One of my favorite books of the year! Both suspenseful and a little satirical. Fans of Eli Cranors other novels will love it. Can’t wait for everyone to read

Must a talented athlete make a deal with the devil to make his dream come true?

Long before the landscape of college sports changed with the advent of the NIL and transfer portal, there were bagmen. Shady figures who made sure superstar college athletes got money- bags full of money. In Mississippi Blue 42, Rae Johnson, a hard charging rookie FBI agent, is assigned to investigate illicit money flowing through a small college town with a team looking to repeat as national champion. Rae’s investigation isn’t as easy as she thought it was going to be-especially when the star quarterback dies next to a bag full of money. Was it an accident or murder?

Cranor delivers a fast paced story filled with over the top characters. The head coach is an empty-headed chameleon who’s more interested in bible verses and his next gig. The local sheriff is a bully who’ll cover up any crimes necessary. The bagman will go to any extent to help the team- even pimping out his own daughter. And the man who keeping the wheels greased and machine running is a shadowy politician.

Beyond the farcical characters and the craziness of college football is Carnor’s examination of poverty, racism, and chasing dreams. Cranor’s a master storyteller who knows how to entertain and make the reader look at uncomfortable truths. He definitely delivers a game winner with this book.

I was so excited to see this book published after hearing about it a few years ago. It's got a bit of Ace Atkins, a lot of. Carl Hiaasen, some Elmore Leonard enough of Eli Cranor's own style to keep it awesome. It's such a fun book but also relevant to our current college sports landscape. Highly recommended.