Riders Down
by John McEvoy
Bernard Glockman was Chicago's oldest active bookmaker, at the age of 92. He was killed
when he was thrown from his apartment window. The police ruled it a suicide, but his nephew,
Moe Kellerman, believes Bernard was killed by the Mob and asks Matt O'Connor, a Chicago
columnist for a national racing newspaper, to find the truth. Through his investigations
Matt finds a link between Bernard's death and the outcome of a series of races. Aided by
horse trainer, Maggie Collins, and Dave Zimmerman, a professional gambler, O'Connor finds
that the jockeys have been threatened with death unless they cause their horses to lose
the races. He finds a brilliant sociopath, Claude Bledsoe, has plotted a race-fixing scheme
to accumulate the million dollars he needs to inherit a fortune from his deceased aunt.
The search for the truth puts O'Connor in danger before he can bring the case to its conclusion.
Written in the fine tradition of Dick Francis, McEvoy has presented an outstanding
picture of the world of racing. The characters are well drawn: Maggie Collins as a horse
trainer, Matt O'Connor as an intrepid sports columnist, Dave Zimmerman the Fount, as an
expert concerning all matters relating to horse racing, Moe Kellerman as a millionaire
bent on revenging his uncle, a stable of jockeys, Claude Bledsoe as a brilliant lifetime
student and sociopath, Marie Ranki as an embittered crippled former jockey. He has successfully
evoked the sights and sounds of the racetrack and the stables and of the lives of the jockeys.
Without any hesitation I would recommend this to be put on your must read list. It is
one of the best books I have read in a long time. |
The Book |
Poisoned Pen Press |
March 2006 |
Hardcover |
1590582586 |
Suspense |
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Excerpt |
NOTE: |
The Reviewer |
Barbara Buhrer |
Reviewed 2006 |
NOTE: |
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