Murder in the Backstretch: The Underbelly of the Horseracing Business
by Stuart Held
Published by Outskirts Press
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Reviewed by Cerri Ellis
Nassau County homicide detective Stewart James investigates what appears to be a professional hit on the backstretch at Belmont Race Course, days before the Belmont Stakes. A track veterinarian is found dead in his car trunk, two shots to the back of the head.
As the mystery unwinds, a conspiracy of greed is revealed. More dead bodies up the ante in this poker game of a thriller. In the midst of the corruption are several racing officials, and even a couple of old money ‘bluebloods’ that sit on the board of directors for the New York Racing Authority.
A romantic interest develops between Nitzi, the assistant medical examiner, and James, the homicide cop. While working the case, they try to hide their romance from interdepartmental eyes. Another detective joins the case and begins flirting with an exercise rider at the track. Throw in the mafia, a Latino street gang, and the FBI, and you have Murder In The Backstretch.
The premise has everything that attracts readers: sex, violence, and a mysterious conspiracy. I settled in for what I hoped would be a diverting gallop.
The story reads as part fiction, part exposé. As a stickler for accuracy, and having some intimate knowledge of horseracing, I must give the author extra points for his thorough research.
The book shines a light on one of the horseracing industry’s most overlooked aspect–the people behind the scenes. Instead of showcasing these hard-working folks , the book makes it seem as if everyone on the backstretch is on either the payroll of La Cosa Nostra or some homegrown version of an imported Latino street gang.
I do expect a certain technical proficiency when I read. I was dismayed to find several instances of head-hopping point of view, clumsy transitions between scenes, chunks of info dumping, and the beginner’s lament–tell vs. show.
Murder In The Backstretch is an intriguing novel, filled with colorful characters, and a blistering pace. However it would have benefited from a second or third pass of an editor’s pen.
Armchair Interviews says: Another darn good story slowed down because of lack of thorough editing.