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Football Detective #1
Foul Play
Danny Harte
is obessed with two things-
watching football and tackling crime.
So when his hero, the legendary footballer Sam Roberts,is kidnapped, Danny gets on the case, and fast. Danny was being chased through the streets on the dark night Roberts disappeared, and was the last person to see Roberts before he went missing.
Now Danny wants an answer to the question on everybody's lips - who would hold England's star striker to ransom - and why?
is obessed with two things-
watching football and tackling crime.
So when his hero, the legendary footballer Sam Roberts,is kidnapped, Danny gets on the case, and fast. Danny was being chased through the streets on the dark night Roberts disappeared, and was the last person to see Roberts before he went missing.
Now Danny wants an answer to the question on everybody's lips - who would hold England's star striker to ransom - and why?
- GenresYoung AdultChildrens
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
16 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
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January 30, 2020Tom Palmer foul play is an easy short book. If you love the game of football but also like some mystery and crime this book is perfect for you. Palmer writes about a young teenager called Danny Harte. Danny loves football and the book is about when Danny goes to watch City FC to inspect if anything is going wrong such as burglaries. And at the game he watches his favourite striker Roberts get kidnapped and he he is then dragged into what’s happening and what he could do to help
January 25, 2017
Danny is obsessed with two things: football - especially City Football Club - and investigating crimes.
It’s late at night. Danny Harte is investigating some burglaries near the City FC football stadium, the team he loves. Whilst filming two burglars, his battery starts beeeping, drawing their attention.
He witnesses the kidnap of his favourite player, striker, Sam Roberts. So when England and City footballing hero Sam Roberts is reported missing the day after Danny saw him being taken, blindfolded, into the bowels of the City FC stadium late at night, he's determined to get to the bottom of it. As he tries to work out who did it and why, he is dragged into the twisted world of a ruthless football chairman. Sir Richard has in fact kidnapped Sam Roberts and now that he knows that Danny knows, he is determined to kill him. "If you'd just stayed out of it, Roberts would have been on the plane to the finals in a fortnight,' Sir Richard went on. 'A more valuable player than ever after all the kidnapping publicity. I... the club would have made millions out of merchandise and promotional opportunities... I am doing this for the club.'" - P104. In the meantime, Sir Richard had supposedly been negotiating with the I.K.G.P re having Sam Roberts released.
He manages to escape but has the dilemma, that no one will believe him. It is only when he recalls the name and phone number of a sympathetic journalist, that he finally can tell the real story. However, evidence is needed and Sir Richard drove at Danny in his car and crashed into the gate. At the press conference, the journalist alleges that Sam Roberts is being held in the basement under guard by an armed man. Everyone rushes to try and see. But when they all go to look, he is not there.
He returns back home, a crush interest with Charlotte is developing and then he is kidnapped by the two burglars. He convinces them to help him try and find Sam Roberts in order to get the million dollar reward. Eventually, Roberts if found blind-folded in Sir Richard's kitchen next to his office. Naturally, Sam Roberts thinks Danny is a hero for having saved him and gives him top tickets in one of his forthcoming matches.
The one ShowShot at, abducted and led helpless to his execution, can he come out of it alive?
It’s late at night. Danny Harte is investigating some burglaries near the City FC football stadium, the team he loves. Whilst filming two burglars, his battery starts beeeping, drawing their attention.
He witnesses the kidnap of his favourite player, striker, Sam Roberts. So when England and City footballing hero Sam Roberts is reported missing the day after Danny saw him being taken, blindfolded, into the bowels of the City FC stadium late at night, he's determined to get to the bottom of it. As he tries to work out who did it and why, he is dragged into the twisted world of a ruthless football chairman. Sir Richard has in fact kidnapped Sam Roberts and now that he knows that Danny knows, he is determined to kill him. "If you'd just stayed out of it, Roberts would have been on the plane to the finals in a fortnight,' Sir Richard went on. 'A more valuable player than ever after all the kidnapping publicity. I... the club would have made millions out of merchandise and promotional opportunities... I am doing this for the club.'" - P104. In the meantime, Sir Richard had supposedly been negotiating with the I.K.G.P re having Sam Roberts released.
He manages to escape but has the dilemma, that no one will believe him. It is only when he recalls the name and phone number of a sympathetic journalist, that he finally can tell the real story. However, evidence is needed and Sir Richard drove at Danny in his car and crashed into the gate. At the press conference, the journalist alleges that Sam Roberts is being held in the basement under guard by an armed man. Everyone rushes to try and see. But when they all go to look, he is not there.
He returns back home, a crush interest with Charlotte is developing and then he is kidnapped by the two burglars. He convinces them to help him try and find Sam Roberts in order to get the million dollar reward. Eventually, Roberts if found blind-folded in Sir Richard's kitchen next to his office. Naturally, Sam Roberts thinks Danny is a hero for having saved him and gives him top tickets in one of his forthcoming matches.
The one ShowShot at, abducted and led helpless to his execution, can he come out of it alive?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2021
This was a cool story blending a boy crime fighting amongst the world of football.
Danny Roberts footballing hero Sam Roberts has been kidnapped.
But things are a little suspicious so Danny hangs around the stadium and sees Sam being bundled inside.
Is this a fake kidnap?
Is he really being held inside the football stadium?
Is the local town businessman who on the surface done a lot for City football club involved?
Danny is determined to find out even if it puts him danger with the bad guys and in fear for his life!
Fast paced teen crime fighting which will of course appeal to football fans as even my niece who is mad on football has read some of these.
Good fun and engaging storyline.
Danny Roberts footballing hero Sam Roberts has been kidnapped.
But things are a little suspicious so Danny hangs around the stadium and sees Sam being bundled inside.
Is this a fake kidnap?
Is he really being held inside the football stadium?
Is the local town businessman who on the surface done a lot for City football club involved?
Danny is determined to find out even if it puts him danger with the bad guys and in fear for his life!
Fast paced teen crime fighting which will of course appeal to football fans as even my niece who is mad on football has read some of these.
Good fun and engaging storyline.
March 1, 2018
One of the best football books of all time. This book has loads of amazing action I could barely take my eyes off it. The book is really well written and is very descriptive.
December 11, 2019
Interesting book
December 30, 2024
A fast paced, action story, this is a great read for reluctant teenage boys who enjoy sports and crime.
February 27, 2025
Easy but well-written enjoyable book for KS3 pupils' reading for pleasure
August 20, 2025
When his favourite football player goes missing, Danny springs into full detective mode, in this, the first in a series of five books.
Danny is a relatable 14-year-old boy and the story has it all, action, reflection, mystery and even a touch of romance.
This would be a great series to engage reluctant readers, also great school holidays reading.
Danny is a relatable 14-year-old boy and the story has it all, action, reflection, mystery and even a touch of romance.
This would be a great series to engage reluctant readers, also great school holidays reading.
March 2, 2015
Abderrahmane Azmi
Tom Palmer's book "Foul play" starts with tension and crime. Two burglars are wanting to get in a store and get filmed by Danny. "Danny took out his video camera" (Palmer 5). The tension is necessarily the stress that Danny goes through. The boy's heart became heavy, his fingers were trembling and he himself was shaking. In conclusion, the start is full of tension and crime.
The author uses some figurative language and Danny gets caught. In the first few pages, figurative speech is used, "He felt like a fish caught in a net" and "Then Danny saw that the man was waving something in his hand. He tried to see what it was. A small piece of dark card. For a minute the man looked like a referee sending him off." are examples (Palmer 9-10). Before the figurative language, Danny gets caught by a tall, young burglar and an old, short burglar. This "caught you in action" happened when they heard the sound that Danny's low-battery camera emitted while it was filming. To conclude, figurative language is in the book and Danny's espionnage gets him caught.
Quality authors and Danny's dad's blinded story cover the third chapter. Danny is very interested in crime and investigation and cultivate himself further more by reading books written by superlative authors. "American: Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Lots of guns and a high body count. Or the Belgian writer Georges Simenon. Danny enjoyed them, but also liked British thriller writers like Graham Greene and John Buchan" (Palmer 13). Danny's father is blind and has a sad story to recount. The father's blinding happened during an accident at his work. As an end, Danny reads about crime and has a blind father.
Danny gets exposed to more danger, both familially and criminally. Danny gets seen. Seen by dangerous felons that might kidnap him and punish him quite severely if they know what he's been investigating on. Also, Danny expresses how his dad might "kill" him if he finds out what his son's been up to lately. "His dad would kill him if he knew" (Palmer 13). To end, Danny's danger adds up.
Tom Palmer's book "Foul play" starts with tension and crime. Two burglars are wanting to get in a store and get filmed by Danny. "Danny took out his video camera" (Palmer 5). The tension is necessarily the stress that Danny goes through. The boy's heart became heavy, his fingers were trembling and he himself was shaking. In conclusion, the start is full of tension and crime.
The author uses some figurative language and Danny gets caught. In the first few pages, figurative speech is used, "He felt like a fish caught in a net" and "Then Danny saw that the man was waving something in his hand. He tried to see what it was. A small piece of dark card. For a minute the man looked like a referee sending him off." are examples (Palmer 9-10). Before the figurative language, Danny gets caught by a tall, young burglar and an old, short burglar. This "caught you in action" happened when they heard the sound that Danny's low-battery camera emitted while it was filming. To conclude, figurative language is in the book and Danny's espionnage gets him caught.
Quality authors and Danny's dad's blinded story cover the third chapter. Danny is very interested in crime and investigation and cultivate himself further more by reading books written by superlative authors. "American: Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Lots of guns and a high body count. Or the Belgian writer Georges Simenon. Danny enjoyed them, but also liked British thriller writers like Graham Greene and John Buchan" (Palmer 13). Danny's father is blind and has a sad story to recount. The father's blinding happened during an accident at his work. As an end, Danny reads about crime and has a blind father.
Danny gets exposed to more danger, both familially and criminally. Danny gets seen. Seen by dangerous felons that might kidnap him and punish him quite severely if they know what he's been investigating on. Also, Danny expresses how his dad might "kill" him if he finds out what his son's been up to lately. "His dad would kill him if he knew" (Palmer 13). To end, Danny's danger adds up.
August 1, 2014
This book is an excellent book. The main character Danny Harte has been watching the football. He comes out on a dark street, his favourite football player Sam Roberts is kidnapped! 14 year old crime detective and football lover is straight on the case. A fabulous book. Awesome, cool cliffhangers and delectable description. Read!
July 31, 2014
This book was very enjoyable, kept me on the edgy of my seat and I couldn't put the book down. I would highly recommend this book to people who like action and spy. This is one of many great books Tom had written; keep up the good work.
December 31, 2016
As quite a short book compared to many others I've read over the years, I knew I couldn't expect too much from this, and I was right not to. A simple, often told story, I had this book done and dusted in no time and as soon as I moved onto my next read, it was all but forgotten about.
July 5, 2014
Great easy two hours of reading. Brilliant for boys who love football and hate reading.
September 14, 2012
good book, very well suited for a young audience
February 3, 2016
Its goooooooooood!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews