Steamroller

Nikki Latrelle Racing Mystery #1.5

by Sasscer Hill

"STEAMROLLER; A Nikki Latrelle Short Story, by the author of multiple award winning and award nominated novels, including FLAMINGO ROAD, Winner of the Dr. Tony Ryan $10,000 Award for Best Book in Horse Racing Literature. Ruled off Maryland's Laurel Park racetrack, for a crime she had no part in, jockey Nikki Latrelle struggles to survive at a seedy training track, where a convicted murderer terrorizes a young Latina groom. Faced with clearing her name, the last thing Nikki needs is to get involved. But she's never been one to stand by and watch somebody else be abused.PRAISE FOR THE NIKKI LATRELLE SERIES"First-time novelist Hill, herself a Maryland horse breeder, is a genuine find, writing smooth and vivid descriptive prose about racetrack characters and backstretch ambience that reek authenticity." - Jon L. Breen. Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, February, 2011."The gritty, exciting Full Mortality by Sasscer Hill . . . a thrilling, eye-opening read written by a former steeplechase jockey who now breeds racehorses. Hill knows what she's writing about." - Betty Webb, Mystery Scene Magazine, Winter Issue 2011"When Nikki Latrelle swings into the saddle and takes the reins, all we can do is sit back and enjoy the ride. Hill takes us into the stables; she lets us smell the sweet clover and timothy and yes, the sweat and manure, too; and she sets our hearts pounding as Nikki races to find a killer. This is a major new talent and the comparisons to Dick Francis are not hyperbole." --Margaret Maron, New York Times Best selling author and winner of the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards."If you like the work of Dick Francis or Sue Grafton, you will like Sasscer Hill. With a true insider's knowledge of horse racing, Hill brings us Nikki Latrelle, a young jockey placed in harm's way who finds the courage to fight the odds and the heart to race for her dreams." - Mike Battaglia, NBC racing analyst and TV host, veteran track announcer, and "morning line" odds maker for the Kentucky Derby."Nicky is one of the most appealing fictional characters I've ever met. You are rooting for her every inch of the way. The descriptions of backstretch life are enchanting."- Lucy Acton, Editor, Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred.

Genres: Horses

15 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2011

About the author

I've never wanted to write the “Great American novel.” I believe my job is to entertain with stories about chasing a dream, fighting the odds, and helping the helpless. I want to create a world that’s a bit scary, sometimes funny, always informative, and a reliable destination for escape.

Sasscer Hill's books have won the $10,000 Dr. Tony Ryan Award for Best Book in Racing Literature (FLAMINGO ROAD.) They have also garnered a Carrie McCray Award and been nominated for Agatha, Macavity, and Claymore awards. Her second book in her two-book "Fia McKee" series, THE DARK SIDE OF TOWN, received a Booklist Starred Review and was an Editor's Pick in the Toronto Star.

Her newest title, TRAVEL'S OF QUINN" (out March 2010) is a mystery-thriller based on the con artists known as the Irish American Travellers. A novel of deceit, murder, greed and hope,

Currently, Sasscer is writing SHOOTING STAR, her fifth novel in the "Nikki Latrelle" mystery series.

Sasscer was a breeder, owner, and rider of race horses for over 30 years. She lives in Aiken, SC, with her husband, a dog named Rosco and a cat named Lola.

Reviews

[cheryl doerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

I loved this short story very interesting. I lived all of it. Very very interesting. So totally awesome. Thumbs up

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a complete short story, not a chapter or a fragment, and not as short as some stories I've read. The characterization is deep and sufficiently complete, the plotline is fully developed, and there's even a hint of character voice, which is a nice change of pace among Amazon freebies. (Note: it was free when I downloaded it.)

[SPOILER ALERT]
Less of a mystery and more of a crime thriller or suspense story; no clues to follow, everything happens out in the open, and it's less whodunnit and more will they get away, and for this purpose the story's a bit short. Another round of danger, with the bad guy threatening the victim and a real question as to whether the victim or heroine would escape the danger, would have made this a more compelling story. As it stands, the plot's a bit flat and while the damage inflicted upon the victim is bad, there's not a lot of suspense.
[END SPOILERS]

Otherwise this is an excellent advertisement for the author's full-length novels. The taste, texture, smells of the racetrack are all there, and this is realistic and strong. Three stars and the author's other books deserve a look.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

When SH says short story, she means SHORT. I was just really getting into the story and getting comfortable with the narrative and warming to the new characters when wham! the story was over. She made me care about what happens to Isabel and to Rocky, but left me hanging!

I will add that I haven't read a short story in years. So maybe it's me, used to a novel's pacing, so that I wasn't not tuned into the signals about how things are progressing.

Nikki in this story was all things that made her a special character in Full Mortality. I love the seedy racetrack setting and the odd assortment of characters there. I just wish it didn't end so abruptly, and there was time to at least suggest what the future held for the other characters. I fully expect to learn what happens next to Nikki, and wouldn't mind a bit if Isabel and Rocky appeared in future writings.

[Rhonda Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young jockey Nikki Latrelle is working in exile as an exercise rider at a seedy Maryland training center where others, both horses and humans, banned from the main tracks stay in condition while they plot their return.

On Nikki's first day, she sees one of the other banished trainers back-hand one of his young female grooms. And, then, it got uglier. That's when Nikki steps in.

I liked this story which is rich with track details. If you like it, too, be sure to look into Nikki's longer adventure FULL MORTALITY.

[Josephine Calabrese · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very short story which held my interest. It's a story about certain individuals working at Prince George's County Training Center.
Nikki Latrelle works there exercising low-level race horses. Nikki comes to the aid of Isabel, an illegal, who was being mistreated by Dirk Crane.
Nikki has a way of dealing with Dirk Crane to get him out of their lives.

There are formatting issues but the story was interesting. I rate this work four stars.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sasscer Hill definitely is the class of the racing mysteries. Reading this ingenious short story you will see how her first Nikki novel was award nominated.