Murder in the “G” Basketball League

Book excerpt: This is a ‘Who-dun-it’ novel about a murder of a member of the Portland, Maine Flounders organization, a minor league basketball team, affiliated with Boston’s major league team, the Shamrocks. The Flounders were an eclectic ensemble of U.S. and foreign players, young and old, black and white, urban and city, ex-college and ex-high-school players. The reader will be treated to a modicum of basketball strategies, enough to understand the teams’ journey to the “G” League national championship, but will not be pulled into the weeds of basketball. The coach, Butch Baker, a farm boy who entered the Marines after graduating from Annapolis got shot in the arm from a Taliban sniper and upon recovery played several years for the Boston Shamrocks. The tension between the team and coach is gripping as the cultures and backgrounds clash.The coach does not understand the Woke culture and is oblivious to the triggering he causes with some of his draconian remarks and actions. The reader, teased by the title, knows a murder will happen but gets sidetracked by the personal interaction between players with players and the coach with players. The reader is attached to the wily coach, but knows his imperfections and awaits a foul play. Suspense continues in the book until late in the game when the culprit is finally revealed.