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The Fungo Society: Quick Baseball Mystery 1
Jonathan Quick is a baseball memorabilia dealer who is always being drawn into some sort of trouble. Join Quick at Spring Training as he hunts down a game used jersey that might be worth a fortune. Along the way, he meets the Fungo Society, a group of old ballplayers who are looking for revenge. Throw in some jealous lovers and a drug kingpin and Quick might just be in over his head!
256 pages, Paperback
Published November 24, 2015
About the author
Jeff Stanger
23 books73 followersJeff Stanger writes humorous fiction, mysteries, and satire. His most recent work is the Tales From a Roundabout collection of stories. Each takes place in Carmel, Indiana —a city known for art, status, and traffic circles. Fans of Tim Dorsey and Carl Hiaasen will enjoy these hilarious stories.
In addition, he has written the Quick Baseball Mystery series. Although they usually have the game of baseball as a backdrop, you don't have to be a student of the game or even a fan to enjoy them. There is enough mystery, danger, and even romance to keep you on the edge of your seat. The series follows the exploits of a rare baseball memorabilia dealer who always seems to land himself in the middle of a variety of crimes to be solved.
Stanger also wrote Trolley Dodgers which follows the Midwest college town of Bloomington, Indiana as they try to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also wrote Kansaska, a funny look back at the semi-pro minor leagues of the 1940s.
Reviews:
The Fungo Society: "Sprinkled with wit and the aura of a Philip Marlow mystery." ~Readers' Favorite
Tangled in The Web: "This is the second in the series but I did not read the first one yet. No matter. This book is absolutely hilarious and compelling, disturbing and fun-filled. No matter what, you just have to love Quick!" ~Amazon Review
Trolley Dodgers: "Trolley Dodgers is a story in which readers can’t help but root for the underdog, and it’s that quality that will keep them engaged." — ForeWord Magazine
72 Hours In Savannah: "Written with humor and a touch of mystery, these Jonathan Quick mysteries are fun to read whether one is a baseball fan or a mystery fan." ~Amazon Review
Kansaska: "Kansasaka is a really funny book! It has it all... baseball, aliens, country life, suspense and even a bit of romance! I don't know how anyone can pass up reading this fun American novel. Buy it now! =)" ~Amazon Review
Stanger lives and writes in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Follow:
Website & Blog: jeffstangerbooks.com
Twitter: Twitter.com/jeffstanger
Facebook: Facebook.com/jeffstangerfanpage
In addition, he has written the Quick Baseball Mystery series. Although they usually have the game of baseball as a backdrop, you don't have to be a student of the game or even a fan to enjoy them. There is enough mystery, danger, and even romance to keep you on the edge of your seat. The series follows the exploits of a rare baseball memorabilia dealer who always seems to land himself in the middle of a variety of crimes to be solved.
Stanger also wrote Trolley Dodgers which follows the Midwest college town of Bloomington, Indiana as they try to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also wrote Kansaska, a funny look back at the semi-pro minor leagues of the 1940s.
Reviews:
The Fungo Society: "Sprinkled with wit and the aura of a Philip Marlow mystery." ~Readers' Favorite
Tangled in The Web: "This is the second in the series but I did not read the first one yet. No matter. This book is absolutely hilarious and compelling, disturbing and fun-filled. No matter what, you just have to love Quick!" ~Amazon Review
Trolley Dodgers: "Trolley Dodgers is a story in which readers can’t help but root for the underdog, and it’s that quality that will keep them engaged." — ForeWord Magazine
72 Hours In Savannah: "Written with humor and a touch of mystery, these Jonathan Quick mysteries are fun to read whether one is a baseball fan or a mystery fan." ~Amazon Review
Kansaska: "Kansasaka is a really funny book! It has it all... baseball, aliens, country life, suspense and even a bit of romance! I don't know how anyone can pass up reading this fun American novel. Buy it now! =)" ~Amazon Review
Stanger lives and writes in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Follow:
Website & Blog: jeffstangerbooks.com
Twitter: Twitter.com/jeffstanger
Facebook: Facebook.com/jeffstangerfanpage
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 12, 2019
Enjoyable mystery with some great whacky characters. Baseball memorabilia tracker-downer is called in to investigate the death of one of the Fungo Society's members.
Not that enamoured of Quick's bed-hopping antics, but liked his smart mouth and witty, sometimes witless, repartee, particularly when it led to a smack on the head for him!
Really enjoyed Quick's unraveling of the mystery. Most of the baseball stuff might as well have been in ancient Egyptian because the latter is probably more familiar to me. But hunting for the baseball artifacts, as Quick refers to them was indeed interesting.
And the geriatric sleuths of the Fungo society that kept getting the wrong end of every stick and just creating havoc were downright amusing. Hope Quick gets called back by them as its bound to lead to more senile moments.
Not that enamoured of Quick's bed-hopping antics, but liked his smart mouth and witty, sometimes witless, repartee, particularly when it led to a smack on the head for him!
Really enjoyed Quick's unraveling of the mystery. Most of the baseball stuff might as well have been in ancient Egyptian because the latter is probably more familiar to me. But hunting for the baseball artifacts, as Quick refers to them was indeed interesting.
And the geriatric sleuths of the Fungo society that kept getting the wrong end of every stick and just creating havoc were downright amusing. Hope Quick gets called back by them as its bound to lead to more senile moments.
October 22, 2016
Stanger is a writer to watch for.
Stanger’s A Fungo Society takes place in the world of collectors, a male-dominated section of society. Protagonist Jonathan Quick is a young dealer set loose in the old world of baseball artifacts. This world is losing its young, avid collectors of baseball cards to the rich and horny. This time Quick is on the trail of something ball player, Eddie Sloane now dead, left behind for his daughter, Jessica Sloane. Or not. Because there is no record of Babe Ruth’s 1938 jersey among Sloan’s effects. The Fungo Society also want Quick’s services to prove that Sloane’s partner, the real estate magnate-what else could he be-Byrne drove Eddie to kill himself.
So now Quick has two clients: Sloane’s daughter and all of The Fungo Society. Care of the latter, Quick is in Phoenix for the spring schedule. Seems a pretty simple plot. However, one thing leads to another and soon Quick is embroiled in narcotics smuggling, DEA, St. Patrick’s Day, green bats filled with confetti.
Of course this being a man’s world, stereotypes are hard to avoid. All the men are looking to get laid and there are plenty of women to please and tease them. The worst are the stinky rich who have long-legged, slender high-heeled blondes hanging on to their every word until someone with even more money comes along.
My quibbles are simple: inconsistency with tenses and punctuation; Ramona; and the part where the DEA comes in needs to be addressed. Quick’s relationship with Ramona is to the point and leaves nothing to be added. However, Stanger’s portrayal of Ramona is sketchy. Ramona is a disappointment, while Valerie Westergren has more substance and shows promise.
The way Stanger sets up the take down of Carlos Gomez and his gang is very slick, his punch lines placed at exactly the right spot. I can see the world of artifact collectors right before my eyes as I’m following Quick’s progress. The members of the Fungo Society are memorable and their escapades hilarious. Stanger ends with his tongue-in-cheek humor and with a bang leaving me wanting more. I very much like Stanger’s writing. Can’t wait to read my next Quick episode. Stanger is a writer to watch for.
Stanger’s A Fungo Society takes place in the world of collectors, a male-dominated section of society. Protagonist Jonathan Quick is a young dealer set loose in the old world of baseball artifacts. This world is losing its young, avid collectors of baseball cards to the rich and horny. This time Quick is on the trail of something ball player, Eddie Sloane now dead, left behind for his daughter, Jessica Sloane. Or not. Because there is no record of Babe Ruth’s 1938 jersey among Sloan’s effects. The Fungo Society also want Quick’s services to prove that Sloane’s partner, the real estate magnate-what else could he be-Byrne drove Eddie to kill himself.
So now Quick has two clients: Sloane’s daughter and all of The Fungo Society. Care of the latter, Quick is in Phoenix for the spring schedule. Seems a pretty simple plot. However, one thing leads to another and soon Quick is embroiled in narcotics smuggling, DEA, St. Patrick’s Day, green bats filled with confetti.
Of course this being a man’s world, stereotypes are hard to avoid. All the men are looking to get laid and there are plenty of women to please and tease them. The worst are the stinky rich who have long-legged, slender high-heeled blondes hanging on to their every word until someone with even more money comes along.
My quibbles are simple: inconsistency with tenses and punctuation; Ramona; and the part where the DEA comes in needs to be addressed. Quick’s relationship with Ramona is to the point and leaves nothing to be added. However, Stanger’s portrayal of Ramona is sketchy. Ramona is a disappointment, while Valerie Westergren has more substance and shows promise.
The way Stanger sets up the take down of Carlos Gomez and his gang is very slick, his punch lines placed at exactly the right spot. I can see the world of artifact collectors right before my eyes as I’m following Quick’s progress. The members of the Fungo Society are memorable and their escapades hilarious. Stanger ends with his tongue-in-cheek humor and with a bang leaving me wanting more. I very much like Stanger’s writing. Can’t wait to read my next Quick episode. Stanger is a writer to watch for.
February 9, 2018
The Fungo Society by Jeff Stanger is a story which revolves around the baseball game. Jonathan Quick has been appointed to find out why Eddie was killed by a bunch of old baseball players at the Fungo Society.
The writing is decent and the characters are funny at times but somehow this book didn’t hold my interest. Maybe this genre is not my type but this is definitely just a “one time” read for me. This book might grab the interest of readers who love baseball and baseball players. But somehow, I didn’t feel connected to the story and the characters.
Originally posted in Reading Alley
The writing is decent and the characters are funny at times but somehow this book didn’t hold my interest. Maybe this genre is not my type but this is definitely just a “one time” read for me. This book might grab the interest of readers who love baseball and baseball players. But somehow, I didn’t feel connected to the story and the characters.
Originally posted in Reading Alley
September 18, 2021
Unexpectedly comical and endearing
The Fungo Society is a group of old baseball players that hire Quick to find proof that someone caused one of their members to commit suicide. They wanted him to find a way to destroy this individual. Many comical things happened, usually with some of the Fungo society involved. Quick finds weaknesses in this man’s businesses and ways to target them. There turned out to be lots of illegal activities and the man will end up in prison. I really enjoyed this book.
The Fungo Society is a group of old baseball players that hire Quick to find proof that someone caused one of their members to commit suicide. They wanted him to find a way to destroy this individual. Many comical things happened, usually with some of the Fungo society involved. Quick finds weaknesses in this man’s businesses and ways to target them. There turned out to be lots of illegal activities and the man will end up in prison. I really enjoyed this book.
September 8, 2022
This is a fun read for anyone who haunts Scottsdale Arizona during baseball spring training.
It is amusing in its observations but also a bit of a male fantasy, as the POV character keeps falling into bed with all of the ladies.
It gives insight into memorabilia buying and selling and although not a murder mystery, there is the investigation into a suicide.
I enjoyed it and also enjoy Jeff's newsletter, available free.
I purchased a copy.
It is amusing in its observations but also a bit of a male fantasy, as the POV character keeps falling into bed with all of the ladies.
It gives insight into memorabilia buying and selling and although not a murder mystery, there is the investigation into a suicide.
I enjoyed it and also enjoy Jeff's newsletter, available free.
I purchased a copy.
November 6, 2017
You don't often come across a book that combines baseball and baseball memorabilia in a mystery that basically borrows from traditional private detective pulp narratives. This is a light-hearted, decidedly male dominated story about a dead player's old jersey. You'll roll your eyes a few times, or maybe more than a few, but the plot moves along nicely.
April 2, 2022
Quick and twisted
An unusual story about sports memorabilia and the unusual ways of collecting it. It is funny and comical, with characters who are almost stereotypes, but still work.
An unusual story about sports memorabilia and the unusual ways of collecting it. It is funny and comical, with characters who are almost stereotypes, but still work.
May 17, 2022
A whole lot of fun packed into this story. The main character Quick is a hoot. Lots of one-liners to love, and who couldn't like the setting of Arizona during spring training?
July 10, 2016
Jonathan Quick, a baseball memorabilia dealer who answers a call for assistance from the Fungo Society, a group of older retired baseball players residing in Phoenix. Because Quick can find things, the Society wants him to find out who killed their friend and Society member Eddie. The Fungo Society wants revenge on who they believed who was responsible for their friend’s death and Quick’s investigation of this matter, along with some wheeling and dealing for jerseys and other memorabilia, is the subject of this humorous, fun-to-read novel by Jeff Stanger.
Quick is the type of guy who always finds a way to get into trouble, whether is it with other dealers, with women or with criminals and he finds plenty of it in this story. How he manages to get out of so many jams and still be able to work on solving the mystery of Eddie’s death and even make a couple of good deals on rare jerseys is a fun adventure. The reader will be rooting for Quick’s crazy ideas to work and will also agree with many of the other characters who tell him it’s time to settle down instead of getting into trouble because of women.
Along with Quick, the elderly gentleman of the Fungo Society, Eddie’s daughter and Quick’s latest fling Ramona are all characters that the reader will enjoy and make the story hilarious, even if a bit far-fetched at times. But that is part of the charm and fun of this book - the story is just so fun to read. One doesn’t have to be a baseball fan or memorabilia collector to enjoy the book, but Stanger does show his knowledge of the sport and the business throughout the book. That gives Quick and some of the minor characters more credibility and therefore the ability to capture the heart of the reader. Those who like reading mysteries with plenty of humor mixed in as well as intrigue will enjoy this book.
I wish to thank Mr. Stanger for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
Quick is the type of guy who always finds a way to get into trouble, whether is it with other dealers, with women or with criminals and he finds plenty of it in this story. How he manages to get out of so many jams and still be able to work on solving the mystery of Eddie’s death and even make a couple of good deals on rare jerseys is a fun adventure. The reader will be rooting for Quick’s crazy ideas to work and will also agree with many of the other characters who tell him it’s time to settle down instead of getting into trouble because of women.
Along with Quick, the elderly gentleman of the Fungo Society, Eddie’s daughter and Quick’s latest fling Ramona are all characters that the reader will enjoy and make the story hilarious, even if a bit far-fetched at times. But that is part of the charm and fun of this book - the story is just so fun to read. One doesn’t have to be a baseball fan or memorabilia collector to enjoy the book, but Stanger does show his knowledge of the sport and the business throughout the book. That gives Quick and some of the minor characters more credibility and therefore the ability to capture the heart of the reader. Those who like reading mysteries with plenty of humor mixed in as well as intrigue will enjoy this book.
I wish to thank Mr. Stanger for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews