Customer Reviews

Double Reverse

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

 

 

God, race & football

Tim Green is something of a renaissance man. A former Atlanta Falcon, he's now a New York lawyer, a commentator on NPR, an analyst for Fox football telecasts and the author of four novels. Such a pedigree makes us expect a lot from Green. He delivers with "Double Reverse" - if you're seeking guilty pleasures. Trane Jones is the vilest of pro athletes. He's egocentric, beating women sexually arouses him, and he has a rap sheet that rivals Mike Tyson's. He's also the best halfback in the NFL. Clark Cromwell, his fullback, is just the opposite. He's a born again Christian so straight he seems to have arrived via time warp from the 1950s. The two men share nothing in common - except the same girlfriend. Clark knows her as the beautiful young woman who's accepted Christ. Trane knows her as the temptress daughter of a Hollywood producer whose greatest pleasure in life is torturing men with her sexual appeal. When she winds up dead, the arm of the law ends up pointing at both men. Rare is the sports book - novel or nonfiction - that explores two of professional sports' dirtiest secrets: race and religion. After all, the playing field is supposed to make all men equal. "Double Reverse" tells us just the opposite - that players are prone to self-segregation, that money can't buy equality, and that the rise of fundamentalist athletes is as much a curse as it is a blessing. Green isn't the greatest of writers. His characters have a made-for-Lifetime quality. There's the master barrister who happens to be a stunning beauty. The detestable agent who kills wayward clients. The shoe magnate who exploits violence to sell sneakers. Despite these bigger-than-life characters, Green delivers an ingratiating, compelling story. "Double Reverse" may not be high literature, but it's good, guilty fun.

Tim Green is something of a renaissance man. A former Atlanta Falcon, he's now a New York lawyer, a commentator on NPR, an analyst for Fox football telecasts and the author of four novels. Such a pedigree makes us expect a lot from Green. He delivers with "Double Reverse" - if you're seeking guilty pleasures. Trane Jones is the vilest of pro athletes. He's egocentric, beating women sexually arouses him, and he has a rap sheet that rivals Mike Tyson's. He's also the best halfback in the NFL. Clark Cromwell, his fullback, is just the opposite. He's a born again Christian so straight he seems to have arrived via time warp from the 1950s. The two men share nothing in common - except the same girlfriend. Clark knows her as the beautiful young woman who's accepted Christ. Trane knows her as the temptress daughter of a Hollywood producer whose greatest pleasure in life is torturing men with her sexual appeal. When she winds up dead, the arm of the law ends up pointing at both men. Rare is the sports book - novel or nonfiction - that explores two of professional sports' dirtiest secrets: race and religion. After all, the playing field is supposed to make all men equal. "Double Reverse" tells us just the opposite - that players are prone to self-segregation, that money can't buy equality, and that the rise of fundamentalist athletes is as much a curse as it is a blessing. Green isn't the greatest of writers. His characters have a made-for-Lifetime quality. There's the master barrister who happens to be a stunning beauty. The detestable agent who kills wayward clients. The shoe magnate who exploits violence to sell sneakers. Despite these bigger-than-life characters, Green delivers an ingratiating, compelling story. "Double Reverse" may not be high literature, but it's good, guilty fun.

I had my doubts when I purchased this book. I seriously did not think that ex-football player Tim Green's new novel had anything to offer in my taste of books. I was wonderfully surprised to find that Green's style is quick, gritty and makes you think that the NFL can be just as mean and rotten then any other business in the world.

Green's story is about two running backs from the same team who are different in ever way shape and form. Trane Jones the halfback who is known for his blazing speed along with his temper and bad guy attitude, and Clark Cromwell a born-again christian fullback known for his blocking skills. Clark had just gotten dumped by his not so nice girlfriend Annie Cassidy, and is shocked to find out that she is know dating Trane. The hatered between them blows up throughout the first half of the book, until Annie ends up murdered. Who did it? The hothead Trane in a fit of anger or a jealous Clark?

The story sits well in the middle of Green's view of the evil side of the NFL, which is player agents. Conrad Dobbins who is Trane's agent is the bad Jerry Maguire. This novel will make you think who exactly has the power in the NFL. A way to predictable ending costs Green the fifth star, but overall was a fun ride.

DOUBLE REVERSE tells the story of the football rivalry between saintly Clark Cromwell and the destructive Trane Jones, and the woman who manipulated both for her own twisted needs and desires. Her murder during a socialite party places both men on the suspect's list and it's up to Madison Mcall, D.A. to clear the name of Clark before possibly signing another football contract. This novel would have been better if it hadn't taken so long for the first murder to kick in, while the first 100 pages of the book was devoted to the descriptions and habits of the main characters. The book took too long to get a groove going, which was not a good thing. However, the double-dealing between agents, the attempted murder of Clark, the poolside bloodshed, and the shootout at the end of the story made up for the lackluster begining. A manageable read.

Double Reverse is better plotted than Green's last novel (Red Zone) which was totally contrived. This one develops better and more believably. However, I still think that Green has trouble inventing characters in general-and African American and female characters in particular. Most of his black characters are very violent and engage in stereotypical behavior. He dwells excessively on the details of how his characters look (as though that tells us about their personalities and motivations) especially the women. As others have said, the plot is predictable--as the title gives it away. Nevertheless, I give him credit for trying, and the insider's look at the NFL is fun.

i read this book in 2 days and what a climax that holds you to the end this book has.make sure yoy read this book.

This book started out to be Tim's best, but like the Grisham book "The Firm" its ending should be changed.

New Orleans Saints journeyman running back Clark Cromwell feels he owns the world. The deeply pious Clark has found love in former actress Angel Cassidy. However, his perfect life quickly shatters when Angel decides he is too boring with his religious ways and jumps into the bed of someone else. Angel must have found a devil because she is soon found murdered with a golf club belonging to Clark's backfield mate, superstar Trane Jones.

The Saints retain Madison McCall to defend Trane. The trial lawyer immediately realizes that her client has a history of violence with women, a crime sheet, and a sneaker commercial, which takes advantage of his latest notoriety as the prime suspect. She would prefer not to represent Trane, but continues her inquiries as a favor to the team's owner and her need to presume innocence. Madison soon concludes that if Trane did not commit the act, the next viable suspect is Clark.

Former pro football player Tim Green continues to demonstrate that he is a talented author with his fifth sports mystery. DOUBLE REVERSE blitzes the reader with a fast-paced story line filled with deception. The insider's look at the NFL adds a feel of authenticity to the tale. Madison remains a refreshing attorney and the two running backs contain diametrically opposite personalities, yet seem so similar in nature. Though a defensive player in his time, Mr. Green scores a touchdown with this entertaining who-done-it.

Harriet Klausner

The book started out great, but quickly dropped off from there. It was a quick read but boring. There was no climax. Read the book, but predict the ending.

Since I am always on the lookout for good sports based novels, I picked up a copy of Tim Green's Double Reverse off the bargain rack at my local bookstore. I still paid too much. These characters are so one dimensional, it is hard to take them seriously. The Christian athletes are way over the top and have no substance. The Allan Iverson football clone is so evil that you get sick of listening to his word laden dialogue the first time he opens his mouth. Unfortunately, he talks throughout the book.

The racial stereotypes here are enough by themselves to make this a book to walk away from. The African American characters are evil and the Christian characters are freaks. I am not impressed by the callous use of these stereotypes simply to push along the plot.