Bill Shoemaker (1931–2003)

I picked this up out of curiosity. Shoemaker I knew as a jockey and I wondered if it would be comparable to the work of Dick Francis, who had also been a jockey. I wasn't disappointed but they each have their own slant and style.

Shoemaker has a lot of action going on and interesting characters. He puts a bit for sarcastic humour in than Francis. There are also some great left turns and close calls.

Ex-jockey Coley Killebrew is asked by his business partner, Johnny Rousseau to find out what is show more going on with Paula Dresner. Rousseau is smitten with Paula Dresner and sees that something is going on behind the scenes. Coley starts tailing her and finds out that there are some not-too-nice types, unusual racetrack photos and a few dead bodies that have ties to Dresner and her family. Bit by bit and piece by piece Coley puts things together and they all lead to an extremely volatile situation.

The pace is good and pretty steady. The characters are colourful. There are enough story lines to keep you guessing as you read. show less

Ex-jockey Colley Killebrew has made a successful go of it as a part owner of a thriving Las Vegas restaurant. He's even (mostly) over being accused of race-fixing seven years before. When the race steward who pressed for his disbarment comes to him with a proposition, he's a bit intrigued, but it takes the offer of information on his then-girlfriend Francie Dorn to get his cooperation.

Now he's headed for New Orleans and an undercover operation - if he can block a racetrack scam aimed at show more taking control of the Magnolia Park track, he'll get what he wants... but to do so he'll have to survive a critical lack of information, a devious ex, the mob, and a little-bitty ol' hurricane. Should be simple, right?

Not bad for a first effort, and I'll definitely track down the subsequent installments to see what Colley gets up to next. Maybe not up to Dick Francis standards yet, but definitely promising. show less

Now sole owner of the Horse's Neck, ex-jockey Coley Killebrew is enjoying a moderate amount of success and basking in his new domestic bliss - they co-signed the mortgage on a cozy little bungalow - with his tall blond fiance Lea. But domesticity shatters when Lea's father's hospitalized after a car accident. A whispered message, and Lea's determination to delve into her father's secrets lands Coley right back in the hot seat.

The DEA, CIA, the Derby, and of course, the Walrus - it's all in show more here.

Coley's third outing is better than the last. Racing may miss him, but Shoemaker writes a darn decent racing mystery. show less

When Coley's partner falls in love with the rich, spoiled daughter of a wealthy bigot, he offers Coley the chance to buy him out - if Coley's willing to do a bit of poking around. Coley's reluctant, but too tempted to pass, and it isn't long before he's neck deep in thugs and mob connections.

All isn't smooth on the romantic front either, as Lea Starbuck, Coley's tall, blond, girlfriend suddenly seems too busy to see him - and then she turns up on the arm of a spoiled playboy.

Lots of show more intrigue, a philosophizing bodyguard, and plenty of snappy patter move the story right along. Great second installment in the series. show less