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Blown Save: A Killer's Guide To Winning
Grayson McNabb is a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan. He also kills people. Professionally.
After a stretch where the team’s newest relief pitcher has cost the team several wins, Grayson is beside himself. His only solution is to do what he does best.
But Grayson discovers not everything is not what it seems, and he now finds himself in a position where he will need to solve a much larger problem. And this time, he will have to try to actually save a life, instead of taking one.
Luis Rodriguez isn’t sure who he is these days. But who is he? And will he ever be able to live the dream of Jose Garcia?
And will he ever see him mother again?
“Blown A Killer’s Guide to Winning” is the third book from Eric Hoffer Award nominated author Karl Kling.
Check out his first two books, “The Boys Are Back in Town” and “Takin’ Care of Business”, both part of the Brody James Mystery series, on Amazon.
- GenresMystery
257 pages, Paperback
Published December 18, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 15, 2026
This was a fast-paced, fun, thrilling ride of a story featuring two closers--an assassin who is a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan, and a relief pitcher on his way up on the team as a closer. The fact that I grew up taking trips to Wrigley Field on the L in Chicago and am an avid Cubs fan added a lot to the story. It moves quickly, has likeable main characters, a lot of action, and tongue in cheek humor to boot. This book is a lot of fun for those looking for a unique thriller combined with a baseball story in one, nicely packaged, page-turner of a book.
December 22, 2025
A story about family, friends and loyalty
While baseball and assassinations drive the story, what Blown Save really is about are family, friends and loyalty.
Grayson McNabb is loyal to his job and his favorite team. He grows to be loyal to his best friend and his family.
The story weaves you through how two men came to meet as well as how family shaped their identity.
While it can be dispensed as a simple action/adventure book, Karl Kling does a phenomenal job of bringing realism and relatability to the story.
You became friends with many of the characters, rooting them on throughout. You also hate some of the characters.
Even until the very end, there are surprises at every turn.
I highly recommend this book and I believe it would be a fantastic movie!
While baseball and assassinations drive the story, what Blown Save really is about are family, friends and loyalty.
Grayson McNabb is loyal to his job and his favorite team. He grows to be loyal to his best friend and his family.
The story weaves you through how two men came to meet as well as how family shaped their identity.
While it can be dispensed as a simple action/adventure book, Karl Kling does a phenomenal job of bringing realism and relatability to the story.
You became friends with many of the characters, rooting them on throughout. You also hate some of the characters.
Even until the very end, there are surprises at every turn.
I highly recommend this book and I believe it would be a fantastic movie!
March 21, 2026
3.6, rounded, with standouts for enjoyment and style. (Loved the humor)
Blown Save is a dark humored thriller with cozy nostalgia that is at its core a story of friendship and fandom.
Grayson is a precise weapon with killer skill and fierce loyalty - and a diehard fan of the Chicago Cubs. He even writes his work contracts around the Cubs home opener. I mean, can you call yourself a fan if you don't? Luis is a young Venezuelan ball player looking to make it to the big leagues in the US. We follow our main characters' stories as they weave around each other before eventually converging in an intense (perhaps explosive?) fashion. And we get to experience the Cubs through the eyes of a diehard fan and a player himself.
The best parts of the book were about the fandom and from the banter between colleagues and unlikely friends Cyclops and Grayson. It was sweet to see their friendship progress. I highlighted plenty of lines from them and elsewhere. Kling's style took a little bit of getting used to with the longer chapters and many perspective or even time jumps in between. I came to really enjoy it though, especially finding parallels between perspectives. It really served to drive the plot forward.
This was a fairly short read which worked to turn pages, but I wanted more. I would have liked to have more pages to flesh out the thriller elements. Some of the aspects of the missions felt too convenient which took me out of the story and lessened a lot of the thriller tension. It seemed like the thrill took a backseat to the friendship, baseball, and general espionage. Given the book's length and fast paced plot, there was not a great deal of depth to the characters, but most of them were still enjoyably distinct. The villain arc of the one character was unexpected but too rapid in my opinion. The editing could have been tightened down a bit. I noticed some tense jumps, incorrect punctuation, and misspellings.
While I do see room for improvement in the construction of this story, there's a ton of promise. I'm glad I got to read this and I've already recommended it to my friend, a fellow diehard fan. Yankees though, so hopefully he'll forgive this love letter to the Cubs.
Blown Save is a dark humored thriller with cozy nostalgia that is at its core a story of friendship and fandom.
Grayson is a precise weapon with killer skill and fierce loyalty - and a diehard fan of the Chicago Cubs. He even writes his work contracts around the Cubs home opener. I mean, can you call yourself a fan if you don't? Luis is a young Venezuelan ball player looking to make it to the big leagues in the US. We follow our main characters' stories as they weave around each other before eventually converging in an intense (perhaps explosive?) fashion. And we get to experience the Cubs through the eyes of a diehard fan and a player himself.
The best parts of the book were about the fandom and from the banter between colleagues and unlikely friends Cyclops and Grayson. It was sweet to see their friendship progress. I highlighted plenty of lines from them and elsewhere. Kling's style took a little bit of getting used to with the longer chapters and many perspective or even time jumps in between. I came to really enjoy it though, especially finding parallels between perspectives. It really served to drive the plot forward.
This was a fairly short read which worked to turn pages, but I wanted more. I would have liked to have more pages to flesh out the thriller elements. Some of the aspects of the missions felt too convenient which took me out of the story and lessened a lot of the thriller tension. It seemed like the thrill took a backseat to the friendship, baseball, and general espionage. Given the book's length and fast paced plot, there was not a great deal of depth to the characters, but most of them were still enjoyably distinct. The villain arc of the one character was unexpected but too rapid in my opinion. The editing could have been tightened down a bit. I noticed some tense jumps, incorrect punctuation, and misspellings.
While I do see room for improvement in the construction of this story, there's a ton of promise. I'm glad I got to read this and I've already recommended it to my friend, a fellow diehard fan. Yankees though, so hopefully he'll forgive this love letter to the Cubs.
March 6, 2026
THIS REVIEW WAS DONE BY ANDREW OKIEMUTE FOR BOOK NERDECTION
https://booknerdection.com/blown-save...
Blown Save: A Killer’s Guide to Winning follows the story of Grayson McNabb. He is a professional assassin with an unusual obsession for the Chicago Cubs. At the same time, baseball, loyalty, and personal bonds pull him in another direction. Grayson must decide the life he truly wants. Just when it seems the lines are clear, one final mission threatens to destroy everything he has built.
Spoiler free plot
Grayson McNabb lives two lives. He is a highly skilled assassin working for a shadowy government agency. He is also a die hard Chicago Cubs fan who plans his entire life around baseball season. His partner, Cyclops, is a brilliant hacker. He helps coordinate Grayson’s missions from behind a computer screen. Grayson and Cyclops form a great team despite their different personalities.
Everything changes when the Cubs acquire Luis Rodriguez, a young Venezuelan pitcher with incredible talent. He wasn’t actually Luis Rodriguez, the player the team thought they were trading for. He was Jose Garcia. He had assumed another player’s identity years earlier.
Jose’s mother, Maria, had been kidnapped by gangsters who helped launch his career. They force him to lose games so they can profit from gambling.
The discovery draws Grayson into Jose’s world. Grayson launches a dangerous rescue mission in Venezuela. They encounter obstacles on their quest to save Maria.
As different events unfold, Grayson must protect his partner, complete his mission and help Jose reclaim his career.
My Take on Blown Save: A Killer’s Guide to Winning
Blown Save is the perfect book for all lovers of thrillers. At first glance, mixing professional assassination with baseball fandom seems bizarre. But it works brilliantly. The contrast between Grayson’s deadly serious job and his passionate devotion to the Cubs creates constant humor. It fuels emotions.
What really makes this book shine is the characters. Grayson is a fascinating protagonist. He’s ruthless and efficient when hunting targets across the globe. Yet he becomes an emotional wreck watching his favorite team. This contradiction makes him feel real. We all have that one thing we care about irrationally, even when more important matters deserve our attention. For Grayson, that thing just happens to be baseball while he’s literally killing people for a living.
The friendship between Grayson and Cyclops is the heart of the story. Cyclops starts as someone who knows nothing about sports and doesn’t understand Grayson’s obsession. Watching him gradually embrace baseball is genuinely touching. Their banter is consistently funny, and their loyalty to each other feels earned.
Jose Garcia’s storyline adds real stakes and complexity. He’s not just a baseball player. He’s a young man trapped by decisions he made out of desperation. His relationship with his mother grounds the international thriller elements in genuine emotion. You understand why he took another player’s identity. You understand why he’s willing to throw games to save his mother’s life.
The rescue mission in Venezuela is tense and well-executed. Kling shows he can handle action sequences as well as he handles character moments. The firefight at the police station had me on the edge of my seat. The escape via helicopter made the plot more interesting.
The pacing is good enough. The book never drags. It also does not rush important moments. Kling also deserves credit for his humor. This book is genuinely funny. The scene where Grayson kidnaps Jose to interrogate him about his poor pitching performance is absurd and hilarious.
I particularly appreciated how Kling handles the baseball elements. He clearly knows and loves the game. The details about minor league life, contract negotiations, and the psychological pressure of being a closer all ring true. You don’t need to be a huge baseball fan to enjoy this book, but fans will appreciate the authenticity.
If you want something different, pick up this book. If you want something that centers action, humor, emotions, and sports, pick up this book. You won’t regret it.
Blown Save: A Killer’s Guide to Winning is a wildly original thriller that balances pulse-pounding action with genuine heart. Karl Kling delivers a home run that will leave readers both breathless and deeply moved.
https://booknerdection.com/blown-save...
Blown Save: A Killer’s Guide to Winning follows the story of Grayson McNabb. He is a professional assassin with an unusual obsession for the Chicago Cubs. At the same time, baseball, loyalty, and personal bonds pull him in another direction. Grayson must decide the life he truly wants. Just when it seems the lines are clear, one final mission threatens to destroy everything he has built.
Spoiler free plot
Grayson McNabb lives two lives. He is a highly skilled assassin working for a shadowy government agency. He is also a die hard Chicago Cubs fan who plans his entire life around baseball season. His partner, Cyclops, is a brilliant hacker. He helps coordinate Grayson’s missions from behind a computer screen. Grayson and Cyclops form a great team despite their different personalities.
Everything changes when the Cubs acquire Luis Rodriguez, a young Venezuelan pitcher with incredible talent. He wasn’t actually Luis Rodriguez, the player the team thought they were trading for. He was Jose Garcia. He had assumed another player’s identity years earlier.
Jose’s mother, Maria, had been kidnapped by gangsters who helped launch his career. They force him to lose games so they can profit from gambling.
The discovery draws Grayson into Jose’s world. Grayson launches a dangerous rescue mission in Venezuela. They encounter obstacles on their quest to save Maria.
As different events unfold, Grayson must protect his partner, complete his mission and help Jose reclaim his career.
My Take on Blown Save: A Killer’s Guide to Winning
Blown Save is the perfect book for all lovers of thrillers. At first glance, mixing professional assassination with baseball fandom seems bizarre. But it works brilliantly. The contrast between Grayson’s deadly serious job and his passionate devotion to the Cubs creates constant humor. It fuels emotions.
What really makes this book shine is the characters. Grayson is a fascinating protagonist. He’s ruthless and efficient when hunting targets across the globe. Yet he becomes an emotional wreck watching his favorite team. This contradiction makes him feel real. We all have that one thing we care about irrationally, even when more important matters deserve our attention. For Grayson, that thing just happens to be baseball while he’s literally killing people for a living.
The friendship between Grayson and Cyclops is the heart of the story. Cyclops starts as someone who knows nothing about sports and doesn’t understand Grayson’s obsession. Watching him gradually embrace baseball is genuinely touching. Their banter is consistently funny, and their loyalty to each other feels earned.
Jose Garcia’s storyline adds real stakes and complexity. He’s not just a baseball player. He’s a young man trapped by decisions he made out of desperation. His relationship with his mother grounds the international thriller elements in genuine emotion. You understand why he took another player’s identity. You understand why he’s willing to throw games to save his mother’s life.
The rescue mission in Venezuela is tense and well-executed. Kling shows he can handle action sequences as well as he handles character moments. The firefight at the police station had me on the edge of my seat. The escape via helicopter made the plot more interesting.
The pacing is good enough. The book never drags. It also does not rush important moments. Kling also deserves credit for his humor. This book is genuinely funny. The scene where Grayson kidnaps Jose to interrogate him about his poor pitching performance is absurd and hilarious.
I particularly appreciated how Kling handles the baseball elements. He clearly knows and loves the game. The details about minor league life, contract negotiations, and the psychological pressure of being a closer all ring true. You don’t need to be a huge baseball fan to enjoy this book, but fans will appreciate the authenticity.
If you want something different, pick up this book. If you want something that centers action, humor, emotions, and sports, pick up this book. You won’t regret it.
Blown Save: A Killer’s Guide to Winning is a wildly original thriller that balances pulse-pounding action with genuine heart. Karl Kling delivers a home run that will leave readers both breathless and deeply moved.
February 7, 2026
I received an autographed copy that I'll be placing into my Little Free Library VERY SOON!
This thriller filled me with nostalgia because I used to be a Major Legal Baseball fan. I still consider the Orioles MY team, but it's been many years since I've seen a game. And there is nothing like being at the stadium for a game.
The main character's father took him to a Cubs game which sparked his lifelong super fandom of said team. I still remember vividly the time my dad took me to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. I have a poor memory, but this was one of the ones that stuck with me all my life. Enough about my memories....
This child grew up to become a government black ops assassin. His contract was clear - he did not work Opening or Closing week of Baseball season - he was at the games.
The book also followed the career of a baseball player from Venezuela who encountered criminals from his country trying to control him.
These two worlds collide and further explanation would ruin the experience.
I was sold on the characters so much that I laughed at their behavior, thinking "That is SO something HE would DO!" It really was an enjoyable read. Highly recommend!
This thriller filled me with nostalgia because I used to be a Major Legal Baseball fan. I still consider the Orioles MY team, but it's been many years since I've seen a game. And there is nothing like being at the stadium for a game.
The main character's father took him to a Cubs game which sparked his lifelong super fandom of said team. I still remember vividly the time my dad took me to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. I have a poor memory, but this was one of the ones that stuck with me all my life. Enough about my memories....
This child grew up to become a government black ops assassin. His contract was clear - he did not work Opening or Closing week of Baseball season - he was at the games.
The book also followed the career of a baseball player from Venezuela who encountered criminals from his country trying to control him.
These two worlds collide and further explanation would ruin the experience.
I was sold on the characters so much that I laughed at their behavior, thinking "That is SO something HE would DO!" It really was an enjoyable read. Highly recommend!
March 25, 2026
This is a genre of book that I normally wouldn't read - a story that quickly brought me into a world of baseball and assassins. The two main characters are Grayson McNabb, who happens to be a very talented assassin who works for some not so ethical government agency and his partner, Cyclops, who is a talented hacker, helping out his friend, Grayson. They both are like vinegar and oil but somehow make their odd relationship work. Once they acquire a baseball pitcher by the name of Luis Rodriguez from Venezuela, who isn't really who he says he is, this brings Grayson and Cyclops into a dangerous rescue mission in Venezuela, involving saving another character called Maria, encountering obstacles and many challenges on this mission. This is a book that has a lot of thriller aspects in it and tensions, draws you in and then draws you out. I highly recommend this book to readers who are die hard baseball and sports fans as this would be an interesting read.
April 2, 2026
Blown Save: A Killer's Guide To Winning by Karl Kling delivers a darkly humorous and suspenseful ride through the high-stakes world of baseball and professional crime. Grayson McNabb, a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan with a decidedly lethal side hustle, finds himself facing an unexpected moral dilemma when a new pitcher’s failures threaten more than just game outcomes.
Kling skillfully blends thrilling mystery with sharp character moments, keeping readers on edge as Grayson navigates both his professional killings and a challenge that forces him to save rather than take a life. With tight pacing, clever twists, and a unique premise that merges sports fandom with criminal intrigue, this installment elevates the Brody James Mystery series and keeps readers eagerly turning pages.
Fans of quirky, suspense-driven mysteries and morally complex protagonists will find Blown Save compelling, entertaining, and hard to put down.
Kling skillfully blends thrilling mystery with sharp character moments, keeping readers on edge as Grayson navigates both his professional killings and a challenge that forces him to save rather than take a life. With tight pacing, clever twists, and a unique premise that merges sports fandom with criminal intrigue, this installment elevates the Brody James Mystery series and keeps readers eagerly turning pages.
Fans of quirky, suspense-driven mysteries and morally complex protagonists will find Blown Save compelling, entertaining, and hard to put down.
April 15, 2026
This was a pretty quick read, I though the story moved along well, but interestingly there were 5-6 grammatical errors in this e-book. The main characters were interesting but there was little background development on some peripheral characters, like Allison. It was too much of a stretch for her storyline. Probably should have ended with saving the mom and end of regular season- more realistic for the Cubs!
January 10, 2026
Grayson is an assassin with an unhealthy devotion to the Cubs, and Cyclops—his ever‑patient assistant—is a die‑hard D&D fanatic. Their unlikely friendship is the beating heart of this story, and it’s what makes the book so irresistible. The pacing never lets up, the plot pulls you in from page one, and the whole thing is just flat‑out fun. Do yourself a favor and read this book.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews