Fans are cheering Troy Soos for his absorbing mysteries packed with old-time baseball lore. In The Cincinnati Red Stalkings, he whisks you back to the summer of 1921 when life was simpler and the world was a safer place-or was it? Utility infielder Mickey Rawlings is thrilled to be playing for the wildly popular Cincinnati Reds. But when he helps set up an exhibit honoring the Red Stockings, he accidently uncovers long-forgotten misdeeds. Suddenly he finds himself drawn into a widespread gambling scandal and implicated in a present-day murder. A member of the Society for American Baseball Research, Troy Soos crafts authentic settings and realistic characters. Narrator Johnny Heller's sparkling narration brings Mickey Rawlings colorfully to life as he rubs elbows with great players from the past. For other sporting whodunits, try: Murder at Fenway Park and Hunting a Detroit Tiger.
Critically-acclaimed novelist Troy Soos evokes the spirit and strife of 1920s America in this compelling mystery. Hanging Curve portrays a major league baseball player's struggle to see justice triumph over hatred and the expanding threat of the Ku Klux Klan. Mickey Rawlings hasn't had much time at bat since he joined the St. Louis Browns as a utility infielder. When a former teammate offers him the chance to play in a semi-pro game against the East St. Louis Cubs-a well-known black team-he jumps at the chance. The Cubs turn out to be powerful opponents. But the real battle begins later, after the black pitcher is found hanging from the backstop. Baseball historian Troy Soos interviewed surviving members of the Negro National League to create this absorbing tale. His deft blend of authentic sports lore and period details gives fans something to cheer about. Narrator Johnny Heller's lively performance adds spin to every curve ball in the plot.
The year is 1918, the place, the North Side of Chicago. Starting for the first-place Cubs and hitting a career high of .274, for the first time in his life, Mickey Rawlings is feeling comfortable enough to buy furniture. But it is a time of mixed blessings; ominous battles are brewing at home and abroad. On the homefront, Major League baseball may be suspended for the duration of the war, anti-German sentiment is running high, and Mickey's best friend'a rookie named Willie Kaiser'has just been shot right on the diamond. Mickey doesn't buy the official explanation of 'accidental death from a stray bullet.' To him it is beginning to smell like murder. Mickey's search for answers takes him from silent movies to speakeasies to the stockyards. Troy Soos is celebrated for his skill in recreating an old-time baseball atmosphere and unforgettable real-life characters, and Johnny Heller, as Mickey, captures all the colorful detail.
Troy Soos' sparkling Mickey Rawlings Baseball mysteries pack early 1900s baseball lore and colorful period details into baffling whodunits. Hunting a Detroit Tiger vividly brings to life the turbulent post-World War I days when the nation partied with bootleg liquor and labor unrest swept the nation with violence. After briefly fighting in the Great War, Mickey enjoys playing baseball as a utility infielder for the Detroit Tigers. Hearing rumors about a ballplayers' union, he attends a labor meeting to satisfy his curiosity. But when a union organizer dies at the meeting, the Industrial Workers of the World falsely accuse him of murder. Just when Mickey's career is on the upswing, he finds himself in a dangerous squeeze play between the players' union and the owners. A member of the Society for American Baseball Research and a graduate of a professional umpire school, Troy Soos uses his expertise to craft believable characters and lively tales. Johnny Heller's expert narration will whisk you back to the roaring 20s when larger-than-life players captivated the nation.
Packed with early 1900s fun, mystery writer Troy Soos' lively Mickey Rawlings series hits a winning combination of exciting intrigue and America's favorite sport. Murder at Ebbets Field whisks you back to the golden beginnings of professional baseball and the innocent glamour of the first motion pictures. The 1914 race for the pennant is heating up, and Giant's rookie Mickey Rawlings dreams of playing in the World Series. But vicious publicity swirls around him when he discovers the body of a glamorous movie star'who just happens to be the new Dodgers owner'at Coney Island. Soon bad luck stalks him, calling outs on and off the field. Membership in the Mystery Writers of America and the Society for American Baseball Research enables Troy Soos to create sparkling whodunits filled with authentic baseball lore. Veteran narrator Johnny Heller's spirited rendition captivates mystery lovers and sports enthusiasts alike.
Troy Soos' entertaining whodunit hits a home run with a perfect blend of mayhem and early baseball lore! He takes you back to 1912 where the days are full of sunshine, players use homemade wooden bats, the legendary Ty Cobb captivates fans, and a young rookie stumbles into a web of danger and deceit. Reporting for his first day as a Boston Red Sox player, Mickey Rawlings discovers a faceless body in the empty stadium. When police name him as their suspect, he knows he must clear his name or give up baseball and his freedom. But nameless foes are trying to silence him with warnings that become increasingly dangerous. A member of the Society for American Baseball Research, Troy Soos creates delightfully authentic ballplayers and places them in believable, colorful settings. With Johnny Heller's expressive narration, Murder at Fenway Park becomes exciting for baseball fans and all who enjoy a good mystery.
