Breakage

by David-Michael Harding

"Forget trips to Vegas! Breakage takes you on a gambling adventure with horse racing, spine-chilling crime, and an intriguingly gifted and dysfunctional family. Readers who love crime, mystery, and thrillers will enjoy this curiously evocative tale." — Los Angeles Book Review Donnie Chariot is the most gifted thoroughbred horse racing handicapper in the country. He single-handedly sets the morning betting lines across the country. His unique ability to distill data and past racing performances has made him rich and bestowed him with real power. But when early onset Alzheimer's causes his unique gift to fail him, mobsters from Manhattan to Las Vegas aren't happy. Chariot needs his estranged daughter, who shares the same otherworldly gift with numbers, to help him, but their rocky past keeps them apart. When Donnie's granddaughter is kidnapped to force his daughter into the game, he controls everyone. Until he doesn't. His mind failing, his daughter getting wise, and wiseguys wiser still, it's a race to save a family before the momentum of the past destroys their future. Grab the reins and go wire-to-wire with PEN International winning author David-Michael Harding as Breakage thunders down the backstretch in a heart-pounding thriller!

315 pages, Paperback

Published August 10, 2023

About the author

David-Michael Harding is a life-long writer whose novel, How Angels Die, received critical acclaim. A former semi-professional football player, his writing is hard hitting and passionate. He holds a master’s degree in education and is a former adjunct professor of writing. Most of his days are spent writing from the cockpit of his sailboat, Pegasus, somewhere off the Nature Coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico.

Reviews

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am really conflicted about this book. I love horses and horse racing, my son is a leading handicapper for NYRA Bets, and I also love thrillers. So this book is set up at the starting gate for a really good ride, and for the most part it is. It is a story of a man who sets the betting lines for Vegas and various underworld figures. He is a math savant and can see patterns and numbers others cannot. People win huge amounts of money based on his ability to move the odds at the right time. And yet at the Kentucky Derby all his picks end out of the money and one person loses $17 Million and we find out that Donnie has lost his abilities because he has early onset dementia. And do he tries to recruit his daughter, from whom he is estranged to help. Sound good and it starts good, as we head for the back stretch. The book picks up the pace as we are introduced to a lot of underworld figures all of whom are trying to figure out what went wrong with Donnie since nobody knows of his dementia situation. We also discover that Donnie's 7-year old granddaughter may even be more gifted than anyone else in the family. Things get a bit better for the Preakness, but everyone is concerned about the Belmont Stakes since that is the deadline for making back all that lost money and more.. And out of the blue Donnie's granddaughter, Lexy is kidnapped to force more focus on making money since she will only be returned if things get back to normal. We are rounding the far turn and heading for home, and the book is set up for a runaway victory as it heads down the stretch, and then it runs out of gas. It was pretty easy to figure out who was behind the kidnapping, there were gratuitous and gory torture chapters, Lexy's escape was predictable and by the end the police arrive at the track in time to make arrests for murder. Horse racing, betting, the mob. Had some really great moments, but in the end, as is the case with many front runners, it ran out of gas. Still it was a fun and fast read, So give it a 3.5*** and if you are a better the $2 show bet will be your winning ticket.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

I initially thought this book might be similar to Dick Francis books, although it is not at all, it stands on its own as an existing mystery with a family that is blessed with a unique talent for handicapping horses, xnd almost flawless ability, until the head of this family gets Alzheimer's that is.

Read on to discover the unusual solution that the main character takes to resolve this quandary - do you admire his imaginative "solution" or are you mortified by it, because I guarantee you will have a reaction

An exciting, enjoyable and imaginative read. I would be interested in seeing more from this author (perhaps a series?).

[Jackthedad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Black Rose Writing for an advance reader copy. If you want a synopsis, click on the book.

One of the good things about reading books is you learn things about subjects you wouldn't otherwise learn. This story takes you to the world of American horse racing but in addition, you get criminals, treachery, twists and turns. This is good story well-told.

[Literary Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breakage, authored by David-Michael Harding, is a captivating novel that introduces us to Donnie Chariot, a semi-retired mob boss and horse-betting legend who, unfortunately, receives a devastating diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. This diagnosis is especially devastating considering his line of work as a lynchpin in the horse racing bookie world. As his health begins to deteriorate, he makes costly mistakes, leading to his granddaughter, Alexis, being kidnapped as leverage. Donnie must team up with his estranged daughter, Donna, to recoup the losses and save his reputation.

Harding masterfully weaves an intricate, fast-paced crime-drama that immerses the reader in the shady underworld of horse racing and the empire of Donnie Chariot, aka “The Book.” Donnie’s uncanny ability to predict outcomes has earned him millions of dollars and formidable power, inspiring both fear and envy. Although Donnie claims to have changed his ways, he finds himself a victim of his health and isolation. The author does an excellent job of creating relatable and engaging characters like Donnie, his daughter Donna, his granddaughter Alexis, and Donnie’s loyal henchmen, Nicky, Frank, and Mr. Abreu. These characters and their interactions add depth to the story and provide readers with intrigue, drama, and a range of emotions to enjoy. The plot is straightforward, with some unexpected twists, and is narrated from multiple viewpoints, contributing to its swift pace. However, readers unfamiliar with horse racing may find some of the racing jargon confusing. Additionally, the ending may feel rushed due to the quick resolution after the extended buildup of the conflict. Finally, as this novel centers on organized crime, readers should also anticipate some graphic violence.

Overall, the author succeeds in creating a fascinating and immersive world of horse racing and its criminal underbelly, offering a unique perspective from the vantage point of an aging man past his prime and the individuals who become entangled in his orbit. Breakage is the perfect read for those looking for a suspenseful crime thriller with interesting character development and relationships.

[elena j. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breakage by David-Michael Harding is a tense, emotionally charged thriller that fuses the cerebral world of horse racing analytics with crime, family fracture, and the quiet terror of cognitive decline. It’s not just a story about gambling and mob pressure. It’s a story about control, legacy, and what happens when the very thing that defines you begins to disappear.

Donnie Chariot is a fascinating figure, both brilliant and brittle. His gift with numbers gives him power over a massive industry, but Alzheimer’s slowly turns that power into a liability. The novel handles this deterioration with restraint and empathy, letting the reader feel the stakes on both a personal and criminal level. As his mind falters, the tension doesn’t just rise. It changes shape, becoming more intimate, more frightening, and more tragic.

The family dynamics elevate the plot beyond a standard thriller. The estranged daughter, the shared gift, and the kidnapped granddaughter pull the story into emotional territory that gives every choice weight. This isn’t just about beating the mob or outsmarting criminals. It’s about whether a broken family can protect itself before old wounds and present danger collide.

What makes Breakage especially effective is its sense of momentum. The pacing mirrors the racetrack itself, building, surging, and tightening as the story barrels forward. By the time the final stretch arrives, the reader isn’t just invested in the outcome. They’re invested in whether this family can survive what talent, secrecy, and the past have done to them.

[Sublime Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall Rating = 5

Storyline & Concept = 5
Writing & Delivery = 5
Editorial = 5

Donnie Chariot is a human computer, able to manipulate numbers and data with mind-boggling speed. He uses his amazing gift to become the best horse race handicapper in the country and to make himself and his clients very rich. His ruthlessness is well-known and greatly feared. However, when he is struck by early-onset Alzheimer’s, his house of cards is severely threatened, and he needs his similarly gifted daughter on-board to help him, by whatever means possible.

Breakage is a thriller with a difference, where nothing is cut and dried. It takes the reader into an underworld of horse race gambling where the line between good and evil is very blurred. The author skillfully created characters that built a love-hate relationship for the reader. The protagonist was deeply flawed, with a thread of evil running through him, yet he evoked respect and sympathy. The same could be said of most of the “bad guys.” The action was fast paced, at times gruesome, and never boring. This is a finely crafted and highly recommended read for hard-boiled crime and thriller lovers.

Sublime Line: “Perfectly coordinated, from the characters to the dialogue and beyond, to deliver a chilling, hard-to-put-down read.”

[Doug Yonce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Math savants in a family: grandfather, mom, and daughter. All can see numbers and how they work together. Grandfather Donnie has been so get that he has been setting the betting line for horse races, but his memory is fading, and his predictions have suffered. He needs help, but his estranged daughter wants nothing to do with him. Lots of bad guys get involved as they see their cash cow not doing his job. Kidnapping seems like a good solution — for awhile. But chaos prevails as betrayals abound and trust disappears. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.

[William Bostwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book was well written causing me at times to make me read on. The book is centered around a horse racing handicapper who happens to be the best in the business. He has this unusable skill with numbers that also is gifted to his daughter on down to her daughter. With Alzheimer's affecting his judgement, his solution is to pass this role onto his daughter which isn't going to sit well with her considering their relationship is rocky at best. It's an exciting book that involves mobsters, murder, the kidnapping of his granddaughter (who's a smart kid), and with horse racing, gambling!
This is my first read of a book by DMH and not my last.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This goodreads book got my attention at the beginning and at the end. A man who sets the handicaps for thoroughbred racing. Has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and knows he has little time left and the betting men will come after him for costing them big Money. His daughter who left him years ago has the same capability to pick the horses. Can he get her help in time.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover

The cover promises a story of racehorses and the people who surround them. The book is about betting, gangsters, and math savants. It's well written, but definitely not for the squeamish. I wasn't crazy about most of the characters, but even so, I couldn't abandon the book. Will I read another book by this author? Probably not.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting idea - maths savant family and I like Dick Francis novels in the horse racing world. Not so keen on Felix Francis, which shows that I’m a softy...
This has too much violence, stupid violence. I stopped when it descended into torture.

[Paul]

Very good. This is a very entertaining story and mystery. I seem to like these kinds of stories even though I don't gamble or go to the track. Recommended.

I really appreciate the free copy for review!!

[John Nino · Rating 5 out of 5]

does crime pay?

An entrancing novel. Well plotted and well written. Engaging characters well developed. Greed and payback at its foundation. A somewhat predictable ending.

[Nancy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good and definitely did not want to put it down. Without giving anything away, it was wild to learn a bit about horse racing which I knew nothing about. I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters. As always Harding has the ability to build his characters into someone I really get to know which makes it fun to read and then miss them when it’s done! I always enjoy the riveting storylines that Harding creates. It makes for an enjoyable and thought-provoking read as does this one-Breakage! I’ll definitely be ordering and sending this one to my kids to read as soon as it’s available for purchase.

[Courtney Yeakel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like most, I enjoy watching the Kentucky Derby & Belmont Stakes-especially the backstories of all of the horses, trainers and jockeys. Harding takes those aspects of the sport to a whole new level-giving the reader an inside track, delivering a multi-layered story of racing, gambling, family relationships-and all of their complexities! You will find yourself rooting for these characters on the edge of your seat, as you turn each page of this thrilling story! Harding delivers the Exacta with Breakage!

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much different book than I thought with a Violent undercurrent I was not seeing. Very interesting ending for 2 of the main characters.