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Galactic Football League #3.4
The Detective
THE DETECTIVE is a bit of back story for Frederico Esteban Guissepe Gonzaga and his search for the family of Quentin Barnes.
THE DETECTIVE takes place from roughly March 2683, to March 2684. Where applicable, the chapters are named to map to the action in THE ALL-PRO (Book III in the Galactic Football League series). The story actually begins, however, on unknown dates during Book II, THE STARTER. In terms of the GFL timeline, THE DETECTIVE runs from roughly Week Seven of the 2683 regular season in THE STARTER through Week Ten of the 2684 regular season in THE ALL-PRO.
This novella is part of the Galactic Football League series, which is described as THE BLIND SIDE meets THE GODFATHER meets STAR WARS.
THE DETECTIVE takes place from roughly March 2683, to March 2684. Where applicable, the chapters are named to map to the action in THE ALL-PRO (Book III in the Galactic Football League series). The story actually begins, however, on unknown dates during Book II, THE STARTER. In terms of the GFL timeline, THE DETECTIVE runs from roughly Week Seven of the 2683 regular season in THE STARTER through Week Ten of the 2684 regular season in THE ALL-PRO.
This novella is part of the Galactic Football League series, which is described as THE BLIND SIDE meets THE GODFATHER meets STAR WARS.
ebook
First published October 22, 2012
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About the author
Scott Sigler
133 books4,333 followersTHE CRYPT: SHAKEDOWN is Book I of a new five-book series. It’s out October 3, 2023 in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook narrated by Ray Porter.
iTunes by subscribing to his podcast.
#1 New York Times best-selling author Scott Sigler is the creator of fifteen novels, six novellas and dozens of short stories. He gives away his stories as weekly, serialized, audiobooks, with over 40 million episodes downloaded.
Scott launched his career by releasing his novels as author-read podcasts. His rabid fans were so hungry for each week’s episode that they dubbed themselves the “Junkies.” The first hit is always free …
He is also is a co-founder of Empty Set Entertainment, which publishes his Galactic Football League series. He lives in San Diego, CA, with his wife and wee little Dogs of Døøm.
iTunes by subscribing to his podcast. #1 New York Times best-selling author Scott Sigler is the creator of fifteen novels, six novellas and dozens of short stories. He gives away his stories as weekly, serialized, audiobooks, with over 40 million episodes downloaded.
Scott launched his career by releasing his novels as author-read podcasts. His rabid fans were so hungry for each week’s episode that they dubbed themselves the “Junkies.” The first hit is always free …
He is also is a co-founder of Empty Set Entertainment, which publishes his Galactic Football League series. He lives in San Diego, CA, with his wife and wee little Dogs of Døøm.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 6, 2020
A great addition to the GFL series. This follows a side story of Fred trying to find Quentin Barnes’s family. A bit of mystery, action, gangster and sci fi.
February 8, 2020
I've read the main books in the series, but this is the first time I've tried one of the novellas. It fills in some question marks, and probably should be considered necessary to reading the main series.
Overall, a solid, action-packed, sweet novella! I liked it. I did want a more interesting personality or backstory for Janine, and also for Frederico, but perhaps the shorter-than-novel-length caused the writers to feel constrained.
Overall, a solid, action-packed, sweet novella! I liked it. I did want a more interesting personality or backstory for Janine, and also for Frederico, but perhaps the shorter-than-novel-length caused the writers to feel constrained.
May 13, 2017
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
This is part of a series but one can read this as a standalone. It is a novella and is not essential to the overall story arc. In the series, we have read of when Quentin hired Fred to locate his family. This is that story of Fred's investigation.
This was an enjoyable, quick read. I am enjoying the overall series and I really like the world the author has created. This novella was a nice peek into Quentin's home planet and it gives a nice insight to how Quentin overcame a rough start in life to become the superstar he is now. Fred has been a nice minor character in the overall arc and I liked the deeper look into his character.
I enjoy side pieces to the overall story when they are done right. This is one of those times. This is an enjoyable novella especially for fans of the series.
This is part of a series but one can read this as a standalone. It is a novella and is not essential to the overall story arc. In the series, we have read of when Quentin hired Fred to locate his family. This is that story of Fred's investigation.
This was an enjoyable, quick read. I am enjoying the overall series and I really like the world the author has created. This novella was a nice peek into Quentin's home planet and it gives a nice insight to how Quentin overcame a rough start in life to become the superstar he is now. Fred has been a nice minor character in the overall arc and I liked the deeper look into his character.
I enjoy side pieces to the overall story when they are done right. This is one of those times. This is an enjoyable novella especially for fans of the series.
January 22, 2023
He deserved better and I know this author can write show don’t tell emotions. Don’t tell me someone is the love of his life. Show me. If the backstory had been expanded so that the novella was 3 times as long I feel like I would have enjoyed it more. The plot was good and side characters were enjoyable. I just wanted to be emotionally invested in this and I wasn’t.
October 14, 2019
Frederico is a side character in Sigler’s GFL series and this novella is glance into his past so you can try to figure out how he became the person he is. This also tells the story of finding Quentin’s sister Jeanine
March 27, 2024
A really great addition to the series, a novella that focuses more on Frederico, an important but some would argue a more minor character in the main series. It had a bit if everything: gridiron, action, mystery and suspense. Well worth taking the time to read or listen to.
July 4, 2017
I adore Fredrico. Such an awesome character, and I liked reading this parallel story, what was happening that we didn't see in The All-Pro (I think that is the right book). Great Read!
October 21, 2019
Fun to see how Frederico Esteban Guissepe Gonzaga found Quintin's sister.
August 15, 2020
Very good
Have me a good background on who the detective really was. I am now satisfied with the series. GFL. GG
Have me a good background on who the detective really was. I am now satisfied with the series. GFL. GG
November 11, 2020
Boy can he write. Story plot and characters kept me reading and almost too late last night. Finished it this morning.
August 16, 2021
A nice spin off to wet my appetite for more Sigler books.
March 1, 2017
The Galactic Football League is a great series and this novella is a fun addition to it. I love it when authors use short form works to give added depth to secondary characters, and that's exactly what this is.
I wouldn't start here until you've read through The Rookie, The Starter, and The All Pro because it doesn't explain the world much at all, but that's perfect for what it's trying to do.
I wouldn't start here until you've read through The Rookie, The Starter, and The All Pro because it doesn't explain the world much at all, but that's perfect for what it's trying to do.
May 9, 2017
There's something quite fascinating about a well-written book that uses characters from another author's universe. When done properly, the result is a completed puzzle that enhances the original story, yet seamlessly extends everything you already knew in a way that you didn't know you were missing. At the same time, the story is spoken in a voice that is different from the original author's, which runs the risk of distracting the reader from the story at hand. I recently had the pleasure to read Dust and Shadows, a pastiche of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes that was beautifully done.
THE DETECTIVE, a collaborative effort of Matt Wallace and Scott Sigler, is another shining example of how to do it. Focusing on Frederico Esteban Giuseppe Gonzaga, the titular private detective from Sigler's Galactic Football League universe, THE DETECTIVE fills in the blanks of how Fred locates Quentin's sister, Jeanine. Along the way, we find out more about Fred's past as we follow him across the universe, watching the seamless integration with the parts of THE ALL-PRO around which the story is written.
For fans of Sigler's GFL series, this is a must-read.
THE DETECTIVE, a collaborative effort of Matt Wallace and Scott Sigler, is another shining example of how to do it. Focusing on Frederico Esteban Giuseppe Gonzaga, the titular private detective from Sigler's Galactic Football League universe, THE DETECTIVE fills in the blanks of how Fred locates Quentin's sister, Jeanine. Along the way, we find out more about Fred's past as we follow him across the universe, watching the seamless integration with the parts of THE ALL-PRO around which the story is written.
For fans of Sigler's GFL series, this is a must-read.
August 2, 2013
To be read after The All-Pro!
I loved this addition to the GFL series. This book also turned me on to Matt Wallace's work. Fred was already one of my favorite minor characters in the GFL universe. Now I'm even more sure that he's my absolute favorite! He has such a rich back story and I'm glad the story is now out. Of course, Matt wasn't alone on it since he had Scott's outline and the other GFL books to go on. This book is a testament to both authors' prowess at story telling and well sculpted characters. I don't like Jeanine at all, but this story isn't about her, so that's ok. I have a feeling we will hear about her story at some point, though I'm not really caring for it at the moment. I can't wait for the rest of the novellas. The ones waiting to be written are probably worth the time.
I loved this addition to the GFL series. This book also turned me on to Matt Wallace's work. Fred was already one of my favorite minor characters in the GFL universe. Now I'm even more sure that he's my absolute favorite! He has such a rich back story and I'm glad the story is now out. Of course, Matt wasn't alone on it since he had Scott's outline and the other GFL books to go on. This book is a testament to both authors' prowess at story telling and well sculpted characters. I don't like Jeanine at all, but this story isn't about her, so that's ok. I have a feeling we will hear about her story at some point, though I'm not really caring for it at the moment. I can't wait for the rest of the novellas. The ones waiting to be written are probably worth the time.
December 27, 2012
Another awesome novella from Scott Sigler and friend... in this case that friend is Matt Wallace.
While you kinda need to know the GFL series to get what's going on, this story stands pretty well on its own, even if you haven't read "The All-Pro," which is the novel during which this side story takes place. Like "The Reporter," "The Detective" follows one of the supporting characters from the GFL series through their own adventure. Sigler and Wallace really fleshed out the character of Fred in this novella and made him much more accessible. You really feel for this guy by the end of the story, and you see him in a bit of a different light in "The All-Pro," which only adds depth to that novel.
Sigler and Wallace did an excellent job on this novella, which I highly recommend to anyone reading the GFL series.
While you kinda need to know the GFL series to get what's going on, this story stands pretty well on its own, even if you haven't read "The All-Pro," which is the novel during which this side story takes place. Like "The Reporter," "The Detective" follows one of the supporting characters from the GFL series through their own adventure. Sigler and Wallace really fleshed out the character of Fred in this novella and made him much more accessible. You really feel for this guy by the end of the story, and you see him in a bit of a different light in "The All-Pro," which only adds depth to that novel.
Sigler and Wallace did an excellent job on this novella, which I highly recommend to anyone reading the GFL series.
January 1, 2013
Fantastic novella about the detective Frederico Esteban Guiseppe Gonzaga (Fred) and his job of finding Quinton Barnes' family.
It starts in the mines of Mocovia where you learn a little bit about the character of Fred in the guise of an undercover worker. This sets up some great writing to characterize him. I get the image of Freddie Mercury when reading this for some reason.
Either way you paint the image in your mind, it's woven in between The Starter and The All Pro. It's always good to see things "from another point of view" when he enters into scenes from the other books.
Much better in my opinion than his other story "The Reporter", better paced, and you got to know the characters a bit better.
I was able to read it in just about one sitting.
It starts in the mines of Mocovia where you learn a little bit about the character of Fred in the guise of an undercover worker. This sets up some great writing to characterize him. I get the image of Freddie Mercury when reading this for some reason.
Either way you paint the image in your mind, it's woven in between The Starter and The All Pro. It's always good to see things "from another point of view" when he enters into scenes from the other books.
Much better in my opinion than his other story "The Reporter", better paced, and you got to know the characters a bit better.
I was able to read it in just about one sitting.
January 24, 2013
Great expansion to Sigler's GFL Series. Set amongst the backdrop of The Starter and The All-Pro the reader gets to experience more of the elusive private investigator Fred hired by Quentin Banes to find his biological family. It combines neo-noir PI tropes with the series' sci-fi to form something I hope gets more than just ebook treatment. I want this printed on dead trees and nestled in with the rest of Sigler's GFL novels on my bookshelf. Kudos to Sigler and Matt Wallace on their partnership: this was a really fun read.
December 18, 2012
An excellent tie-in story to Scott Sigler's GFL series of books. Not sure that it would appeal to anyone as a stand alone read, but it provides excellent background and colour to events that transpire during the 'All Pro' novel.
Although authored (co-authored?) by Matt Wallace, the style is entirely consistent with that of the 'main' books in the series. If you're reading the GFL books, you should be reading this too.
Although authored (co-authored?) by Matt Wallace, the style is entirely consistent with that of the 'main' books in the series. If you're reading the GFL books, you should be reading this too.
December 12, 2012
Good fill in for the GFL series. Helped to fill in lots of the behind the scenes story lines about how Gonzaga found Quentin's sister. Very VERY quick read on the Kindle at about 100 pages, which is my only complaint as I felt like there might have been a little more of the story there like in The Reporter. Still a must read for any Sigler or GFL fan - Matt Wallace does a good job emulating the Siglerverse.
March 27, 2015
What's one of the best parts about reading in-between novellas? Learning that a character you like is so, so, SO much deeper than you realize. After the fierce cliffhanger left by THE ALL-PRO, it was nice to take a little breather and learn more about what Fred was doing behind the scenes for some massive drama in the third book. Really happy to have picked this up and read it- very action packed and so much fun!
November 7, 2012
Excellent back story on Fred Gonzaga. If you're a fan of the GFL series, you must read this novella, along with "The Reporter."
The universe Scott weaves is so brilliant that I imagine I could read a backstory like this on any character in his books and love it to death. Buy a copy and read it, you won't be sad.
The universe Scott weaves is so brilliant that I imagine I could read a backstory like this on any character in his books and love it to death. Buy a copy and read it, you won't be sad.
January 2, 2013
One of the latest Scott Sigler short story collaborations The Detective was a good tie into to the space football series. I read it a few weeks ago and by now individual events are escaping me, but the story has merged into the rest of the world in my mind. It was nice seeing another author’s take on Sigler’s world.
November 11, 2025
Dammit Scott! You do this to me every time. I finish a book and I'm all "I absolutely adored it... blar blar blurg... greatest novelist of the 21st century... glur blur hur... a literary masterpiece!" No! No sappy sugarbomb review this time. You're a beast! Matt Wallace, also a beast! You guys rocked it! Take a bow gents! Oh and GOOOOOOOOO KRAAAAAAAAKENS!!!
January 11, 2013
Thoroughly enjoyed this novella in Scott Sigler's Galactic Football League series. Characterization is well written, the plot fast paced, and overall does an excellent job weaving this story into the details of The All-Pro. Kudos to Sigler and Wallace on a job well done!
September 3, 2014
Good book, I was hoping it would hold me over until the next GFL comes out, but no such luck. I can't seem to put any of his books down once I start reading them. I liked Fred from the GFL books so it's kind of fun to get the story from his perspective.
January 31, 2016
For those of us who are GFL junkies, this is a great addition to the series. Expanding on the back story of one of the most hated but interesting characters in the series makes the main story just that much richer and compelling.
November 28, 2019
I may be biased, but I loved it! My only complaint is that it was too short. But the story continues... ;-)
October 28, 2012
I really enjoyed this novella set in the GFL universe - Fred is an interesting character so it was great to get some backstory on him as well as follow him on his quest to find Quentin's sister.
November 7, 2012
A good novella that helps connect some of the events in the All-Pro. If you have read the Galactic Football Series, I would suggest doing that before diving into The Detective.
November 16, 2012
I find this entire series wonderful fun. Science Fiction and Football, what could be better? This is a fill in novella about the search for QB's sister.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews