Customer Reviews

Caught in a Rundown

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lisa Saxton's first novel is a fun, enjoyable read. The story of selfish, insensitive Jewel Averick and her polar opposite Dee Sweet as they track the mystery of Two-Mile Mclean's baseball mitt. Each woman has her own reasons fo tracking the glove: Jewel to show her husband that she is not a selfin spoiled person and Dee to show her husband that she is no doormat. Throw in a couple of gangsters and all bets are off as the race to home plate (I had to throw that in!) heats up. A good read, so much fun, this book will have you laugh out loud, on the edge of your seat and cheering out loud.

Caught In A Rundown is a wonderful debut for author, Lisa Saxton. It's hard to believe this is her first novel. Jewel Averick and Dee Sweet, both unlikely sleuths, are like a couple of bulldogs with their teeth in a juicy steak once they latch onto the Two-Mile McLemore mystery. The exchanges between characters in this novel were always sharp, witty and kickin'. A delight throughout. I especially liked Jewel's extremely hip grandparents. Reminded me of my own. If you're the type of reader who likes a good brain teaser with the added bonus of a rollicking adventure then this is for you. Be warned however: you won't want to put it down. And when you do, your mind will be on the story, the characters, and what they could possibly be up to next.

3 shouts to my homegirl from Cleveland for an outstanding crime thriller. I really enjoyed this book it took me 2 days only because I had to go to bed for work the next day. I am really looking forward to reading the next book about Jewel Averick and Dee Sweet.

Even if you're not a real afficionado of the mystery genre (and I am not), you will still find Lisa Saxton's "Caught in a Rundown" to be one hugely entertaining read. Like a Hank Aaron home run, the story starts out fast ... and rises and rises ... getting really laugh-out-loud funny in no time at all.

Saxton has an excellent way of using dialog, and knows that what characters say and think is the most direct way to understanding them. The dialog is full of wit, energy and verve.

Besides the mystery (and it does keep the reader guessing), there is a very subtle interweaving of the importance of racial understanding in this tale. Through the zany exploits of Jewel and Dee, we learn the importance of confronting our uncomfortableness with racial differences, and laughing at our own awkwardness in achieving new understanding. By the end, we can clearly see that frienship transcends color ... in any inning of any game of life.

Lastly, I am a male reader (my wife bought the book but I swiped it from her)... and found the two female characters irresitably charming. And yes indeed, this book can be a riot of a movie -- just find actresses with the kind of chemistry that will do the book justice ... please!!!

In her debut novel, Lisa Saxton, has created a mystery that is adventurous, educational and entertaining. While the scenes of most mysteries appear on a dark and gloomy night, Caught Up In A Rundown is bright and airy, taking the reader from one picturesque scene to another. The language is crisp and hilarious, the characters are believable, and the story line is original. One should note that this book not only takes the reader on an adventure, it teaches the history of the Negro Baseball League in a way that doesn't lecture, but entertains. And while the emphasis is on baseball, it is also the story of two wives, one black, one white, who discover a friendship through misadventure. This book should be recommended reading. Great work Lisa Saxton!

Our book club thoroughly enjoy the fun side as well as the serious side of this book. We like the way the author included baseball history. This was a book you couldn't put down once you started it. When's the movie?

Lisa Saxton's first book is a fun, rollicking adventure with lively characters and a page-turning plot. I especially loved some of the minor characters like Jewel's grandparents and the characters who divulge the clues. Let's hope we see more of Jewel and Dee in the future

Jewel Averick is livid when her spouse Russell, the star center fielder for the D.C. Diamonds, paid $15,000 to purchase the mitt of a legendary Negro league star, Two Mile McLemore, who allegedly only played one season and even that "fact" is disputed. Anthony Graves comes to the Averick home, offers Jewel $20,000 for the glove. She accepts his offer, but tricks the buyer by giving him a glove formerly used by Cool Papa Bell. Inside Two Mile's glove is a clue to the whereabouts of the man. In a spirit of adventure, Jewel decides to locate Two Mile. She convinces fellow sports wife Dee Sweet to accompany her on her quest. ....... As the duo begins to investigate for the vanished Two Mile, they realize that they are being followed by two thugs (who seem to have starred in HOME ALONE). This fails to deter the pair as they continue on their adventure that takes them all over the east coast and the Caribbean. Only reading the novel will tell you what Jewel and Dee find at the end of the rainbow. ..... CAUGHT IN A RUNDOWN is an exciting sports mystery narrated from a different perspective, that of the spouses to the stars. Jewel and Dee swat back to back home runs as they steal the story. Lisa Saxton debuts with a near perfect game that hopefully will be followed by more tales starring these two intrepid females. ......Harriet Klausner

i enjoyed reading this book and hope that the authors write another mystery. it had humor as well as mystery. please let me know when you are writing another book....