The Champion Maker

by Kevin Joseph

In an unprecedented quest for Olympic gold in both the 100 and 1500 meters, a troubled track coach and his young protege uncover a shocking conspiracy. With its blend of cutting-edge science, legal intrigue and conspiracy elements, this timely thriller will delight fans of suspense and sports fiction alike.

256 pages, Paperback

Published February 7, 2007

About the author

Kevin Joseph is a recovering attorney who writes thought-provoking thrillers, reviews books, and resides in Northern Virginia with his wife and two sons. His first novel, The Champion Maker, explores the implications of genetic engineering in the realm of athletics. His second novel, Perpetuity, is a thriller about a mysterious woman with nanobots in her blood. It was published by Holand Press in August 2025.

Reviews

[Jens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it would be a book about running with some thoughts on doping. Rather it's a debate about doping with some thoughts on running. Nevertheless thought-provoking and fun fiction.

[Krusher Basta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I decided to read it because of my own personal interest in competitive running. As I recall it was reviewed in one of the running magazines I subscribe to. Usually I am disappointed with how running is portrayed in fiction; it usually is not realistic. But Kevin Joseph does a good job in keeping the running realistic and relevant to the story.
As it turns out the running is just one of several story lines that develop in the book. It raises interesting concerns about genetic engineering and performance enhancement. So it was entertaining and thoughtful.

[J.Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started The Champion Maker, I thought it would be another in a long line of "underdog overcomes impossible odds to take a shot at the olympics" books. Well, this is true to a degree, but Kevin Joseph adds an entirely new layer of mystery, intrigue and biotechnology into the mix, and it makes the book into a surprisingly riveting read. The author's style is not particularly distinct from other such writers, but the dash of suspense and Joseph's track jock turned attorney background makes this a book that would be enjoyed by track & field entusiasts as well as for the Grisham crowd.

[Francis Cusick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I primarily read this book because it involves distance running, however that aspect does not play as much of a role as I originally thought. Nonetheless, I thought this was an entertaining read in the tone of a John Grisham legal thriller. A few of the twists were far-fetched, but I thought by and large it was an interesting novel which raised some good questions of genetic engineering.