This was an interesting book by a former famous jockey. While not near the impressive Dick Francis, this book was still a good thriller. A Louisiana hurricane is nothing to play with, as the main characters found out. I did think it odd that for a hurricane to do so much damage to property that it was amazing that Starbuck manages to fly through said hurricane and also somehow find his way to the Dogwood plantation without damage while everything else is being damaged. ( )

Ex-jockey Colley Killebrew has made a successful go of it as a part owner of a thriving Las Vegas restaurant. He's even (mostly) over being accused of race-fixing seven years before. When the race steward who pressed for his disbarment comes to him with a proposition, he's a bit intrigued, but it takes the offer of information on his then-girlfriend Francie Dorn to get his cooperation.

Now he's headed for New Orleans and an undercover operation - if he can block a racetrack scam aimed at taking control of the Magnolia Park track, he'll get what he wants... but to do so he'll have to survive a critical lack of information, a devious ex, the mob, and a little-bitty ol' hurricane. Should be simple, right?

Not bad for a first effort, and I'll definitely track down the subsequent installments to see what Colley gets up to next. Maybe not up to Dick Francis standards yet, but definitely promising. ( )