Three Strikes and You're dead by Michael A. Daper

Baseball players go on strike and the fans are not happy. A baseball chat room, where people are venting about baseball, the (ball players) salaries, the strike, and more, is started. One member only known as "The Vindicator" decides to take matters into his hands and starts to kill off baseball players.

Three private investigators along with the FBI, try to stay one step ahead of the killer , track him down and bring him in. An original murder/mystery with likable characters, suspense, action and some drama. I loved the plot, I love baseball, I was hooked from the first page. A definite all night read! Murder/Mystery lovers (and baseball fans) should enjoy Three Strikes and You're Dead; ! ( )

I'm a baseball fan, I read a fair number of mysteries, and I remember the last baseball strike. So when the author offered a new book featuring all of the above to review, I thought I'd give it a whirl. There's a lot of potential in fan angst, wealthy players and greedy owners.

In Three Strikes and You're Dead, a group of rookie private investigators who have solved previous mysteries centering around sports teams is hired by Major League Baseball to investigate the murder of star players during a baseball strike. It's a mix of police procedural and suspense with a surprisingly cozy mystery feel - not quite what I expected. The plot is good, with a few surprises. I was less impressed with Draper's ear for dialog - in spots it just didn't ring true for me.

I'd recommend it as a light mystery good for times when a distraction is needed - it would be great for an airplane ride or a long commute. ( )

Author's guest post at my blog:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2015/01/foodfic-please-welcome-michael-draper.html

Three Strikes and You're Dead by Michael Draper
I liked this book for a few reasons: it's about baseball players and the travel. It's not a book I'd typically read but the author sent a copy along.
I hope baseball never goes on strike, it's too American but with the very high paychecks some get, in this story the game is put on hold. A few of the higher paid players are killed, by various means and we learn their story and also that others are planning for more deaths.
They want the game to go back to what it used to be, for fun. Love charity that comes out of this book-paying it forward. Also we are given a group that plan to solve what is going on. Like all the travel and very detailed descriptions of the places traveled to. Interesting to find out how they all got together and formed the PI group.
Surprised me at the end, didn't think it'd end that way.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. ( )

I was asked by the author if I would review his second book, Three Strikes and You're Dead. As I had read Splattered Blood I was eager to read it. This book carries over the same characters, as in the previous book. There is a baseball strike going on and a lot of unhappy fans. One such fan decides to take matters into his own hands and starts killing the highest paid players in the sport. I guess I can empathize with the reasoning, not the actual deed of killing the players. I also think that sports figures get pain an exorbitant amount of money to the point that it is a game of money and not the sport at all. Sure there may be great ball players out there but it seems that they are motivated by the fame and money, not the thrill of the game. Going to a major league game is pretty prohibitive for a family to enjoy live.

Mr. Draper writes an intelligent story with lots of mystery and suspense, full of twists and turns as the FBI and the amateur investigators race against the clock to save more players from getting killed. The excitement keeps the reader going until the last page is turned. Some have likened Mr.Draper's style of writing to that of Elmore Leonard and Robert B.Parker. I think that this is a book that will be enjoyed by mystery lovers and baseball fans alike. I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of the book for review by the author and was not monetarily compensated for said review. ( )