A Killing at the Track (Jeri Howard Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Janet Dawson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Jeri Howard Mysteries | Publication Date: May 2, 2000

Investigator Jeri Howard is fascinated by the beautiful horses and the zealous spectators at stylish Edgewater Downs. But behind the scenes, where the owners, trainers, jockeys, and grooms mingle, life is not so pretty.

Someone is terrorizing owner-trainer Molly Torrance with sinister phone threats. Who would be so malicious? Jeri's money is on ambitious jockey Benita Pascal, whom Molly recently fired. But what about great horses suddenly losing races? Or the blonde Jeri spies betting a bundle on the longest of long shots? And what about . . . cold-blooded murder? For when death's dark horse hugs the rail, Jeri gallops to find a ruthless killer.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jeri combines V.I. [Warshawki]'s social conscience with Kinsey [Millhone]'s bad-ass attitude and snappy narrative voice."
--The Washington Post Book World

From the Inside Flap

Investigator Jeri Howard is fascinated by the beautiful horses and the zealous spectators at stylish Edgewater Downs. But behind the scenes, where the owners, trainers, jockeys, and grooms mingle, life is not so pretty.

Someone is terrorizing owner-trainer Molly Torrance with sinister phone threats. Who would be so malicious? Jeri's money is on ambitious jockey Benita Pascal, whom Molly recently fired. But what about great horses suddenly losing races? Or the blonde Jeri spies betting a bundle on the longest of long shots? And what about . . . cold-blooded murder? For when death's dark horse hugs the rail, Jeri gallops to find a ruthless killer.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (May 2, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449005313
• ISBN-13: 978-0449005316
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #524,011 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In elementary school, Janet Dawson wrote mysteries in longhand on lined binder paper, influenced by those blue-backed Nancy Drew books she devoured. Now Janet writes about private investigator Jeri Howard. Her first book, Kindred Crimes, won the St. Martin's Press/Private Eye Writers of America contest for Best Private Eye Novel, and was nominated for Shamus, Anthony and Macavity awards. Other books include Till The Old Men Die, Take A Number, Don't Turn Your Back On The Ocean, Nobody's Child, A Credible Threat, Where The Bodies Are Buried, A Killing At The Track, and the latest entry in the series, Bit Player.

Janet was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Colorado. With a journalism degree from the University of Colorado, she worked as a newspaper reporter, then joined the Navy. An enlisted journalist, she wrote news and features in public affairs offices in Guam and Pensacola, FL. As an officer, her duties took her to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she lives in Alameda. Janet has a master's degree in history from California State University East Bay and can't think of anything she wants to study enough to go back to grad school. She currently works at the University of California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For fans of Jeri Howard and Horse Racing, May 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Killing at the Track (Jeri Howard Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

As a favor to her friend David Vanitzky, Jeri investigates threats made against racehorse owner and trainer Molly Torrance. Unfortunately, Jeri's primary suspect is soon murdered and she is left with more questions about Molly's relationships and past. The action moves along quickly and Dawson provides a fascinating study of the world of horseracing. One of my concerns about this novel is that too little time is spent on Jeri's personal life, especially in comparison to her eight previous mysteries. Also, many of the plot twists are predictable and the confession virtually falls into her lap. Overall though, this is a fast, enjoyable read, while not one of Dawson's best.