Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Sore Loser
Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Mike McAlary
Class/Genre: Mystery Police Procedural
Morrow, Nov 1998, $24.00, 296 pp.
NYPD Deputy Inspector Mickey "The Wraith" Donovan is working a weird serial killer case. A deranged individual is personally implementing the phrase "kill the umpire" and it is not a William Bendix movie. The first casualty was murdered just after umpiring a softball game near Yankee Stadium. The next victim was murdered just after blowing a tennis call that cost Ginny Glade a victory in a professional tournament. Ginny's former spouse is actually the recipient of a bad call that turns him into the World Series hero. The ump who blew the call was blown away.
The media hangs Ginny since she is the link to at least two of the higher profile incidents. Mike believes that Ginny is innocent and begins a city-wide investigation even as he has to deal with personal problems, mostly caused by his rebellious daughter. An attraction springs up between Ginny and Mike, but before he can fully pursue his feelings, the law enforcement official has to find a killer to bring to justice.
"There's a hold-up in the Bronx; Brooklyn's broken out in fights ...". This little ditty is what comes to mind as Mike runs all over the city bringing the totality of the "Big Apple" to life. That is the core of this exciting novel. Though the characters are well written and the story line moves at a blistering pace, Mike McAlary pays homage to the boroughs, which turns SORE LOSER into a big winner.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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