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Coley Killebrew #3
Dark Horse
World-famous jockey-turned-mystery writer Bill Shoemaker is back in the winner's circle with his newest racing mystery that begins and ends with the Triple Crown, the most famous and lucrative trio of races in the Thoroughbred business. . . .
At the Kentucky Derby, amateur sleuth Coley Killebrew discovers that prize race horses confiscated in drug busts are being undervalued and sold at auction. And no less a personage than Jim Carmody, a ruthless billionaire and arch-conservative powermonger, is involved. Carmody blows his stack when his filly, For Cupid's Sake, loses the Derby. But after an upset at the Preakness, Coley suspects that Carmody's passion for racing is a cover for a far deeper, far darker game. . . .
"Bill Shoemaker follows Dick Francis from the racetrack to the bookshelves."
--Chicago Tribune
At the Kentucky Derby, amateur sleuth Coley Killebrew discovers that prize race horses confiscated in drug busts are being undervalued and sold at auction. And no less a personage than Jim Carmody, a ruthless billionaire and arch-conservative powermonger, is involved. Carmody blows his stack when his filly, For Cupid's Sake, loses the Derby. But after an upset at the Preakness, Coley suspects that Carmody's passion for racing is a cover for a far deeper, far darker game. . . .
"Bill Shoemaker follows Dick Francis from the racetrack to the bookshelves."
--Chicago Tribune
- GenresMystery
299 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 1996
About the author
Bill Shoemaker
14 books7 followersA jockey who raced professionally from 1949 until 1990. He won 8,833 races.
After retiring as a jockey, Shoemaker turned to training horses. His horses won 90 races from 714 starts.
After retiring as a jockey, Shoemaker turned to training horses. His horses won 90 races from 714 starts.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 17, 2019
A light, quick and enjoyable read in the style of Dick Francis. An equine who-dun-it.
September 8, 2008
DARK HORSE - G
Shoemaker, Bill - 3rd in Coley Killebrew series
At the Kentucky Derby, amateur sleuth Coley Killebrew discovers that prize racehorses confiscated in drug busts are being undervalued and sold at auction. And no less a personage than Jim Carmody, a ruthless billionaire and arch-conservative powermonger, is involved. Carmody blows his stack when his filly, For Cupid's Sake, loses the Derby. But after an upset at the Preakness, Coley suspects that Carmody's passion for racing is a cover for a far deeper, far darker game.
He's no Dick Francis and the plot was overcomplicated, but it was still enjoyable.
Shoemaker, Bill - 3rd in Coley Killebrew series
At the Kentucky Derby, amateur sleuth Coley Killebrew discovers that prize racehorses confiscated in drug busts are being undervalued and sold at auction. And no less a personage than Jim Carmody, a ruthless billionaire and arch-conservative powermonger, is involved. Carmody blows his stack when his filly, For Cupid's Sake, loses the Derby. But after an upset at the Preakness, Coley suspects that Carmody's passion for racing is a cover for a far deeper, far darker game.
He's no Dick Francis and the plot was overcomplicated, but it was still enjoyable.
November 12, 2022
This book is a fun read with a lot of pulpy fun. Killebrew is a fast-talking and fearless protagonist who really knows how to keep his cool under pressure. I don't read a lot of mysteries, so this was a nice PG-13 change of pace.
January 21, 2016
Good mystery, I am surprised that so few people on this website have read it. Skipped the second book in the series and don't intend to go pick it up unless I get in the mood for a horse related mystery sometime.
March 2, 2011
I loooove all 3 of Bill Shoemaker's books...makes me wish he would have continued with the series before he died. I highly recommend them to lovers of both mysteries and horses!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews