Customer Reviews

Hanging Curve

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being a mystery writer with my first novel in its initial release, I have been a great admirer of Troy Soos for years. I have been reading his Mickey Rawlings novels since the beginning, and I wrote an early critical essay about them that appeared in Mystery Reader's Journal. Since the publication of that essay, Soos has written two fresh Mickey Rawlings mysteries, and HANGING CURVE is easily the strongest in the entire series. HANGING CURVE lands Mickey, our journeyman everyman, in St. Louis where he is playing for the Browns and tangling with the KKK. He's attempting to solve a murder, a lynching, amid the racial turmoil of the Roaring Twenties in America's Midwest. As always, the mystery elements of these books are terrific. Another crucial element of these novels is the historical backdrop that Soos paints with his words. His history is painstakingly researched and utterly accurate. In HANGING CURVE, Soos presents an era with social problems of which many people may be unaware. On all levels, HANGING CURVE is the best mystery Troy Soos has written so far. Great book, whether or not you love baseball (as you should).

Great Read! Troy Soos has hit another home run in this Mickey Rawlings mystery. Nobody combines baseball and mystery like Troy Soos. You will look at Negro League Baseball with new respect after reading Hanging Curve. I love the way Soos mixes real and fictional characters. I could almost hear Cool Papa Bell sliding into the base after reading this book. Educational and entertaining, what more do you want from a book?

I enjoyed this book more for its insights into 1920's St. Louis society and baseball, rather than the mystery and romantic aspects. The old Browns were a rather sad lot, even in the 20's when they had good teams. I'd like to see Mickey play with the Phillies or Athletics or Indians in the near future. Keep it up Troy!

Troy Soos has created a character the we all dream of being. Who among us has not dreamed of being a professional baseball player, who can solve crimes at the same time.

Troy's Mickey Rawling's murder mystery series gives the reader an historical backdrop in which a "utility" infielder gets himself into the most unique scenarios.

In Hanging Curve Mickey once again solves the crime, saves his neck and gets the girl, while at the same going against the baseball establishment and sticking to his true beliefs.

Maybe someday Mickey will hit .300 and play in a world series but until that time we can still be amazed at his place hitting crime solving skills.

Thanks again Troy for hitting a homerun.

Troy Soos had me hooked with Murder at Ebbetts Field. Having been a former ballplayer myself, I was able to live vicariously through Mickey Rawlings. Soos' writing style transports you back to the days when baseball was a game and you played for the love of it. Hanging Curve is as gripping as any mystery I've ever read. Combined with Soos' historical accounts, I swear I felt like I was watching him from the stands at Sportsman's Park. Mickey Rawlings takes the reader on every adventure, like you're helping him solve the crime. It took me two nights to read this book -- I couldn't put it down until I found out "who-done-it." The bigger mystery to me is when Mickey will get his chance to play in the Series and, more importantly, when will he finally say his "I do's" with Margie???

I love a good mystery. I also love the game of baseball and I am a history buff. This book was a three in one pleasure for me. It combines all three of these subjects in a flowing style that is a joy to read. Not only does it bring to life the baseball heros that we never got the chance to see, but it also gives us an idea of what it was like to live in those times. Do yourself a favor and read this book it is like taking a trip in a time machine.

Ive read and enjoyed all of Troy Soos' baseball novels, and this is as good as any hes written. Soos gives us a great story of old time baseball, the Negro Leagues, and even fully explained the political tenor of the times through the rise of the KKK and its effect on society. Soos was incredibly accurate in his descriptions, and his book was so entertaining I couldnt put it down.

This applies to the audio version.

Final entry in the Mickey Rawlings historical baseball series. The books' settings are each spaced out by a few years, and this one takes place in 1922 St. Louis as Mickey, still a utility infielder, plays for the St. Louis Browns. Each of his books also deals with social issues of the day, and this one deals with the Negro baseball leagues, Jim Crow laws, the Ku Klux Klan and lynchings, and it was a very painful book to listen to. It was excellent--just made me mad as hell. I am sad, too, that there are no more books in this series.

I've thoroughly enjoyed knowing Mickey and Margie, his friends and (the author's real strength) the historical settings and social issues happening in the different cities Mickey's played in. I've listened to all these in the audio format, read by Johnny Heller, who does an excellent job with the 'tone' of the books and has become Mickey's voice to me. Farewell, Mickey, and thanks for the entertainment! A.

As a fan of the Mickey Rawling's series, this book was great! This book kept my attention and I could hardly put it down! I would also recommend "Murder at Wrigley Field". Troy Soos is a great author.

This is the best Mickey Rawlings' mystery since the first two appeared. It involves the Negro Leagues and is informative and engaging on that topic as well as race relations in the United States at the time (circa 1922). In terms of the history aspect, I believe it is the best of the books.

The entire series is very good and stands up well to rereading.