High Stakes: A Jack Doyle Mystery
John
McEvoy
Poisoned
Pen, Dec 2 2014, $24.95
ISBN
9781464202766
FBI
Agents Damon Tirabassi and Karen Engel contact former Chicago Golden Gloves
champ Jack Doyle to help them with another case involving murdered race horses (see
Blind Switch for their previous collaboration).
At Jack’s favorite greasy spoon, the Feds explain that retired horses
are frequently given to veterinary schools; however an unknown fanatic
vehemently opposed to the practice has performed several mercy killings. They want Doyle to seek clues among his
racing cronies at the track.
Just
after their breakfast meeting, Doyle travels to Dublin to attend an award
ceremony honoring his friend jockey Mickey Sheehan. While still in Ireland, a frightened Sheila
Hanratty informs Doyle that her husband Niall the bookmaker has suffered
several questionable accidents; suspecting foul play, Jack investigates. Back
in the States, affluent jailed
convict Harvey Rexroth (see Blind Switch) seeks “justice” against the
man who assisted the Feds in sending him up river.
The
fifth Jack Doyle turf mystery (see Photo
Finish, Close Call and The Significant Seven) is a terrific
thriller with a strong trifecta of subplots enhanced by appealing horse racing
tales. If you don’t know Jack you are
missing a treat summed up on the first page when the felon muses: “the lock had
been easier to pick than Secretariat in a Fantasy League Race.”
Harriet
Klausner
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