Striking Out

Kate Henry Mystery #4

by Alison Gordon

It is the summer of 1994 and major-league baseball players have taken their bats and balls and gone home; they've gone on strike. With no beat to cover, sportswriter Kate Henry finds herself with rare time off to relax at home in Toronto’s east-end Riverdale neighbourhood.

All is not tranquil there either. Anti-abortion protesters are picketing the house of a doctor who lives down the block. The papers are full of controversy over the police shooting of a joy-riding black teen, and Kate’s lover, homicide detective Andy Munro, is shot in an incident which only fuels the outcries of police racism.

Kate has more than a cranky patient to deal with. While Andy recuperates, Maggie, the homeless woman who has been living in the laneway behind Kate’s house, has suddenly vanished. The police are indifferent, and Kate, prodded by the concern of her tenant’s son, T.C., begins a hunt of her own. During her search, she gradually learns about Maggie’s unlikely and disturbing past. A brutal murder links that past to the present and ultimately engages Kate in a daring and dangerous investigation.

Striking Out places Alison Gordon in the front ranks of Canadian crime fiction writers.

Librarian's note: the characters, settings, etc. have been done for the 5 volume series: #1. Dead Pull Hitter (1988), #2. Safe at Home (1990), #3. Night Game (1992), #4. Striking Out (1995), and #5. Prairie Hardball (1997). But improvements are welcome!

Genres: Mystery, Baseball

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 29, 1995

About the author

Alison Gordon was born in New York City. She spent her childhood in New York, Tokyo, Cairo and Rome because of her (Canadian) father's work with the United Nations. She attended Queen's University but left before completing her degree. Alison held various positions in television, radio and newspaper, including five years as a baseball writer for the Toronto Star (1979-1985). Foul Balls, her first book, details her experiences as the first woman to cover major league baseball. She has served on the boards of The Writers' Union, Crime Writers of Canada, PEN Canada, and the International Association of Crime Writers. She received the Citation of Merit for sports writing. She passed away in Toronto in 2015.

Series:
* Kate Henry Mystery

Reviews

[Jack Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars. With the 1994 major league baseball players strike, a real event which lead to the cancellation of the World Series, Toronto Titan baseball reporter Kate Henry is at loose ends. How many times can she massage rumours and tidbits into an interesting story? But relaxing at home doesn't seem to be in the cards either. This one's a little light and probably could be summarized in a magazine article by, "The Boys of Summer Were on Strike, My Police Officer Boyfriend Got Shot, and I Dabbled in a Local Murder!" In 1,000 words or less. I'd read it. There you have the book but I liked it. Kate is tending her garden in east Toronto when Andy Munro's partner calls to tell her that he's been shot, and that he may not live. Am I giving away the story by saying that he does but his recovery is slow and difficult, especially for the volatile, take-no-prisoners Kate? At the same time a situation develops in her back laneway and next-door car-port; it has become the home for a homeless woman named Maggie who Kate's tenant's son, T.C., befriends. Soon a man's body is found there and Maggie is missing. Summary? Kate was busy that summer even without baseball. Fun. (Oc2024/Se2025)

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOTTOM-LINE:
Well done, and the best so far.
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PLOT OR PREMISE:
This is the fourth in the Kate Henry series and is the best so far. Kate is bored -- there is a strike in the major leagues and she doesn't know what to do with herself. So she focuses on her home life. Then Andy Munro gets shot in the line of duty, and Kate is pretty much on her own while Andy recuperates. Lots of tension as Andy deals with the aftermath of being shot.
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WHAT I LIKED:
The focus of the story is on a homeless woman named Maggie who has disappeared, and one of her favorite resting places is covered in blood. On top of that, a mutilated corpse turns up with a very large knife that Maggie used to own. A corpse of someone who knew who Maggie really was, knew her past, and was therefore a threat to Maggie's security. Some really seedy characters populate the story, including a two-bit child pornographer who has a heart of gold for helping street people.
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WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
Of course there is the requisite protagonist-in-jeopardy part, but at least Andy isn't automatically there to save the day
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DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I was not personal friends with the author, but I did interact with her online.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This regrettably short series is unique and entertaining. Baseball is not front and center in this book due to the players strike of 1994. When female sports reporter Kate Henry is cooling her heels for things to write about, she has her hands full when cop-boyfriend Andy is shot on duty.

An unusual plot dealing with a homeless woman and set in a background of police-minority conflict, this is a good read.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, Canadian mystery. There's humour mixed with mystery in a setting that I can relate to. Always fun to read a Canadian novel. A light, quick read about a homeless woman in Toronto. This may be even more factual than we realize as we do not tend to associate with the homeless, which is quite sad.

Everybody has a history, some worst that others. This shows that you should never judge a person by his/her looks or livelihood.

Wouldn't mind picking up another book by Ms. Gordon.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tries to segue out of baseball, but it doesn’t work. This novel fell flat to me. Goes to show that you can’t really force your way out of sports once you’re in there and suggests to me that a non-detective detective has a short shelf life of maybe three books (otherwise, why would they keep getting access to these crimes).

[Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another baseball mystery but with very little baseball as they are on strike. Good mystery with some turns. Best of the Kate Henry mysteries so far.

[Jennifer Kellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Cozy mystery

*Canadian*

Pretty standard cozy mystery that takes place in Toronto. Lots of Canadiana.