Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Toss
Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Boomer Esiason
, Lowell Cauffiel
Class/Genre: Mystery
Dutton, Oct 1998, $23.95, 343 pp.
The National football League's New York Stars sign former college superstar and ex-con Derek Brody to a multi-million dollar contract to play quarterback. Derek quickly realizes that the team is talented enough to go to the Super Bowl, but must first overcome their internal feuds if they are to even make the playoffs. Derek also believes that external forces are trying to disrupt the Star's chemistry.
After meeting the team's former quarterback, Derek's suspicion of outside manipulators working to destroy the team rises. However, when the ex-QB and a camp hooker are murdered, Derek begins to understand the seriousness behind the game. It is no longer a question of tossing a touchdown or making the spread. It is now life and death as a killer will blitz anyone who tries to reveal their identity.
TOSS is an interesting sports who-done-it because of the insight into professional football by one of its former stars. The mystery aspects of the story line seem more like settling for a game tying field goal when a win was possible by taking a gamble. However, fans of football, especially Bengal rooters, will enjoy a well written novel by the Boomer and Lowell Cauffiel.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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