The story centers around the exploitation of poor black athletes, in this case a basketball phenom, by scholastic athletic programs and coaches. Norman lives on the Florida Gulf Coast for part of the year, his column for National Review is on sports, and he writes about hunting and the outdoors for Sports Afield. This entry in the series gives him the chance to flex all his muscles, which he does to good effect.
Enjoyable mystery. Somewhat cliched characters, but unusual setting and storyline. Easy and fun read.
Introduced in Sweetwater Ranch, excon Morgan Hunt is a carpenter and occasional PI in the tranquil backwoods of the Florida panhandle, where he lives a kind of existential L. L. Bean dream, sipping good booze, loving a good woman, refurbishing his remote 20-room farmhouse and pondering his cheekered career.
Some men play by the rules-others KILL TO WIN. William coleman is a "blue chipper"--a high school basketball phenom destined for the NBA. His brother is in jail with a ticket to "the chair". The family is assured he won't fry if Will agrees to a dealmaker's terms. Ex-con Morgan Hunt recognizes extortion's stink. He discovers some lively & ugly competition where the players are killing each other for the big score.
Some men play by the rules-others KILL TO WIN. William coleman is a "blue chipper"--a high school basketball phenom destined for the NBA. His brother is in jail with a ticket to "the chair". The family is assured he won't fry if Will agrees to a dealmaker's terms. Ex-con Morgan Hunt recognizes extortion's stink. He discovers some lively & ugly competition where the players are killing each other for the big score.
