There's a lot of real crime surrounding the Super Bowl:
drugs, money, egos, etc. Lots of fodder for the crime writer. So in
'honor' of Sunday's Game, I've updated my short lists of Super Bowl and other Football Mysteries. This is in no way definitive--just some football mysteries for you to enjoy in case you're not watching the Super Bowl Game. Go, Niners! As always, I welcome additions!
If you're interested in other Sports Mysteries and essays on Football Mysteries, Mystery Readers Journal has had several Sports Mysteries issues. The last Sports Mysteries Issue of MRJ was Volume 25:4 (Winter 2009-2010). Available in Hardcopy and .pdf download
Super Bowl Mysteries
Cover-Up: Mystery at the Super Bowl by John Feinstein (YA)
The Hidden Key by George Harmon Coxe
Super-Dude by John Craig
Black Sunday by Thomas Harris
Paydirt by Paul Levine
The Last Super Bowl by Robin Moore & David Harper
4th and Fixed by Reggie Rivers
Murder at the Super Bowl by Fran Tarkenton and Herb Resnicow
Life's Work by Jonathan Valin
Killerbowl by Gary K. Wolf
Other Football Mysteries (not British Football, of which there are many titles)
The Professor by Robert Bailey
Rough and Tumble by Mark Bavaro
Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben
Coliseum by Barney Cohen
Day of the Ram by William Campbell Gault
Murder at Cleaver Stadium by Douglas Lee Gibboney
Double Reverse; Ruffians by Tim Green
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham
Bleeding Maize and Blue by Susan Holtzer
The Prophet by Michael Koryta
Bump and Run by Mike Lupica
The Draft by Wil Mara
Dead Ball Foul by Kayla McGrady
A Cardinal Offense by Ralph McInerny
Parker's Blood by William Miller
Winter and Night by S. J. Rozan
Sudden Death by David Rosenfelt
Marked Man; Red Card by Mel Stein
A Touch of Death by Charles Williams
Nonfiction:
Scoreboard, Baby: A Story of College Football, Crime and Complicity by Ken Armstrong and Nick Perry
As a current Bay Area resident who spent over a decade living in Baltimore, I feel obliged to root for the Niners. But I have to say that the Ravens are the true team for mystery fans. After all, how many pro sports teams have such a close connection to a mystery writer? "Quoth the Raven... nevermore!"
ReplyDeleteAnother good one is Black Sunday by Thomas Harris. It's the one he wrote before he stumbled upon the gold that was Hannibal Lecter.
ReplyDeleteI would include George de la Fontaine's "Two Minute Warning."
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