An umpire makes a couple of bad calls and the next morning he turns up dead. Photographer Al Jeffrey becomes a suspect because of his argument with ump, and reporter Warren "Mitch" Mitchell sets out to find the real killer.
Excerpt
"That was the rottenist piece of umpiring I've ever seen," Al said, stepping in front of the departing umpire.
"Get out of my face," said Clark.
"I'd like to smash your face," said Al. "Better yet, I'd like to shove a bat up your fat butt. You're one ump that deserves to be killed."
The parents of several other Tigers players within earshot turned toward Al and raised their fists in agreement.
Professional Reviews
Rebecca's Reads
1
Out at Home
Glenn Ickler
Sterling House Publisher (2008)
ISBN 9781563154072
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (10/08)
“Out at Home” is Book 6 in the “Mitch and Al Series” of books, but it is the first book in
the series that I have read. With some series it is very hard to jump in this far along and
completely grasp what is going on. With “Out at Home,” that was not the case! The
book works very well as a stand-alone novel and there was never an instance when I felt
like I was missing any key points by not reading the previous “Mitch and Al” books. The
characters were very enjoyable and intriguing and the book only made me want to go
back and read the prior five books just to experience more of them working together!
“Out at Home” begins at a softball tournament with a questionable call by the umpire
Jimmy Joe Clark involving Al’s daughter Kristen Jeffery. After Kristin and the coach are
both ejected out of the park and the game is over, Al confronts the umpire with words
that he will later regret. After commenting on the terrible umpiring job and saying he
that would like to smash the umpire’s face he goes on to say, “Better yet, I’d like to ram a
bat up your fat butt! You’re one ump that deserves to be killed.” (p.4)
On Monday morning, Al was at his place of employment, the St. Paul Daily Dispatch
newspaper, where he works as a photographer, when he and reporter Warren “Mitch”
Mitchell are informed that a body was found out by the softball field. When they go out
to the scene, they find that the victim’s name is being withheld pending notification of the
family. However, they learn shortly after that the deceased is none other than the umpire
Jimmy Joe Clark and yes, you guessed it, there is a bat shoved up where the sun doesn’t
shine. Obviously, Al is looked at as a potential suspect because of the words that he
spoke at the ball field, but Jimmy Joe Clark was a man who had many enemies both from
his umpiring job and his day job.
“Out at Home” is a definite page-turner! Once I started the book I wasn’t able to put it
down until I learned the outcome. I loved the element of humor in the book and felt that
it added a lot to the fast-paced mystery. I look forward to reading more from Glenn
Ickler in the future!
The third book in the funny Silver Sisters Mysteries series. The twins and their 80 year-old mother and uncle get into trouble sleuthing in Sin City.
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