I'd just finished watching The World Series of Poker on ESPN when one of my book club's featured POSITIVELY FIFTH STREET, so I couldn't resist. Harper's Magazine hires McManus to cover the Ted Binion murder trial. For the uninformed, Benny Binion, Ted's father, originated the World Series of Poker; Ted Binion, his son, was murdered by his paramour, Sandy Murphy, and her lover Rick Tabish for the millions in silver he kept buried in the desert. McManus decides to use his advance to enter a satellite tournament, and when he wins he enters the WSP.

In No Limit Texas Hold'em, the main event at the WSP worth over a million dollars to the winner, each player is dealt two cards face down; the players then bet, quite often trying to drive the other players out by going "all in" or betting all of their chips. If someone calls, the players are dealt three common cards (called the flop); betting ensues and if players remain, they get another common card called the "turn" or fourth street; they bet again and if two players are still in the pot, another card the "river" or fifth street (hence the title) is dealt. They bet again and best hand wins.

McManus will remind you a lot of one of his heroes, Hunter Thompson, gonzo journalist who wrote FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS. McManus has the same rambling style and also takes a lot of drugs, although most of his are prescription. Other than poker and the murder trial, McManus alludes to his wife and two little girls, two older children from a previous marriage, his morning swims, his purchase of an expensive diamond ring for his wife (she never got one when they got married) as well as literary allusions by the ton (He's also a writing teacher at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago). He loves Dante so much he named one of his daughters Beatrice. McManus also has an annoying habit of whining about just about everything. Fifth place isn't good enough for him; he's got second place prize money, over $800,000, spent before he's eliminated. Apparently, during one of the rewrites, McManus realized he was complaining too much because he starts making fun of himself.

McManus refers to himself as "Good Jim", the Jim who keeps pictures of his family at the poker table for good luck and "Bad Jim", the Jim who buys lap dances with his winnings, then agonizes over telling his wife about it. Eventually we realize that McManus includes all of this personal information because he's comparing his own situation with that of Murphy, Tabish, and the Binions and what a fine line there is between them.

Dave Schwinghammer's unconventional murder mystery, SOLDIER'S GAP, is available in the Author's Den bookstore or at Amazon.com, new and used.