Review of "A Deadly Game"

It isn't too often that I have the chance to review fictional stories with a sports theme, but that was the case with this book. It took a little different twist in that the baseball theme was less about the game on the field and more about fantasy baseball - a game that is intriguing and has a world all its own.  Here is my review of a thriller about fantasy baseball, "A Deadly Game."

Title/Author:

“A Deadly Game” by Gary M. Lepper

Tags:

Baseball, fiction, fantasy, murder, mystery

Publish date:

December 6, 2016

Length:

299 pages

Rating: 

4 ½  of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

When six Major League baseball players in various cities are injured and two of them died as a result of their injuries, it felt like more than just coincidence.  It raised the curiosity of former police detective David Kenmuir and what he finds while investigating these cases is the storyline for this very entertaining novel by Gary M. Lepper.

Set in the 1980’s, when computers were still primitive but useful for vast amounts of information and statistics, Kenmuir discovers the world of fantasy baseball and how one can get easily caught up in the high stakes at which some fantasy leagues operate.  While he was a baseball fan, Kenmuir did not play fantasy baseball.  However, with the help of a computer nerd, he learns not only about the game, but also starts to understand how the star players each became victims of an organized crime operation.

Baseball fans will enjoy the references to the games and also to baseball card collecting as well as the fantasy game. There are settings in major league ballparks, such as the Oakland Coliseum, in which Kenmuir and a Don from organized crime watch ball games. The story did start a little slow as it was not apparent how the injuries were connected, but once the concept of fantasy baseball was fully ingrained into the story, it took off from there. 

The characters were well-developed, and Kenmuir develops into a troubled hero with his experiences in the Vietnam war and the loss of a partner while on the police force playing a key role in the book. The antagonists are well developed as well, and the usual stereotyped behavior of the leaders of organized crime are not obvious in this novel, a welcome relief.   

This is a novel that will be enjoyed by fans of book on baseball, mysteries or organized crime. It was a very good read that only bogged down once, but once one gets past that portion of the book, it is one that will be hard to put down.

I wish to thank Phosphenes for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Game-Gary-M-Lepper/dp/0578186993/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "The Murder of Sonny Liston"

This week marks the 46th anniversary of the death of former heavyweight champion Charles "Sonny" Liston.  The man's death still makes people talk today - one person was even moved by this event to write a book that raises questions about the circumstances of his demise.  Here is my review of "The Murder of Sonny Liston."

Title/Author:

“The Murder of Sonny Liston: Las Vegas, Heroin and Heavyweights” by Shawn Assael

Tags:

Boxing, murder, crime

Publish date:

October 4, 2016

Length:

352 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (Very Good)

Review:

Charles “Sonny” Liston lived a mysterious life, whether it was when he was born but could not produce a birth certificate, his young adulthood when he was imprisoned, when he was rising through the ranks of boxing to become the heavyweight champion, when he lost to Muhammad Ali twice (with the second fight ending by some accounts due to a phantom punch) and later in his post-boxing life in Las Vegas. When he was found dead in his apartment by his wife Geraldine on January 5, 1971 the medical examiner declared Liston’s death to be due to “natural causes.”

This book by investigative journalist Shawn Assael casts doubts on this diagnosis and raises the question of whether the former champion was forced to overdose on heroin that led to his death.  In order to ask this question (Assael does not come to a definite conclusion that Liston was murdered), he writes a significant backstory about Las Vegas and the culture of the town at that time – mainly the drug, entertainment and criminal elements.  Even if the reader doesn’t care at all about Liston, boxing or sports, he or she will be fascinated with the detailed description of “Sin City” in that time period.

If one wants to read this to find out just who would want a former heavyweight champion dead, there is plenty of candidates for that as well.  The theories floated about in the book include thoughts that Liston knew too much about a) the drug dealers in Las Vegas, b) crooked police officers, or c) fixed fights, including his own in the second loss to Ali.  The list of suspects the author offers up is extensive as well, as he names these possibilities: An ex-girlfriend, a gaming player in Las Vegas named Ash Resnick, a rogue cop from the Las Vegas Police department, an informant and accomplice of said cop and even someone from the Nation of Islam.  There is even a “secret percent theory” told in which Liston would receive a portion of the receipts from all of Ali’s future bouts.  While the evidence that Assael has on each one makes for great reading, not one of these theories convince readers or even the author himself that they are definitive proof that Liston was murdered.

So while this may generate as many questions as it answers, this book is one of the more entertaining books about the time and the sport of boxing that I have read.  There is a decent amount of text about Liston’s fights as well.  The quality of that writing shows that Assael not only can write about 1960’s Las Vegas and the culture, but can also cover the action inside a boxing ring quite well. This book is recommended for readers who want to learn more about Liston or Las Vegas in that era. 

I wish to thank Blue Rider Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying links:

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Sonny-Liston-Heroin-Heavyweights/dp/039916975X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483580892&sr=1-1&keywords=murder+of+sonny+liston

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-murder-of-sonny-liston-shaun-assael/1123112077?ean=9780399169755

Review of "Baseball Dads"

While this was a fictional book that I enjoyed reading, I struggled to decide whether or not to include this book here as it truly isn't a "sports" book.  The baseball is more of a setting to the main part of the story and the characters just happen to have kids playing baseball to draw them together.  I decided to include it here in case it does help someone decide whether or not to pick up this book.  Here is my review of "Baseball Dads."

Title/Author:

“Baseball Dads” by Matthew S. Hiley

Tags:

Baseball, fiction, murder, family

Publish date:

September 15, 2015

Length:

263 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

While the title may make a reader think this story is about baseball, it really isn't. It is a story of social classes, murder, drugs, sex...And some little league baseball thrown in as well.

The story centers around Dwayne Devoe, a middle class business owner in the suburbs of Fort Worth. He is drowning in debt, his business has a large numbers of unpaid accounts and his wife has been having numerous affairs. However, his son Alex is a good player for the local baseball team and there isn't anything that Dwayne won't do for him. When the coach won't pay Alex and the more skilled players in favor of less talented kids whose parents are socially connected, Dwayne decides to take action.

With the help of three other "baseball dads" the plan goes into effect. What follows leads to a trail of dead bodies, Jedi warriors, raunchy sex (but not graphically written in the book) and even some wins for Alex's team.

The story reads at a lightning fast pace as one never knows what the next move will be for Dwayne and the dads. There are many funny moments which will make the reader laugh. Many times I was saying phrases to myself such as "What the Heck?" (or stronger) as some the situations and actions are just so bizarre. One example is what Dwayne used to fertilize the baseball field. I won't give that away here...But it isn't something that is recommended to use on your lawn.

If you like dark stories with lots of mayhem and raunch, this is your story. Not recommended for readers under 18. This is a very entertaining book that will leave the reader laughing.

I wish to thank Greenleaf Book Group Press for providing a copy of the book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying links:

http://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Dads-Matthew-S-Hiley-ebook/dp/B013RG6X5Y/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

Review of "The Tomb That Ruth Built"

Having read some of the books in Troy Soos's Mickey Rawlings series several years ago, I was thrilled to see that  he wrote a new story recently and even more thrilled that Mr. Soos gave me an ARC in exchange for a review.   I loved the previous books that I had read in this series (the first three) and this one was all that I expected.  Here is my review of "The Tomb That Ruth Built." 

Title/Author:

“The Tomb That Ruth Built” by Troy Soos

Tags:

Fiction, baseball, murder, mystery

Published:

March 22, 2014

Length:

192 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

Mickey Rawlings, the utility infielder who is as adept at solving a murder as he is at fielding a scorching line drive, is back in the seventh installment of the Mickey Rawlings Murder Series by Troy Soos.  This time, Mickey is now a New York Yankee at the start of the 1923 season and while he and girlfriend Margie are settling in the Bronx, there is a gruesome discovery at the site of the brand new Yankee Stadium.  The body of a bootlegger has been found under the site and the team owner wants Mickey to help solve the crime.  There are a few reasons why: one is that the victim was a former teammate of Rawlings, the owner doesn't want the bad publicity and since Rawlings’ roommate is Babe Ruth, it also becomes Mickey’s job to be sure the Babe doesn’t get implicated in this as well.

If this sounds complicated, it really isn't while reading the book.  As with the other books in this series, Soos does a terrific job of weaving detailed and rich baseball scenes with the grittiness required when Rawlings needs to ask questions or might find himself needing to protect not only himself but Margie as well. 

It should be noted that this book can be read as a stand-alone as well as any of the others in the series.  Soos does describe enough about the characters so those readers who did not read the earlier books won’t be missing key details, yet it doesn't repeat so many items that those who have read all of them won’t be skipping over those parts.  That is not easy to do when writing a series, but Soos does so masterfully.

Not only is the baseball realistic, but so are the characters and sites that are set in the 1920’s.  Prohibition was the big topic during the time frame of this novel and the reader feels like he or she is right there in the speakeasies with the characters.  The descriptions of the scenes and the dialogue are realistic for the time frame and Soos’s writing shows that he is quite knowledgeable of that era as well.

Any baseball fan or fan of murder mysteries will enjoy this outstanding tale that is equal parts baseball and mystery.

I will to thank Mr. Soos for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.  

Did I skim?

No

Were the characters realistic? 

Yes.  Soos’s main characters in each of these novels, Mickey and Margie, are portrayed in a manner that the reader will be able to connect with them.  Soos’s baseball knowledge and research are very helpful in making Mickey’s character believable as a major league baseball player.  The other characters are not portrayed in an over the top manner so they are realistic as well.

Pace of the story:

Excellent  

Do I recommend?  

Yes.  Baseball fans and murder mystery fans alike will enjoy the latest Mickey Rawlings saga.

Book Format Read:

Ebook (Kindle)

Buying Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Built-Mickey-Rawlings-Baseball-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00J76PC4C/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1396828760&sr=1-1&keywords=Troy+soos

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-tomb-that-ruth-built-troy-soos/1118972519?ean=2940045787062

Review of "Red Snow"

With the Winter Olympics in full swing, the setting for this murder mystery is perfect - a small British Columbia village holding Olympic trials before the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.   Some skiing and snowboarding in this, but the bulk of the story is the mystery.  Because of the setting, I decided to include this review on this blog.  Here is my review of "Red Snow."

Title/Author:

“Red Snow” by Michael Slade

Tags:

Fiction, Winter Olympics, skiing, snowboarding, murder mystery    

Published:

2010

Length:

262 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

A quaint British Columbia village, Whistler, that is hosting the Olympic trials before the Winter Olympics in Vancouver is the setting for Michael Slade’s thriller “Red Snow.”   It is part of his Special X series on the Canadian Royal Mounted Police and while it does have characters that are in Slade’s other books of the series, this reads fine as a stand-alone and the reader does not have to read the other books in order to gain an understanding of the story or characters.

A narcissistic, psychotic killer known as Mesphisto has a diabolical plot that would ultimately wipe out 90% of the world’s population.  He chooses this setting and time for two reasons. One is that because security around the Vancouver Games would be focused on the Games themselves, he would be better able to launch his plan.   The second is more personal, because the chief of the Special X division of the RCMP, Robert DeClerque, along with a few other people can indentify Mesphisto and they must be eliminated before the plan can be done. 

There is not a lot of description about the sport of skiing or snowboarding, although a couple of the murders do take place on the slopes.  The book opens with the murder of a snowboarder while on the course, and another one takes place in a chair lift.  I felt this book would still be appropriate for inclusion on this site as it is a sporting event in which the story is set and some of the action takes place there.   There won’t be any descriptions of the sport.   However, many of the chapters do begin with a historical or geographical reference that is important in helping to set the mood or context of the events to take place in that chapter.

All of the usual aspects of a murder mystery or thriller are in this story: revenge, murder (this story does have a high body count), sex, character development, personal reflection on “what if” or “what will happen if” and a wide variety of both villains and protagonists.   I thought it was an entertaining read, although at times I felt that there were too many characters, historical references and murders to tie everything together that I got confused.  But by the end of the story, it all came together which is what a good story should do.

Did I skim?

No

Were the characters realistic? 

I didn’t think so.  Whether it was the mastermind behind the murders and mass genocide plot, his minions who were doing the work, the Canadian Mounties or the young girls, they all had an unrealistic sense about them.  This isn't to say that they were portrayed or developed poorly.  I just didn't get the sense that these characters are someone I would meet in regular life, especially the three snow bunnies in the lodge.

Pace of the story:

Very good.  The historical references to start most chapters slowed it down slightly, but they were very important to the overall story.

Do I recommend?  

Yes.  While there wasn't a lot about the winter sports in the story, the setting and plot were developed because of a sporting event.  Therefore sports fans may enjoy this book as well as fans of mysteries or thrillers.

Book Format Read:

Ebook (Kindle)

Buying Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Red-Snow-SPECIAL-X-THRILLER-ebook/dp/B008K9E752/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392579968&sr=8-1&keywords=red+snow

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-snow-michael-slade/1114085009?ean=2940016064413

Review of "Hallways in the Night"

While this book is not technically a sports book, there are many baseball references and aspects to this outstanding legal thriller.  Therefore, when the author sent me a copy to review for this blog, I gladly accepted.  I wish to thank Mr. O'Leary for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title/Author:

“Hallways in the Night” by R.C. O’Leary

Tags:

Fiction, legal, baseball, courtroom, murder 

Published:

December 9, 2013

Length:

311 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

A superstar baseball, Remo Centrella, player is chased into the parking lot of the stadium by a police officer, Dave Mackno, who leaves a stakeout to follow him there.  A woman is in the car with the baseball player and appears to be in distress. The officer tries to see if everything is okay, a scuffle breaks out with the Centrella in a rage and the end result is that he is shot dead by Mackno. The officer, while cleared by Internal Affairs, is charged with murder in Centrella’s death and that it was not a matter of self-defense.

Sounds like a typical legal novel, right?  Well, yes and no.  While many of the usual aspects of a good legal thriller are present in this novel, author R.C. O’Leary adds even more layers of topics to this fast paced and riveting story. One of the topics addressed in the book, and why it is being reviewed for this blog, is the use of performance enhancing drugs in baseball. Centrella could be considered much like Barry Bonds for the home run records he set and how fast he did it.  Like Bonds, Centrella is never “caught” by a formal drug test.  Like Bonds, he gets in a fight with teammate (later used as the trial as evidence) and has a not-so-sterling reputation. The trial’s testimony also included an expert in the use of PED’s.  Part of this section talks about “roid rage” that allegedly is why Centrella was so angry during the altercation. 

The writing on this and other controversial topics, such as race relations, adultery, excessive force used by police and courtroom process. Legal experts may find some passages do not conform to standard practice, but the author does acknowledge this. As I don’t consider myself an expert in the field, I would not have known this without reading that part.  

The story moves along well and flashbacks to past events that were relevant to the story were well written and well placed.  However, what really set this legal thriller apart from others I have read for me was that after the verdict was reached, Mackno and the district attorney Maurice Bass got on the same elevator.  The conversation that took place there was an even better finale to the story than the verdict.  Outstanding story that should be read by all fans of legal thrillers.

Did I skim?

No

Were the characters realistic? 

Yes.  While some may feel that several of them would fall under stereotypes, I felt each one of the main characters – those that were in the courtroom for the trial as well as Remo Centrella – were portrayed in a realistic manner and they fit what many people would imagine they would be like.  Dave was portrayed as one would expect for a police officer, Maurice Bass and Whitney Taylor as attorneys and Tina Manning as well.  They each were developed well throughout the story.

Pace of the story:

Excellent 

Do I recommend?  

Yes.  Not only will readers who like legal stories will be engrossed, those who like baseball books or stories on racial issues will enjoy this as well.

Book Format Read:

Ebook (Kindle)

Buying Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Hallways-Night-Novel-R-C-OLeary-ebook/dp/B00HCLRPPS/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hallways-in-the-night-rc-oleary/1117718052?ean=2940149054954