Bush League ball player Mickey Rawlings is thrilled for his major league debut with the 1912 Boston Red Sox. His late arrival at Fenway Park is marred by a wrong turn down a darkened hallway only to find a bludgeoned body and a bloody baseball bat. Who was he? Does he have anything to do with the team? Why do the police think Rawlings is the murderer?

A fairly straight forward mystery, although it takes a good while to get to actual crime solving or detecting. Rawlings may be one of the dumbest and most frustrating crime solvers around. Do ya' know those slasher movies where you can't believe the idiot is stupid enough to go down to the cellar even when she knows the killer is in the house? Sort of like that, but with less tension or suspense. I did like his moving picture ticket-taker lady friend. Too bad she only made a limited appearance.

I'll give you that this is Soos' debut novel in the Mickey Rawlings series. I've read that later books in the series are better and can standalone without the benefit of reading this one. If you are absolutely in love with old time baseball, or are one of those completist souls when it comes to series, you'll want to read this book. either way, you'll have to resist the urge to hit the man upside the head. As a fan of baseball in general, old time baseball more specifically, as well as long time Boston resident, I truly wanted to love this book. That I wasn't entranced is likely due to the freshman efforts of the author. I'm willing to give his subsequent works a look-see just because I like the premise. ( )

Utility player Mickey Rawlings arrives at Fenway Park to start the season with the Red Sox. While searching for the offices to report to management, he stumbles over a dead body. Although Mickey has just arrived in Boston and hardly knows anyone in town, he finds himself suspected of the man's murder. Afraid that he'll be blamed for the murder if the police fail to find the killer, Mickey sets out to solve the crime without calling more attention to himself in the process. The more Mickey learns, the more the clues point to the already legendary Ty Cobb. Could the best baseball player in the country also be a killer?

This is the first book in the Mickey Rawlings series and it has some weaknesses common to series debuts. The unraveling of the mystery stalls in the middle of the book as it takes a back seat to baseball. I started this series out of order so I know that the balance between baseball and sleuthing improves. However, it seems like convoluted mystery plots may be characteristic for this series. I like both baseball and historical mysteries so I plan to continue reading this series, especially since I already know that the stories will get better. ( )

I read this when I was a kid and was thoroughly impressed. On re-read, yeah sure it's fun, but best read if one is 14 and really into baseball. ( )

After finding one of his baseball cards, Red Sox utility infielder Mickey Rawlings finds himself transported back to 1912. He heads to Fenway Park, discovers a dead body, and is quickly drawn into mystery and murder both of which center around the Red Sox, Fenway Park, and baseball legends. This book is the first installment in the Mickey Rawlings mysteries.