Bill Granger is best known for his spy series, “The November Man.” But this versatile writer also wrote three mysteries about a former sports writer named Drover. Drover was involved in a messy gambling investigation. He was cleared, but his sports writing career was over. Drover found work as an investigator for a Las Vegas bookie. In the first book in the series, Drover (1991), Drover investigates the fixing of a NFL game: Denver Broncos vs. New Orleans Saints. In the second book, Drover and the Zebras (1992), Drover looks into a point-shaving scheme involving a nationally ranked college basketball team. And in Drover and the Designated Hitter (1994), Drover investigates betting on Major League Baseball games. If you’re a fan of sports mysteries, you’ll enjoy the Drover series.
Must try Granger – thanks George – I wonder if the ‘November Man’ series might be more my cup of tea (not much of a sports fan)
Sergio, I’m a big fan of THE NOVEMBER MAN series. If you like spy novels, you’ll enjoy Granger’s excellent series.
Over the years, my husband has acquired quite a few of the mysteries Herb Resnicow “co-wrote” with various sports figures (Murder at the Super Bowl with Fran Tarkington, Murder at the World Series with Johnny Bench, etc.). To out it kindly, they aren’t very good and I suspect my husband collects them more for camp value than anything else. I think these Drover books might be more entertaining. I wonder why he stopped at three books (or did he?).
Deb, Bill Granger stopped at three sports mysteries because he started having health problems. Bill Granger started having health problems in the 1990s and suffered a major stoke in 2000. You husband would enjoy these books. They’re available online for a pittance.
Glad to see this pick. I was thinking about reading a Granger book for FFB the other day. He was too good to be forgotten.
Bill, I’ve read all the NOVEMBER MAN spy novels and enjoyed them. Sports mysteries are a niche market, but Granger’s Drover novels are entertaining.
I like the November Man but missed these, even though I do like sports mysteries. I’ll look for the first one. I read at least one of Alison Gordon’s books about Toronto sports writer Kate Henry as well as others that don’t come to mind at the moment.
I’ve avoided “Uncle Herb”‘s books, Deb. Didn’t he write one for former Mayor Ed Koch?
Jeff, you would really like these Drover books. I always wanted to know how to fix an NFL game and Drover tells you how to do it!
I don’t know about his political writing, but Resnicow’s fiction/sports writing is pretty drecky. His protagonist is named Marcus Aerelius [Something]: pretentious name = bad book. And we always figure that the only “co-writing” Tarkington, Bench, et al did was when they signed their names on the contract with the publisher. And yet, if he sees one at a used book store or sale, hubby always snatches it up!
Deb, the Koch book was a mystery – MURDER AT CITY HALL. I doubt anyone was naive enough to believe Ed (“Hoy’m I doing?”) Koch had anything to do with writing it.
George, since my library system has all three books I reserved the first one. Now I want to know how to fix a game too!
Jeff, you’ll be delighted by all the shenanigans in sports and gambling.
How’m
So no post on the NFL Draft? Yes I know Buffalo and Seattle didn’t have any first round picks, but still… I wonder if Deb likes what the Saints did.
I’m scratching my head because I don’t see where they’re getting much help in the areas they really need it (such as receiving)–but draft strategy is usually lost on me, we’ll just have to see how the season shakes out.
Deb, the Buffalo Bills have been notoriously bad at picking good players in the NFL Draft. Which explains why the Bills haven’t been in the Playoffs for 15 years.
Rick, the Buffalo Bills don’t pick until the Second Round. And, they may trade down.
I read all three, but think Designated Hitter is the only one I actually own. But you never know in my massive sports fiction collection. Jeff mentioned Alison Gordon’s Kate Henry series. That’s one I can strongly recommend. Alison was the first female beat writer in major league baseball and she used Kate Henry to tell some of her personal clubhouse stories.
Kent, you and Jeff have convinced me to track down Allison Gordon’s Kate Henry series.
Here’s what Wikipedia lists:
The Dead Pull Hitter (1988)
Safe at Home (1990)
Night Game (1992)
Striking Out (1995)
Prairie Hardball (1997)
Getting back to the draft, I think Buffalo did better than my Seahawks, so far.
George, I was quite stunned by the starkness of Bill Granger’s PUBLIC MURDERS, a gripping police procedural set around serial killings. I have been looking for THE NOVEMBER MAN.
Prashant, if you liked Granger’s PUBLIC MURDERS, you’ll like these DROVER mysteries, too. They’re not as stark, but still very compelling.