Obsession over a valuable antique golf ball drives some collectors toward mayhem, murder, and abduction while its owner tries to concentrate on his play at the British open.
Scott Beckman inherits an antique feathery golf ball used in 1849 during a record match at St. Andrews from his mentor, a golf professional, Sandy McNair. Sandy's intervention had kept Scott and his best friend, Matt Kemp away from juevenile delinquency by involving them in the game of golf. Scott eventually moves on with Matt as his caddie to play on the PGA Tour. After running out of funds to stay on tour Scott reluctantly submits the valuable feathery ball to an auction in London. Ironically, after doiing so, his earnings on tour start to soar. Scott removes the feathery from the auction much to the chagrin of those who were set on possessing this artifact so treasured by collectors. Their obsession is so strong to own it they'll commit murder and Mayhem to do so.
Scott leaves the solution of murder and robbery up to Chief Inspector Bradshaw of Scotland Yard and Detective Riley of the NYPD while he continues play at the British Open in Turnberry, Scotland. But his good play there against hot competition is interrupted when his caddie, Matt Kemp, is abducted. A blood stained note containing Matt's gold ear ring and the lobe that it was attached to tells Scott of the demand and a threat of more mutilation if he doesn't comply.
Excerpt
The train moved slowly over the rails as it started out of the station. He stood up to draw the shade on his compartment's sliding door and reached for the duffel bag on the luggage rack above. Malachy Gallagher unzipped it, took out a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey and placed it on the shelf by the window. The other items tucked into the duffle were a 38 special pistol, some rope and a roll of duct tape. He checked the contents of a small box. Inside it lying on white cotton was a scalpel. He sat back and thought about his mission of abduction and mutilation The train's speed increased and the click-clack of the cars wheels as they passed over cross- ties became one continuous tone. Raindrops streaked as they hit the window glass making the buildings along side the track a dark, wet blur. Malachy asked the empty compartment,"Will Ian Barkley's control over him to make me do these terrible things ever stop?"
Bill Flynn's "The Feathery" is a very fast read. Not only is it well crafted, but it is written wonderfully. Many people read books to "escape," and this book helps the reader to do just that - whether it be to 18th Century Scotland, modern day California, modern day England and Scotland and New York.
I am by no means considered an expert in the world of golf, let alone the history of golf balls, yet I was absolutely able to dive into this story to the point where life would interrupt my reading. This book's focus is not just golf - it is a true "whodunit" coupled with a "whatshouldIdo" type of story, with an interesting twist - with the world of golf as the landscape.
One may think by the book's cover that "The Feathery" is just about a type of golf ball, crafted by hand in the 1800s. It is far beyond that. "The Feathery" incorporates greed, love, loss, survival, and it's relation to the world of gambling, antique collecting and pursuing one's dreams. Right from the start, the reader begins to "root" for the characters.
I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and look forward to Mr. Flynn's next novel.
Anybody who can use the term feathery (I have one in a glassed in container in my office) Jameson's Irish whiskey, The British Open, and a good old fashion Scottish murder mystery, all in such close proximity, must be read. Then when you get a chance check out the first couple of chapters of my Raw Talent. The greatest game ihn the world!
This book tells the story of the 1999 Providence College Friars baseball team, the last season that the sport was played at the institution. Baseball was set to be eliminated after that season in order for the school to comply with Title IX regulatio
"HOMEGROWN: The Making of the 1972-73 Providence College Friars" is a retrospective of that remarkable season as well as a history of the school's basketball program, which was responsible for drawing the local talent that propelled that team to succ
This book tells the story of the 1999 Providence College Friars baseball team, the last season that the sport was played at the institution. Baseball was set to be eliminated after that season in order for the school to comply with Title IX regulatio
