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A Cat McDaniel Mystery #1
Big Leagues
Rookie sportswriter Catriona McDaniel is on deck in Sin City for the job of a lifetime with baseball’s hottest team. The Las Vegas Chips have the best record in baseball, snagging two trophies in their first three years. Two men are vying for the position of "boyfriend of summer." Her new boss, Erich Koenig, is a German wunderkind and the Desert's most eligible bachelor. Then there's her neighbor--a biology professor whose fetal pigs know more about baseball than he does. Not all the men admire Cat. As the team's junior reporter, Dusty Carlyle was on-deck for her position. Now he's desperate to get her out of the lineup. Save for the scheming coworker, Cat has everything she ever wanted … until a star outfielder's heart stops. Suspecting that his death was no accident, she starts nosing around, becoming the newest player in an extreme game of hardball. Will Cat become the next member of the team to be taken out of the lineup?
278 pages, Paperback
First published November 17, 2011
5 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Jen Estes
7 books47 followersBorn and raised in the Midwest, Jen had to choose between staring at corn or reading books. Corn husks just didn't have the appeal of the Baby-Sitters Club, and so a bookworm was born. Reading later turned into writing and in 2011, Jen published her first novel with Camel Press. After releasing four books in the mystery genre, Jen finally gave in to the literary demands of her inner teenager with her YA debut, FIFTEEN (The Dreamwalker Diaries).
Jen is an active member of the National Writers Union. As an author, she has been featured in Penthouse Magazine, the State Journal-Register, Mystery Scene Magazine, and more. When she isn't writing, Jen enjoys sci-fi in all its mediums, attempting yoga, using her passport, watching baseball, and reading a good book. She lives in Illinois with her husband Nathan under the tyranny of their three cats: Wrigley, Ivy and Captain Moo. To balance the feline:human ratio, they are expecting their first child this spring. You can find Jen on the web at www.jenestes.com, on Tumblr as AuthorJenEstes, and tweeting under @jenestesdotcom.
Jen is an active member of the National Writers Union. As an author, she has been featured in Penthouse Magazine, the State Journal-Register, Mystery Scene Magazine, and more. When she isn't writing, Jen enjoys sci-fi in all its mediums, attempting yoga, using her passport, watching baseball, and reading a good book. She lives in Illinois with her husband Nathan under the tyranny of their three cats: Wrigley, Ivy and Captain Moo. To balance the feline:human ratio, they are expecting their first child this spring. You can find Jen on the web at www.jenestes.com, on Tumblr as AuthorJenEstes, and tweeting under @jenestesdotcom.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 13, 2011
Idealistic Cat McDaniel has landed a dream job in the major leagues as a sports reporter with the hottest team in baseball, the Las Vegas Chips. Her handsome German boss has brought championships to Sin City in a short period of time and her charming neighbor is someone she could fall for.
Everything is perfect. Well, not everything. The team's physician is more secretive than he should be, the manager doesn't like her, a key member of team security is a troll of an ex-con is far more interested in Cat than he should be, and the assistant sports writer is trying to poison her. When a key outfielder dies of an apparent heart attack, Cat can't help but to dig for the truth. And things get worse, much worse.
Jen Estes hits a scorching home run with her debut novel Big Leagues, and proves baseball isn't the nation's only past time. So are corporate greed, blind ambition, conspiracy and murder. Readers will cheer plucky hero Cat McDaniel, as she risks her career and her life, determined to maintain the integrity of the game she loves and unravel a web of mystery and deceit through the final pulse pounding pages.
You don't have to be a baseball fan to love this novel. But if yoy enjoy rooting for a great hero in an exciting story, you'll love Jen Estes' new novel, Big Leagues.
Everything is perfect. Well, not everything. The team's physician is more secretive than he should be, the manager doesn't like her, a key member of team security is a troll of an ex-con is far more interested in Cat than he should be, and the assistant sports writer is trying to poison her. When a key outfielder dies of an apparent heart attack, Cat can't help but to dig for the truth. And things get worse, much worse.
Jen Estes hits a scorching home run with her debut novel Big Leagues, and proves baseball isn't the nation's only past time. So are corporate greed, blind ambition, conspiracy and murder. Readers will cheer plucky hero Cat McDaniel, as she risks her career and her life, determined to maintain the integrity of the game she loves and unravel a web of mystery and deceit through the final pulse pounding pages.
You don't have to be a baseball fan to love this novel. But if yoy enjoy rooting for a great hero in an exciting story, you'll love Jen Estes' new novel, Big Leagues.
December 18, 2022
Since I've been trying to get into baseball this summer I thought this would be a fun read...which it was. I enjoyed the writing and felt that Estes was able to put together a good story. However, it seemed to take forever for the mystery to unfold. This book felt long as it covered the same ground many times over. I found the character of Cat endearing and would probably read the next book in this series.
April 23, 2023
Since I've been trying to get into baseball this summer I thought this would be a fun read...which it was. I enjoyed the writing and felt that Estes was able to put together a good story. However, it seemed to take forever for the mystery to unfold. This book felt long as it covered the same ground many times over. I found the character of Cat endearing and would probably read the next book in this series.
September 8, 2012
It captures your senses from page one: sportswriter Cat McDaniel reluctantly emerges from the sleepy warmth of her comforter to a phone call which informs her of a fellow reporter's death. Such begins the story of Big Leagues: A Cat McDaniel Mystery, a cautionary tale so relentless and fast-moving that readers could not help but be pulled along for the ride. Laced with wit and unrelenting humor, author Jen Estes presents a delicious story of deception and suspense in a setting baseball fans everywhere will readily relate to. Immediately, Estes draws us into Cat's world in a riveting account of her journey to uncover the truths behind the illusions, and readers will come to know and understand a woman driven by yearnings that even she is still on the verge of discovering. She is a complex character, and we relate to her. We feel her fear and reluctance at giving up on finding the truth; we share the memories and experiences that have made her so headstrong and complicated, and we rally for her survival and ultimate victory.
Reader disconnection is not an option. Embedded in the humor is a slow, torturous journey we eagerly participate in, and readers will get to the last (surprising) chapter eager to find out what happens. An unusual twist awaits, and we can't help it. We have experienced Cat's journey along with her, and seek her justice and validation as if it were our own.
Highly recommended!
Reader disconnection is not an option. Embedded in the humor is a slow, torturous journey we eagerly participate in, and readers will get to the last (surprising) chapter eager to find out what happens. An unusual twist awaits, and we can't help it. We have experienced Cat's journey along with her, and seek her justice and validation as if it were our own.
Highly recommended!
December 13, 2011
Idealistic Cat McDaniel has landed a dream job in the major leagues as a sports reporter with the hottest team in baseball, the Las Vegas Chips. Her handsome German boss has brought championships to Sin City in a short period of time and her charming neighbor is someone she could fall for.
Everything is perfect. Well, not everything. The team's physician is more secretive than he should be, the manager doesn't like her, a key member of team security is a troll of an ex-con is far more interested in Cat than he should be, and the assistant sports writer is trying to poison her. When a key outfielder dies of an apparent heart attack, Cat can't help but to dig for the truth. And things get worse, much worse.
Jen Estes hits a scorching home run with her debut novel Big Leagues, and proves baseball isn't the nation's only past time. So are corporate greed, blind ambition, conspiracy and murder. Readers will cheer plucky hero Cat McDaniel, as she risks her career and her life, determined to maintain the integrity of the game she loves and unravel a web of mystery and deceit through the final pulse pounding pages.
You don't have to be a baseball fan to love this novel. But if yoy enjoy rooting for a great hero in an exciting story, you'll love Jen Estes' new novel, Big Leagues.
Everything is perfect. Well, not everything. The team's physician is more secretive than he should be, the manager doesn't like her, a key member of team security is a troll of an ex-con is far more interested in Cat than he should be, and the assistant sports writer is trying to poison her. When a key outfielder dies of an apparent heart attack, Cat can't help but to dig for the truth. And things get worse, much worse.
Jen Estes hits a scorching home run with her debut novel Big Leagues, and proves baseball isn't the nation's only past time. So are corporate greed, blind ambition, conspiracy and murder. Readers will cheer plucky hero Cat McDaniel, as she risks her career and her life, determined to maintain the integrity of the game she loves and unravel a web of mystery and deceit through the final pulse pounding pages.
You don't have to be a baseball fan to love this novel. But if yoy enjoy rooting for a great hero in an exciting story, you'll love Jen Estes' new novel, Big Leagues.
September 19, 2012
I had the pleasure of reading a new mystery novel over the last couple of days. Big Leagues was available as a FREE download on Amazon.co and is a fun novel by Jen Estes that is a perfect blend of mystery and baseball. This is the first book from the Cat McDaniel series and I thought it was great. Now, I'm looking forward to the second book which comes out October 1st. This book is very compelling and sort of reminds me of a Stephanie Plum type novel but with a sports theme. Cat is a very dynamic female character and I feel like this book can make even a non-baseball fan begin to appreciate the sport. I'm already a baseball fan, but this book makes me love baseball even more. I also really liked that there was even little bit of romance included in the storyline. Looking forward to the next book!
April 3, 2013
What better thing to do on Opening Day than to open up a baseball mystery book? Well, other than watching the game, of course!
This is a "cozy" sports mystery with a plucky heroine, hints of family trauma/drama, a cute neighbor/boyfriend, and sleazy "big business" practices that can't be ignored! Best of all - it gives you a perspective into some of the things that have tainted professional baseball - steroids, owner greed, etc... and makes you wish there were more folks like Cat out there to help keep it clean & get the focus off of baseball as merely a means to a profitable end, instead of the golden days of baseball.
This is a great start to what is explained as a trilogy of books revolving around Cat and her quest to pair reporting with her love of baseball. I look forward to starting on Curveball!
This is a "cozy" sports mystery with a plucky heroine, hints of family trauma/drama, a cute neighbor/boyfriend, and sleazy "big business" practices that can't be ignored! Best of all - it gives you a perspective into some of the things that have tainted professional baseball - steroids, owner greed, etc... and makes you wish there were more folks like Cat out there to help keep it clean & get the focus off of baseball as merely a means to a profitable end, instead of the golden days of baseball.
This is a great start to what is explained as a trilogy of books revolving around Cat and her quest to pair reporting with her love of baseball. I look forward to starting on Curveball!
February 9, 2017
Rookie sports reporter is given senior journalist seat for baseball team in Las Vegas. Plus, she is a female to boot.
More than typical murder mystery set in the press box of the baseball stadium. Boring!
More than typical murder mystery set in the press box of the baseball stadium. Boring!
March 12, 2015
I enjoyed the story, but the frequent switches from third person to first person were confusing. I read the Kindle version, so maybe those lines were italicized or something to show they were the character's thoughts in the paperback version. I'll continue reading the series though, because the mystery was well-written and the culprit wasn't obvious.
April 20, 2012
This is a story about baseball, the inside workings, reporters and such. I liked it okay. A little mystery and some romance. I will read the next book if I have a chance. LSS-NoG
June 14, 2012
Very good mystery; quite a page turner at the end, I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the Las Vegas and baseball team background. A very enjoyable read.
May 28, 2013
It was a quick read.
February 10, 2014
Amazingly good read! Found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it....the mark of a great book!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews