Mickey Rawlings is nicely drawn as the 25th man on the roster, always struggling to keep his spot on the team, ever mindful that injury to himself or getting on the wrong side team management could mark the end of his baseball career.

The baseball sequences are great. I've always been more of a fan of baseball history than baseball present and really enjoy the details provided.

The storyline's outside the ballpark are equally enjoyable. In this edition we get some insight into the workings of the IWW and Henry Ford's secret police as Mickey works to clear himself of a murder in self defense charge.

This is a really fun read.

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:

Absorbing tale, entertaining, full of details from 1920  Oct 25, 1998

I don't often finish a mystery, but this book had me wanting to know what comes next. Mickey Rawlings is a charming character because he is very human, and the story is absorbing because it involves a wide variety of details from 1920 -- labor wars, the Detroit Tigers, vaudeville, etc. A good, entertaining read.

5 of 6 found the following review helpful:

This Series Hits A Home Run Every Time!  Jun 30, 2000
By Kim K.
Troy Soos' baseball mysteries are always fun to read. Full of historical baseball references as well as a murder mystery that usually takes place in the opening pages, you can't help being caught up in the adventures of utility infielder Mickey Rawlings. This particular story takes place in 1920 when Mickey finds a slot on the Detroit Tigers, playing along side the temperamental Ty Cobb. Mickey is unjustly accused of murdering a union organizer, merely because of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pick this one up soon and especially if you're a true baseball fan you will enjoy reading of the events of the time as well as a good time mystery. Highly recommended.

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:

Mickey did it again  Jun 07, 2006
By Paul Skinner
Mickey Rawlings is a mediocre infielder who keeps changing baseball teams, yet stumbles over dead bodies with each new team. Our hero is embroiled in the death of a retired baseball player and union organizer. The police have labelled the death as self defense from Mickey, but Mickey knows he has nothing to do with it. Meanwhile, both the union members (the "wobblies"), Mickey's baseball teammates, the baseball owners, and a scary component of the federal government are all tugging at Mickey in opposite directions over the issue of his support or lack of support for labor unions in general. Mickey is most concerned about clearing his name so some overzealous wobblies don't go after him with a vendetta. Plenty of baseball and romance are sprinkled into the mix. As other reviewers have noted, this book carries a social message too. Enjoy the history and the mystery.

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

Hunting A Detroit Tiger  Aug 09, 2009
By All About Mysteries "All About Mysteries"
This is a strong mystery that also provides great historical information. Baseball and mystery, what more could you want out of a book?

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