Karen Mack for a copy of this book. I received this ARC for free and am leaving a review voluntarily.
July 6, 2026
Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC of the audiobook. I really didn't like the story. At first, it grabbed my attention, but then I was lost in the middle. The story did not feel like a thriller until the end of the story.
July 2, 2026
Loved the setting of the casino, and all that was involved with that. Lots of action, and I wouldn't mess with Josie!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5⭐️
Some families pass down recipes or heirlooms. The Kings passed down casinos, corruption, emotional damage, and enough dysfunction to make Thanksgiving dinner feel like a hostage negotiation.
Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman’s The Kings of Vegas pulls readers straight into the glittering chaos of Las Vegas, where money talks, loyalty is conditional, and everybody seems one bad decision away from either prison or a body bag. William Morrow, thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.
This book honestly felt like old-school Vegas drama wrapped in family betrayal, mob ties, dirty money, and sibling warfare with a side of expensive whiskey and questionable life choices. Think Succession wandered into a casino at 2 a.m. and decided to start threatening people.
Josie King absolutely carried this story for me. She’s sharp, stubborn, emotionally bruised, and trying so hard to convince herself she escaped the King family legacy while simultaneously getting dragged right back into it. The forensic accounting angle gave the story a different edge than your typical mob thriller, and watching Josie untangle financial chaos while dealing with her brothers, the casino, the FBI, and the Vegas underworld kept me invested even when the family dynamics made me want to scream into my coffee.
And honestly? The siblings were a mess. Not cute quirky mess. Actual “someone needs therapy and possibly a federal investigation” mess. But weirdly… that worked for the atmosphere of the story. The tension between Sam, Josie, and the rest of the family constantly felt like a ticking time bomb sitting underneath all the casino glamour.
That said, I’m not going to pretend this book was perfect. Some of the characters felt emotionally distant, and there were moments where I wanted more depth and stronger emotional payoff. A few scenes leaned a little over-the-top Vegas cliché, and some of the dialogue made me raise an eyebrow hard enough to sprain something. But somehow the sheer chaos of it all kept me flipping pages anyway.
“You are either at the table or on the menu.”
Honestly? That line pretty much sums up the entire vibe of this book.
If you love casino thrillers, crime family drama, morally gray characters, old-school mob energy, inheritance wars, forensic accounting twists, and stories where everybody is hiding something shady behind expensive suits and neon lights, this one will probably work for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
This wasn’t my favorite thriller of the year, but it was definitely entertaining in that dramatic “watching rich people self-destruct in Vegas” kind of way. And honestly, sometimes that’s exactly the reading mood.
Also… am I the only one weirdly obsessed with books set behind the scenes of casinos? Because fictional Vegas is always ten times messier than real Vegas and I eat it up every single time.
#TheKingsOfVegas #KarenMack #JenniferKaufman #VegasThriller #CrimeThriller #MobDrama #CasinoFiction #BookReview #NetGalley #WilliamMorrow #ThrillerBooks #SuspenseReads #Bookstagram #BooksCoffeeBrews #CurrentlyReading #MysteryThriller #FamilyDrama #ForensicAccounting #LasVegasBooks #ARCReview #ThrillerRead
Some families pass down recipes or heirlooms. The Kings passed down casinos, corruption, emotional damage, and enough dysfunction to make Thanksgiving dinner feel like a hostage negotiation.
Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman’s The Kings of Vegas pulls readers straight into the glittering chaos of Las Vegas, where money talks, loyalty is conditional, and everybody seems one bad decision away from either prison or a body bag. William Morrow, thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.
This book honestly felt like old-school Vegas drama wrapped in family betrayal, mob ties, dirty money, and sibling warfare with a side of expensive whiskey and questionable life choices. Think Succession wandered into a casino at 2 a.m. and decided to start threatening people.
Josie King absolutely carried this story for me. She’s sharp, stubborn, emotionally bruised, and trying so hard to convince herself she escaped the King family legacy while simultaneously getting dragged right back into it. The forensic accounting angle gave the story a different edge than your typical mob thriller, and watching Josie untangle financial chaos while dealing with her brothers, the casino, the FBI, and the Vegas underworld kept me invested even when the family dynamics made me want to scream into my coffee.
And honestly? The siblings were a mess. Not cute quirky mess. Actual “someone needs therapy and possibly a federal investigation” mess. But weirdly… that worked for the atmosphere of the story. The tension between Sam, Josie, and the rest of the family constantly felt like a ticking time bomb sitting underneath all the casino glamour.
That said, I’m not going to pretend this book was perfect. Some of the characters felt emotionally distant, and there were moments where I wanted more depth and stronger emotional payoff. A few scenes leaned a little over-the-top Vegas cliché, and some of the dialogue made me raise an eyebrow hard enough to sprain something. But somehow the sheer chaos of it all kept me flipping pages anyway.
“You are either at the table or on the menu.”
Honestly? That line pretty much sums up the entire vibe of this book.
If you love casino thrillers, crime family drama, morally gray characters, old-school mob energy, inheritance wars, forensic accounting twists, and stories where everybody is hiding something shady behind expensive suits and neon lights, this one will probably work for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
This wasn’t my favorite thriller of the year, but it was definitely entertaining in that dramatic “watching rich people self-destruct in Vegas” kind of way. And honestly, sometimes that’s exactly the reading mood.
Also… am I the only one weirdly obsessed with books set behind the scenes of casinos? Because fictional Vegas is always ten times messier than real Vegas and I eat it up every single time.
#TheKingsOfVegas #KarenMack #JenniferKaufman #VegasThriller #CrimeThriller #MobDrama #CasinoFiction #BookReview #NetGalley #WilliamMorrow #ThrillerBooks #SuspenseReads #Bookstagram #BooksCoffeeBrews #CurrentlyReading #MysteryThriller #FamilyDrama #ForensicAccounting #LasVegasBooks #ARCReview #ThrillerRead
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“Moe cut him off: Don’t talk. Don’t think. Just do what the —- I tell you. Are we clear?”
“What is this, Hitler Youth?” Sam muttered.
You’re kidding right? You are absolutely kidding? Why is this line of commentary, regardless, if it’s a joke or not, or a sarcastic comment from one of your characters/ inside of this book? Either you live under a rock or you’re ignorant. This is completely inappropriate for given the state of the world and the current climate we are in.
I digress; my book review continues down below.
The author either watches cop/mafia shows and his visited Vegas enough times as tourist to be enamored with the idea of glamorizing the seedy parts of Vegas or lives there and hates it. This book needs to scrapped or revised its rough. It’s crude and the sex scenes are not even sexy. It just the FMC being a mean, pick me girl as an older adult women. She’s mourning her dad who died, chooses to have sex on his office desk at his funeral? The scene isn’t even funny or hot. There is basically zero chemistry between characters. The only thing the plot had going for it. The reader is quickly shoved into a messy murder, kidnapping, embezzlement plot and romance takes a side set. The main character, Josie, basically contradicts her self every other chapter saying she doesn’t wanna live that way anymore, but then continues to live that way and foster that mafia Vegas lifestyle. It doesn’t make sense.
“Josie had made a point of turning the bedroom into a preteen paradise” …
“… far to expensive for twelve year old….”
“I’ve seen five-year-olds there. Are you taking Billie? She’ll love it.” Sam said. “They also have archery, but that’s for Girl Scouts and pussies”
“ When Billie woke up, Josie had told her that she had changed her mind and they were going shooting”
“Yes. An actual gun. This is Nevada, kiddo”
Your preteen, who the main character continuously states that she does not want her child having the same rough gangbanging trial that she had, you take her for shooting lessons and to familiarize her with guns. You let your child be around another child who is involving herself in criminal behavior but that’s okay because that other child’s mom could help you babysit. To top it all off there is a poorly written two page climax about a kidnapping scene that reads as if you only ever have seen something similar on law and order.
I genuinely stand by my opinion, that this book needs to be revised and or taken a different direction. There’s not a lot going in this book that I enjoy.
₊˚⊹⋆˙⟡Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy! My opinions on this read and this review are my own!₊˚⊹⋆˙⟡
“What is this, Hitler Youth?” Sam muttered.
You’re kidding right? You are absolutely kidding? Why is this line of commentary, regardless, if it’s a joke or not, or a sarcastic comment from one of your characters/ inside of this book? Either you live under a rock or you’re ignorant. This is completely inappropriate for given the state of the world and the current climate we are in.
I digress; my book review continues down below.
The author either watches cop/mafia shows and his visited Vegas enough times as tourist to be enamored with the idea of glamorizing the seedy parts of Vegas or lives there and hates it. This book needs to scrapped or revised its rough. It’s crude and the sex scenes are not even sexy. It just the FMC being a mean, pick me girl as an older adult women. She’s mourning her dad who died, chooses to have sex on his office desk at his funeral? The scene isn’t even funny or hot. There is basically zero chemistry between characters. The only thing the plot had going for it. The reader is quickly shoved into a messy murder, kidnapping, embezzlement plot and romance takes a side set. The main character, Josie, basically contradicts her self every other chapter saying she doesn’t wanna live that way anymore, but then continues to live that way and foster that mafia Vegas lifestyle. It doesn’t make sense.
“Josie had made a point of turning the bedroom into a preteen paradise” …
“… far to expensive for twelve year old….”
“I’ve seen five-year-olds there. Are you taking Billie? She’ll love it.” Sam said. “They also have archery, but that’s for Girl Scouts and pussies”
“ When Billie woke up, Josie had told her that she had changed her mind and they were going shooting”
“Yes. An actual gun. This is Nevada, kiddo”
Your preteen, who the main character continuously states that she does not want her child having the same rough gangbanging trial that she had, you take her for shooting lessons and to familiarize her with guns. You let your child be around another child who is involving herself in criminal behavior but that’s okay because that other child’s mom could help you babysit. To top it all off there is a poorly written two page climax about a kidnapping scene that reads as if you only ever have seen something similar on law and order.
I genuinely stand by my opinion, that this book needs to be revised and or taken a different direction. There’s not a lot going in this book that I enjoy.
₊˚⊹⋆˙⟡Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy! My opinions on this read and this review are my own!₊˚⊹⋆˙⟡
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the advanced audio book.
When Josie King is called back to Vegas for her father's funeral she isn't prepared to be forced to live there in order to receive her inheritance. Josie left almost two decades earlier, physically separating herself from her family and their casino royalty status. Once she's back, though, she immediately senses that her oldest brother, Frank, who's taken over the family casino, is in deep with the mob. Josie must rely on her unreliable brother, Sam; her own wits and knowledge of how Vegas actually works; and maybe some help from Rob, a potential love interest. Can Josie save her family without burning their business down?
Overall, I found this story...fine. It was an easy listen but there wasn't anything pulling me back to the audiobook. It felt like the book could've used some more thorough editing to smooth out some of the issues. The two most obvious ones are that Josie is meant to be in her mid-thirties and has been living on her own since she was 18, but her dialogue and interior thoughts all felt much younger, like someone in their early to mid-twenties. The other issue I had was that Josie is a mom to a tween, Billie, but even when Billie was on the page, she didn't serve any purpose other than to be a plot device and to try and make Josie more sympathetic. The audiobook wasn't helped by the inconsistencies in the quality of the narration. There were moments where the narrator was clear but then other moments when it sounded as though the narrator was underwater. not sure I'll return to this author, but for those who like the feeling of getting behind the scenes of the Vegas world, this is worth a read.
The Kings of Vegas is out June 30, 2026.
When Josie King is called back to Vegas for her father's funeral she isn't prepared to be forced to live there in order to receive her inheritance. Josie left almost two decades earlier, physically separating herself from her family and their casino royalty status. Once she's back, though, she immediately senses that her oldest brother, Frank, who's taken over the family casino, is in deep with the mob. Josie must rely on her unreliable brother, Sam; her own wits and knowledge of how Vegas actually works; and maybe some help from Rob, a potential love interest. Can Josie save her family without burning their business down?
Overall, I found this story...fine. It was an easy listen but there wasn't anything pulling me back to the audiobook. It felt like the book could've used some more thorough editing to smooth out some of the issues. The two most obvious ones are that Josie is meant to be in her mid-thirties and has been living on her own since she was 18, but her dialogue and interior thoughts all felt much younger, like someone in their early to mid-twenties. The other issue I had was that Josie is a mom to a tween, Billie, but even when Billie was on the page, she didn't serve any purpose other than to be a plot device and to try and make Josie more sympathetic. The audiobook wasn't helped by the inconsistencies in the quality of the narration. There were moments where the narrator was clear but then other moments when it sounded as though the narrator was underwater. not sure I'll return to this author, but for those who like the feeling of getting behind the scenes of the Vegas world, this is worth a read.
The Kings of Vegas is out June 30, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to **NetGalley** and **William Morrow** for providing me with an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.
After the unexpected death of her father, Josie King is pulled back into the Las Vegas casino empire she left behind years ago. What follows is a tangled web of family loyalty, betrayal, mob connections, financial secrets, and the fight to keep the family business alive while navigating dangerous enemies on every side.
I actually enjoy stories like this. Family businesses, sibling drama, power struggles, and financial crimes are all things that immediately grab my attention, so I was excited to dive into this one. The storyline surrounding the casino and the embezzlement kept me interested, and I genuinely wanted to see how everything would play out.
Unfortunately, this one just wasn't a perfect fit for me. There was so much happening that it sometimes felt overwhelming, and I had a hard time fully connecting with the characters. I wanted to become more invested in them, but they never felt as developed as I had hoped, which made some of the emotional moments fall a little flat.
That being said, I still think the story itself has a lot going for it. The Las Vegas setting was entertaining, the family dynamics created plenty of tension, and there were enough twists and shifting alliances to keep me turning the pages. I can absolutely see this working really well for readers who enjoy family crime dramas with plenty of intrigue.
**Would I recommend it?**
Yes! While it wasn't quite the right book for me, I think readers who enjoy stories centered around family businesses, casino life, organized crime, and complicated family relationships will likely have a great time with this one.
Thank you to **NetGalley** and **William Morrow** for providing me with an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.
After the unexpected death of her father, Josie King is pulled back into the Las Vegas casino empire she left behind years ago. What follows is a tangled web of family loyalty, betrayal, mob connections, financial secrets, and the fight to keep the family business alive while navigating dangerous enemies on every side.
I actually enjoy stories like this. Family businesses, sibling drama, power struggles, and financial crimes are all things that immediately grab my attention, so I was excited to dive into this one. The storyline surrounding the casino and the embezzlement kept me interested, and I genuinely wanted to see how everything would play out.
Unfortunately, this one just wasn't a perfect fit for me. There was so much happening that it sometimes felt overwhelming, and I had a hard time fully connecting with the characters. I wanted to become more invested in them, but they never felt as developed as I had hoped, which made some of the emotional moments fall a little flat.
That being said, I still think the story itself has a lot going for it. The Las Vegas setting was entertaining, the family dynamics created plenty of tension, and there were enough twists and shifting alliances to keep me turning the pages. I can absolutely see this working really well for readers who enjoy family crime dramas with plenty of intrigue.
**Would I recommend it?**
Yes! While it wasn't quite the right book for me, I think readers who enjoy stories centered around family businesses, casino life, organized crime, and complicated family relationships will likely have a great time with this one.
July 4, 2026
Looking for your next unputdownable read?
📚 I’ve got four incredible, wildly different books to add to your TBR today!
Here is my honest, unfiltered breakdown:
🌊 The Sea Hides Its Dead by Megan Bontrager
The Vibe: The Descent meets The Ritual.
The Plot: Academics trapped in a sea cave by an ancient ocean cult must atone for their sins to survive.
My Take: Gritty, claustrophobic, and terrifying. A must-read for horror and survival-thriller junkies.
🔪 The House Guest by Jennifer Pashley
The Vibe: Propulsive psychological suspense with domestic drama.
The Plot: A struggling chef takes a live-in gig for a reclusive author and gets caught in a toxic, seductive marital triangle.
My Take: A dizzying slow-burn full of mind games and messy secrets. Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers.
🎲 The Kings of Vegas by Karen Mack & Jennifer Kaufman
The Vibe: Succession energy meets high-stakes Sin City mob drama.
The Plot: A brilliant math whiz returns to Vegas to run her late father’s casino empire alongside her fractured siblings.
My Take: Fast-paced and highly entertaining. It’s packed with family rivalry, romance, and corporate espionage.
🦴 The Talking Bone by Rene Denfeld
The Vibe: A deeply emotional, urgent investigative thriller.
The Plot: An exonerator races a two-week clock to save an innocent man on death row, uncovering secrets from her own past.
My Take: Beautiful, haunting, and written with incredible empathy. Bring tissues for this one.
✨️ Thank you, Run For It, Little, Brown and Company, William Morrow, Harper, and the authors for the copies!
📚 I’ve got four incredible, wildly different books to add to your TBR today!
Here is my honest, unfiltered breakdown:
🌊 The Sea Hides Its Dead by Megan Bontrager
The Vibe: The Descent meets The Ritual.
The Plot: Academics trapped in a sea cave by an ancient ocean cult must atone for their sins to survive.
My Take: Gritty, claustrophobic, and terrifying. A must-read for horror and survival-thriller junkies.
🔪 The House Guest by Jennifer Pashley
The Vibe: Propulsive psychological suspense with domestic drama.
The Plot: A struggling chef takes a live-in gig for a reclusive author and gets caught in a toxic, seductive marital triangle.
My Take: A dizzying slow-burn full of mind games and messy secrets. Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers.
🎲 The Kings of Vegas by Karen Mack & Jennifer Kaufman
The Vibe: Succession energy meets high-stakes Sin City mob drama.
The Plot: A brilliant math whiz returns to Vegas to run her late father’s casino empire alongside her fractured siblings.
My Take: Fast-paced and highly entertaining. It’s packed with family rivalry, romance, and corporate espionage.
🦴 The Talking Bone by Rene Denfeld
The Vibe: A deeply emotional, urgent investigative thriller.
The Plot: An exonerator races a two-week clock to save an innocent man on death row, uncovering secrets from her own past.
My Take: Beautiful, haunting, and written with incredible empathy. Bring tissues for this one.
✨️ Thank you, Run For It, Little, Brown and Company, William Morrow, Harper, and the authors for the copies!
June 30, 2026
The King’s are a well known name in Las Vegas because of their successful casino the Jackpot. Sadly, the patriarch has passed away and youngest daughter Josie is back after being away for fifteen years. Roy King’s will says all his children have to work at the Jackpot to earn their inheritance. Josie is ready to do the job, but the financials aren’t adding up. She wants answers, yet who can she trust? Each sibling wants to be the one to run the empire, the mob and feds are lurking around every corner, and the charming rival casino owner might all be out for blood.
If you are looking for a casino drama, you need to read The Kings of Vegas! Josie might be out of the game, yet she has the brains to outsmart them all. This is a fast paced novel and some surprises that caught me off guard. There were moments where the tension could have been drawn out because those parts were resolved quickly. I loved that there were bits of romance in this novel (my favorite). The supporting characters were just as intriguing as the main characters. It was difficult to figure out who was trustworthy because everyone had something to lose.
Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC.
If you are looking for a casino drama, you need to read The Kings of Vegas! Josie might be out of the game, yet she has the brains to outsmart them all. This is a fast paced novel and some surprises that caught me off guard. There were moments where the tension could have been drawn out because those parts were resolved quickly. I loved that there were bits of romance in this novel (my favorite). The supporting characters were just as intriguing as the main characters. It was difficult to figure out who was trustworthy because everyone had something to lose.
Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC.
July 3, 2026
The Kings of Vegas by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman pulls back the curtain on what it's like to own and operate a casino. The authors do a terrific job of revealing the ins and outs of owning and operating a Las Vegas gambling establishment.
At the outset, Josie King, a sister in the family, stands to inherit from her father and arrives in Las Vegas expecting just that. She finds that the will tasks her not only with continuing the family casino's operations but also with working with her brothers, whom she cannot tolerate. Older readers will remember when Las Vegas was synonymous with organized crime. In this book, it once again raises its voracious, sometimes violent head. The Kings of Vegas has everything that a reader likes in a novel: family intrigue, violence, love interests, and power struggles. The novel lifts the curtain on the casino business and what it takes to succeed in a glamorous yet dangerous industry. After reading the novel, visitors will view casinos through the eyes of these talented writers, who have crafted a fascinating, well-written tale of vengeance, violence, and family politics.
At the outset, Josie King, a sister in the family, stands to inherit from her father and arrives in Las Vegas expecting just that. She finds that the will tasks her not only with continuing the family casino's operations but also with working with her brothers, whom she cannot tolerate. Older readers will remember when Las Vegas was synonymous with organized crime. In this book, it once again raises its voracious, sometimes violent head. The Kings of Vegas has everything that a reader likes in a novel: family intrigue, violence, love interests, and power struggles. The novel lifts the curtain on the casino business and what it takes to succeed in a glamorous yet dangerous industry. After reading the novel, visitors will view casinos through the eyes of these talented writers, who have crafted a fascinating, well-written tale of vengeance, violence, and family politics.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Kings of Vegas by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman blends thriller, romance, and family drama as Josie King returns to her family’s casino after her father’s death. His will requires all siblings to work there for three years in order to inherit, placing Josie in charge of the finances and drawing her into the hidden problems surrounding the business.
The novel’s strongest elements are its plot threads. The murder storyline and the embezzlement plot are engaging and provide the most momentum. Readers who enjoy family driven drama or casino world thrillers may appreciate the mix of genres and the constant movement within the narrative.
Where the book fell short for me was in its character work. I found it difficult to connect with Josie and her siblings, who often felt unlikable and emotionally distant. Their ongoing dysfunction made it hard to invest in their relationships, and the emotional moments did not resonate as strongly as the plot itself.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
The novel’s strongest elements are its plot threads. The murder storyline and the embezzlement plot are engaging and provide the most momentum. Readers who enjoy family driven drama or casino world thrillers may appreciate the mix of genres and the constant movement within the narrative.
Where the book fell short for me was in its character work. I found it difficult to connect with Josie and her siblings, who often felt unlikable and emotionally distant. Their ongoing dysfunction made it hard to invest in their relationships, and the emotional moments did not resonate as strongly as the plot itself.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
July 5, 2026
The Kings of Vegas: A Vegas Thriller of Mob Intrigue Family Betrayal and a Sister Who Won't Fold by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman.
As a long time Las Vegas resident, this one intrigued me, even with the bit too long title. I wanted to love it, as the casino families, mob ties, glitz and glamour of Vegas are easy stories to escape into. This one follows a long time casino family the King's when they loose their fearless father. Coming back to the family business isn't what most of them wished for, but where they find themselves. This one quickly becomes very scattered trying to wrap you into multiple story lines, but falls mostly flat. A thriller it most certainly wasn't, except for one scene. The details of Vegas also felt off, directions, flora and fauna, and what time period you were actually in. When I finished I felt like I did not enjoy it, and was shocked the author was a generational local.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
As a long time Las Vegas resident, this one intrigued me, even with the bit too long title. I wanted to love it, as the casino families, mob ties, glitz and glamour of Vegas are easy stories to escape into. This one follows a long time casino family the King's when they loose their fearless father. Coming back to the family business isn't what most of them wished for, but where they find themselves. This one quickly becomes very scattered trying to wrap you into multiple story lines, but falls mostly flat. A thriller it most certainly wasn't, except for one scene. The details of Vegas also felt off, directions, flora and fauna, and what time period you were actually in. When I finished I felt like I did not enjoy it, and was shocked the author was a generational local.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Did I finish this days ago and just continuously forget to write my review for it? Yes. Ignore that.
This is about the succession of a mob in Las Vegas. And it gets chaotic. As mob drama tends to.
I liked the crime family drama and politics, but I wanted a lot more from the characters. I just didn't really care about them.
This does have a little bit of everything in it: mob drama, theft, crime, a bit of romance, and fraud. But this is another case of me wanting it to have more oomph. But I do think plenty of readers will still enjoy. Especially if you like mob drama.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This is about the succession of a mob in Las Vegas. And it gets chaotic. As mob drama tends to.
I liked the crime family drama and politics, but I wanted a lot more from the characters. I just didn't really care about them.
This does have a little bit of everything in it: mob drama, theft, crime, a bit of romance, and fraud. But this is another case of me wanting it to have more oomph. But I do think plenty of readers will still enjoy. Especially if you like mob drama.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free ARC of this book. These thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
The plot kept me wanting to know not only what happened next, but how the FMC was going to handle the next situation she found herself in. She got drawn back into the family business, running a casino in Vegas, upon the death of her father and all the other danger and drama you might expect with the stereotypical casino family. Her family certainly have their fair share of problems, and while they are unique characters, you don't really see much growth so they feel a bit flat.
Moderate language, fade to black spice.
The plot kept me wanting to know not only what happened next, but how the FMC was going to handle the next situation she found herself in. She got drawn back into the family business, running a casino in Vegas, upon the death of her father and all the other danger and drama you might expect with the stereotypical casino family. Her family certainly have their fair share of problems, and while they are unique characters, you don't really see much growth so they feel a bit flat.
Moderate language, fade to black spice.
December 14, 2025
I found this book to be mildly interesting as a saga of a family involved in casino operations in Las Vegas with ties to the mob. There is a lot going on with a mostly dysfunctional and feuding family—- drugs, alcohol, romance, intrigue and theft. It was of particular interest to me since I was a former CPA involved with hotels and casinos and it was my staff who uncovered the fraud with the scales perpetrated by the Stardust hotel. I thank NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to HarperAudio Adult, William Morrow, and NetGalley for an ALC to listen to and review before publishing.
The Kings of Vegas was exactly what I was looking for: a quick, engaging read with CSI: Vegas vibes.
This was my first audiobook with Miranda Raison as the narrator, and I thoroughly enjoyed her performance. There was distinct nuance for the different characters which allowed for an engaging listen. I will definitely be adding her to my favorite narrator list.
Although predictable, The Kings of Vegas is an entertaining story that's worth a listen.
The Kings of Vegas was exactly what I was looking for: a quick, engaging read with CSI: Vegas vibes.
This was my first audiobook with Miranda Raison as the narrator, and I thoroughly enjoyed her performance. There was distinct nuance for the different characters which allowed for an engaging listen. I will definitely be adding her to my favorite narrator list.
Although predictable, The Kings of Vegas is an entertaining story that's worth a listen.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this. A story of strong family dynamics, who to know who to trust and secrets that unfold no matter how much you try to keep them to yourself.
Josie comes home to her families ranch after her father’s death. Her father that was a well known Vegas casino owner. With stipulations written in his will that the children all work at the casino together, this story sets off on an adventure of lying,stealing, cheating and some of the siblings coming together to bring the family casino back to its original glory.
Josie comes home to her families ranch after her father’s death. Her father that was a well known Vegas casino owner. With stipulations written in his will that the children all work at the casino together, this story sets off on an adventure of lying,stealing, cheating and some of the siblings coming together to bring the family casino back to its original glory.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I love a coming home smarter and craftier than ever moment. This has all the mob and Vegas vibes that I was looking for and was a very easy read to get into. I did think it lacked depth in the characters and I couldn’t keep track of the gambling druggy brother vs the gambling drunk brother for a lot of the time, but I did love Josie and how daring she was. Overall it was fine but didn’t blow me away.
Note; I enjoyed the audiobook, but it would randomly change pitch which I assume it from edits and kind of messed with the flow occasionally.
Note; I enjoyed the audiobook, but it would randomly change pitch which I assume it from edits and kind of messed with the flow occasionally.
June 22, 2026
Okay this one?? DRAMA, POWER, and a little danger 👀🔥
Josie is the daughter of a Vegas casino owner, and when her dad dies, she’s forced to go back to Vegas to claim her inheritance… BUT there’s a catch: she has to work at his casino for three years 😭
With her accounting brain 🧠💼, she quickly realizes something is very wrong—aka her brother is making shady, messy decisions and she’s left trying to clean up the chaos.
AND THEN 👀 She has a one-night stand right when she gets back to Vegas… only to find out he’s ALSO a casino owner??? The tension, the chemistry, the unexpected feelings 😩💘 They actually end up being so good together.
We’ve got:
* family drama that WILL stress you out 😤
* mystery + shady business deals 🕵️♀️
* a strong FMC trying to hold everything together 💅
* and a romance that sneaks up on you
And when things escalate?? Her daughter gets kidnapped because her brother can’t keep it together 🤯 The stakes get REAL fast, but Josie does not back down.
She really said “if I have to save this family and this empire myself, I WILL.” 👏
If you love:
* Vegas glam + danger 🎰
* messy family dynamics 👀
* strong single moms 💖
* romance mixed with suspense
Josie is the daughter of a Vegas casino owner, and when her dad dies, she’s forced to go back to Vegas to claim her inheritance… BUT there’s a catch: she has to work at his casino for three years 😭
With her accounting brain 🧠💼, she quickly realizes something is very wrong—aka her brother is making shady, messy decisions and she’s left trying to clean up the chaos.
AND THEN 👀 She has a one-night stand right when she gets back to Vegas… only to find out he’s ALSO a casino owner??? The tension, the chemistry, the unexpected feelings 😩💘 They actually end up being so good together.
We’ve got:
* family drama that WILL stress you out 😤
* mystery + shady business deals 🕵️♀️
* a strong FMC trying to hold everything together 💅
* and a romance that sneaks up on you
And when things escalate?? Her daughter gets kidnapped because her brother can’t keep it together 🤯 The stakes get REAL fast, but Josie does not back down.
She really said “if I have to save this family and this empire myself, I WILL.” 👏
If you love:
* Vegas glam + danger 🎰
* messy family dynamics 👀
* strong single moms 💖
* romance mixed with suspense
June 24, 2026
If you’re looking for a thriller with some glamorous glitter, this is a solid option. Personally the setting was a bit too much of a stretch for my domestic thriller preference. It’s chaotic in a somewhat fun way. The pacing has some weird ebbs & flows but nothing too challenging. There’s a lot going on but I just never felt particularly invested in the characters. Overall, I think this is a decent book that I’m not the target audience for.
Big thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this.
Big thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Josie King never planned to return to Vegas. But now her father has died and put in his will that his 4 children have to work in his casino to inherit. No big deal, they all grew up there. Until she starts and things aren't going how they should. Josie is pretty sure her brother is crooked. The FBI keeps following her and the security at the casino is shady.
This book was so great. The narrator for thr audio was great. I really liked wondering who was behind everything and whether Josie would come out ahead.
This book was so great. The narrator for thr audio was great. I really liked wondering who was behind everything and whether Josie would come out ahead.
Read
June 27, 2026The Kings of Vegas by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman is a fast-paced, suspense-filled thriller that completely pulled me in. The story follows the prodigal daughter of a powerful Las Vegas casino empire as she returns home to take control of the family business, only to find herself caught between the Mob, the Feds, and even her own brothers. The tension builds with every chapter, and I found myself unable to put it down as I raced to see what would happen next. It’s a gripping, high-stakes read full of drama, intrigue, and nonstop momentum.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If you enjoy books with major dysfunctional family, the rich behaving badly set in Las Vegas, this is a story for you.
Josie King is back in Las Vegas after learning that she must work for her family's casino in order to receive her inheritance. She hasn't been involved and worked as an accountant in LA with her daughter.
Once she starts working at the casino, she finds all of issues and is determined to figure on how to navigate her relationships with her brothers, the mob, the FBI and the handsome rival casino owner.
I love strong Josie is and didn't let any BS slide. Miranda Raison did a fantastic job narrating. She kept me entertained with the story and was rooting for Josie.
Thank you @harperaudio @wiiliammorrowbooks for the book and audiobook.
Josie King is back in Las Vegas after learning that she must work for her family's casino in order to receive her inheritance. She hasn't been involved and worked as an accountant in LA with her daughter.
Once she starts working at the casino, she finds all of issues and is determined to figure on how to navigate her relationships with her brothers, the mob, the FBI and the handsome rival casino owner.
I love strong Josie is and didn't let any BS slide. Miranda Raison did a fantastic job narrating. She kept me entertained with the story and was rooting for Josie.
Thank you @harperaudio @wiiliammorrowbooks for the book and audiobook.
February 20, 2026
The Kings of Vegas was an okay read but it never fully grabbed me. The story is readable and the Vegas setting is interesting, but the characters often felt flat and the plot predictable. There were moments that entertained me, yet overall it lacked depth and tension. It might appeal to some , but it did not leave a lasting impression other than some down right ICKS
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The premise of this one was a lot of fun, I mean the passing down of casinos, corruption and of course, emotional damage. Dysfunction makes the world go round. Or at least it does with the King family. They were interesting to get to know about, but I mean they weren’t very deep. There was a lot of surface level drama that really could have been more but it wasn’t. I really did like Josie, but she was only one character. This book could have been a lot better with some focus.
June 30, 2026
Thank you to Karen Mack, Jennifer Kaufman, William Morrow, and Netgalley for the ARC. My review is voluntary, and any opinions are my own.
The authors gave us a great story that was full of action! It follows the King family, owners of the Jackpot casino. When daughter Josie comes back to town, she notices things. The characters were well written. I could picture each in my mind. It is an entertaining story great for a beach read.
The authors gave us a great story that was full of action! It follows the King family, owners of the Jackpot casino. When daughter Josie comes back to town, she notices things. The characters were well written. I could picture each in my mind. It is an entertaining story great for a beach read.
July 2, 2026
While I initially found the idea of this book fascinating, I was quickly disappointed. Just in the first few chapters, there are inconsistencies in the story and plot details, and I found a glaring error in a statement about a real place discussed in the book. The inconsistencies were one thing, but making inaccurate statements about a real place is something I find unforgivable, because it is easy to get something right with just a few seconds of looking online.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Shades of Harold Robbins. I would rate this 3.5 stars if half stars were allowed. The Kings in the title refer to the King family; the now deceased father founded the Jackpot casino in Las Vegas. It is now up to his five children to keep it going. When one of them gets into deep financial trouble, he goes to the Mafia for help. Josie, the youngest sibling and the book’s protagonist, returns to Vegas and attempts to make sense of the Jackpot’s errant operation. With her knowledge of forensic accounting, can she help right the ship and defeat the mob? The story moves right along with a few hiccups. The way everything is tied up at the end may seem a bit pat, but it worked for me. A good read. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me with a review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received a free copy of, The Kings of Vegas, by Karen Mack; Jennifer Kaufman, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Josie King is back in Vegas, but not by her choice, her father has passed away. Josie King is back in the family business of gambling and casinos. I did not care for this book at all.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advanced copy thru NetGalley and the publisher. I enjoyed this story. It was about a family who inherited their father's casino. Josie being the youngest but turned out to be the smartest one out of all of them. I liked her character. I thought the book was easy to keep reading, I was never bored.
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