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Royal Switch
There was nothing to suggest that this baseball season would be any different than the last 20 seasons Harry Edelson had covered, even though Oklahoma City now had a Major League franchise to call its own. He covered the move of the team from Kansas City that winter and observed the new owner – a Russian billionaire – signing the best players he could, including the reigning National League MVP, Bill Revere.
Ancient rivals, observing the events from afar, note the new owner wants to upset the balance of power in the American League. But as the season progresses – even as early as Opening Day – Harry observes odd things happening in the Royals’ clubhouse. It comes to a head at the All-Star break, when Revere severely injures himself. He is carried off the field, and everyone thinks his season is over.
Not Revere recovers, but his form has changed. He slumps and eventually breaks out of it, yet the story written that night changes both his and Harry’s Harry notices something different with Revere in the clubhouse and dutifully reports his findings. Soon, Harry’s running for his life – but that does not quench his desire for wanting to know exactly what’s going on in that clubhouse.
It all leads to a road trip like no other, which has Harry perfectly placed to write an expose that’s hard for any baseball fan to ignore.
Ancient rivals, observing the events from afar, note the new owner wants to upset the balance of power in the American League. But as the season progresses – even as early as Opening Day – Harry observes odd things happening in the Royals’ clubhouse. It comes to a head at the All-Star break, when Revere severely injures himself. He is carried off the field, and everyone thinks his season is over.
Not Revere recovers, but his form has changed. He slumps and eventually breaks out of it, yet the story written that night changes both his and Harry’s Harry notices something different with Revere in the clubhouse and dutifully reports his findings. Soon, Harry’s running for his life – but that does not quench his desire for wanting to know exactly what’s going on in that clubhouse.
It all leads to a road trip like no other, which has Harry perfectly placed to write an expose that’s hard for any baseball fan to ignore.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2011
5 people want to read
About the author
Sean Sweeney
43 books34 followersSean Sweeney’s love of reading began in 1988, when he was handed J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic The Hobbit, and was given a needed reading boost with John Grisham novels and the Star Wars Expanded Universe in the 1990s. His passion for writing began in 1993, as a sophomore in high school, when he began writing sports for his local newspaper. Born and raised in North Central Massachusetts in 1977, Sweeney has written for several newspapers and radio stations. Since then, Sean has written upward of 29 novels along with a handful of novellas and short stories.
When he is not writing, he enjoys reading, watching Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, along with British mysteries and Doctor Who, the New England Revolution, and Arsenal F.C.
Sean lives in Fitchburg, Massachusetts with his wife and their four cats, Finn, Diva, Squeaky, and Spooky.
When he is not writing, he enjoys reading, watching Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, along with British mysteries and Doctor Who, the New England Revolution, and Arsenal F.C.
Sean lives in Fitchburg, Massachusetts with his wife and their four cats, Finn, Diva, Squeaky, and Spooky.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 30, 2011
Unlike another reviewer (no disrespect intended; not everyone likes the same things), I really got into the first part of the book. Living in Kansas, I've been a life long Royals fan and I found myself intrigued by the imaginative possibilities presented by the author. I loved the sections of journalistic reporting. It really placed me into the reality that Mr. Sweeney created. Only a sports writer could have done this story in the way it needed to be done. The author's background allows him to present details of the game that pulled me in that much more.
To be honest, the cover lends absolutely no hint of the thriller this book is. Will you like it if you're a sports fan? Absolutely. Will you like it if you like thrillers? Yes. The combination of the two did it for me.
I won't give any spoilers, but I LOVED THE ENDING! Didn't see it coming at all.
Thank you, Mr. Sweeney, for the cool and original read.
To be honest, the cover lends absolutely no hint of the thriller this book is. Will you like it if you're a sports fan? Absolutely. Will you like it if you like thrillers? Yes. The combination of the two did it for me.
I won't give any spoilers, but I LOVED THE ENDING! Didn't see it coming at all.
Thank you, Mr. Sweeney, for the cool and original read.
May 25, 2011
A Russian buys the Kansas City Royals baseball team and eventually moves them, drops all the players for new ones and will do anything to win the pennant...anything! The intro is a little long and feels like reading a newspaper story and you wonder if this is how the rest of the book is written but once past that it gets really good from there on. Deciet, murder, blackmail ensue. A sportswriter with a good nose for a story gets involved when something doesn't seem right. Good storyline, well written with a few unexpected twists. Enjoyable read!
August 24, 2011
The book started out a bit slow but once all of the characters were in place it took off with a resounding bang. Mr. Sweeney's years as a sports writer served him well. A known Russian Billionaire (who obtained his wealth with unsavory tactics) purchased the Royals and moves them to Oklahoma City. He like the Yankees and Red Sox used the winter meetings to buy the world series. Sounds familiar doesn't it?
The season starts with a bang. The new Acquisition from the Phillies (Bill Revere) holds up his part of the bargain and is producing at a hall of fame pace until a slide into second against the Yankees (just before the all-star game) snapping his ankle in half. His brother Steve (identical twin) is called upon by the front office to take his brothers place. Steve worked for the club as a locker room attendant. The owner Mr. Gustan made it clear upon his hiring to stay out of sight. The team could have big plans for him.
Harry Edelson ( a sports writer for the daily Oklahoman) covers the team from day one. While interviewing one of the pitchers after a win he looks back at Revere (whose bat appears to becoming back to form after spending 15 days on the DL) and notices something is missing. His mind can't shake off what his eyes have revealed. From that point on, his mind is transfixed with the unimaginable.
Harry becomes an unwitting partipant in a cover up traversing Russia, the Cia,the MLB commissioner, the Red Sox, Yankees and a host of others. This book is a thriller in every sense of the word.
I enjoyed the read but was hoping for a better ending. The plot is good but it left a lot of questions yet to be answered. A different ending would have begged for a sequel.
Good job Sean.
The season starts with a bang. The new Acquisition from the Phillies (Bill Revere) holds up his part of the bargain and is producing at a hall of fame pace until a slide into second against the Yankees (just before the all-star game) snapping his ankle in half. His brother Steve (identical twin) is called upon by the front office to take his brothers place. Steve worked for the club as a locker room attendant. The owner Mr. Gustan made it clear upon his hiring to stay out of sight. The team could have big plans for him.
Harry Edelson ( a sports writer for the daily Oklahoman) covers the team from day one. While interviewing one of the pitchers after a win he looks back at Revere (whose bat appears to becoming back to form after spending 15 days on the DL) and notices something is missing. His mind can't shake off what his eyes have revealed. From that point on, his mind is transfixed with the unimaginable.
Harry becomes an unwitting partipant in a cover up traversing Russia, the Cia,the MLB commissioner, the Red Sox, Yankees and a host of others. This book is a thriller in every sense of the word.
I enjoyed the read but was hoping for a better ending. The plot is good but it left a lot of questions yet to be answered. A different ending would have begged for a sequel.
Good job Sean.
August 19, 2011
We love our Baseball. Right? It's All-American, good, clean fun. But what if something really nasty got in and started messing with things? Royal Switch is a glimpse of what could happen. Russian, Vlad Gustan, bought up the Kansas City Royals. He didn't put a dime into the team, until...he up and moved them to Oklahoma City, where he opened his billionaire pockets and started loading the team with the best, and revamping The Brickyard. Harry Edelson has been covering the Royals for years.
This book is about bad people doing bad stuff to good people. The author is really into sports, and knows his stuff. This is a "what if" book, and not to be missed.
This book is about bad people doing bad stuff to good people. The author is really into sports, and knows his stuff. This is a "what if" book, and not to be missed.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews