This is a DNF for me at 30%. I didn't realize that this book would be so incredibly heavy on football and all that goes with it. I don't enjoy football and found all of the ins and outs of the tactics to sign players boring.

I'm sure this will find it's audience among football lovers

ARC read

If the coach’s daughter from Remember the Titans grew up and became a Federal Agent, this could be her story.

Honestly, I struggled with this one. I wanted so badly to love it, but I should didn’t. It kept my attention, helped pass the time, but I never could get invested in the characters. Although the narrator did an excellent job, I struggled with the female protagonist being voiced by a man. I’m thinking maybe someone steeped in football might enjoy this a little more, but I couldn’t get past the cliche phrases passed off as unique sayings and stereotypical representations of the South (of which I am a proud member and do not resemble the depiction).

It was not bad, I just didn’t love it. I am thankful to have been chosen to review the book for NetGalley.

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“Even mosquitos know there’s power in the blood.”

“Life in the Waffle House could wear a woman down.”

Finally... I found a book where I am the target audience.

First things first... I'm very familiar with life prior to the dreaded NIL happenings in college football, growing up in Mississippi, having lived in Arkansas for the past 10 years, huge college football fan, former quarterback, has-been college athlete, and avid reader,.. I AM THE GUY TO READ THIS BOOK!!!

Unfortunately, I feel like this is bad news. I know absolutely ZERO other people in my demographic that like to read. I believe we can find a small spattering of people that will seek out this book for its audio adaptation but not many for the physical copy. BUT... if this work can get picked up for TV or film, I believe it can succeed. It has all of the elements that it needs: good vs. evil, a moral hero, creepy old Caucasian villains, money, drama, greed, sex, sports. Good stuff here.

Simple story. I wish the FBI agent wasn't as naive as she is portrayed to be. But this is supposedly the start of a series... so there is plenty of time for this character to grow.

I enjoy this author and look forward to his future works.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early read of this story about a rookie FBI agent being thrown into the college football scene for an investigation on dirty money after growing up the daughter of a beloved coach. It was an enjoyable read, despite me having little interest in football.

I was drawn by this being the first in a series about FBI Special Agent Rae Johnson. The death of the quarterback came early on in the book, and it seemed pretty unrealistic that very little was done to memorialize him. When a beloved student athlete dies, especially in a small town, there would be a lot more fanfare. The smooth transition to the next QB was a bit off putting here, but I am glad it was Moses.

The most redeeming part of this story was Moses. What a great person. The portrayal of this character was probably my favorite part of the book. Frank was fun, too, and I hope to see him in future books.

The cliffhanger (will she/won't she) at the end about her dad gave me mixed feelings about agent Johnson. If she is that easily compromised, it doesn't seem like much of a promising start to a career.

I do recommend this story, especially for fans of football and crime/law enforcement books.

This was just okay for me. I am not the target audience, so that is ok.
I am a sucker for anything sort of police procedural. So, new FBI agent on her first case? Check. Start of a new series? Double check. I like sports. Admittedly, football is not my favorite, but I thought I knew the game. This is where it went a bit wrong, lol. It went too far into football a few times early on.

So, in addition to being a bit over my head because I only know basics, the whole crime/conspiracy didn't draw me in.

Moses is the best thing in the book. I like Frank, too.

Dan John Miller narrates the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fascinating audiobook read that opened up my world to the mysteries of sports betting and also to football details that I never knew. The author wrote some richly drawn characters and the mystery was well paced and action packed. I enjoyed this very much!

Living in England I might not have totally understood what was going on or the terminology but I still enjoyed the book. There was a lot of character names and nicknames like gridiron girls and bagman, which at first I struggled to keep straight or understand but it didn't take long to get my head around everything and I was soon catch up in all the action. The story moved at a fast pace as Rae struggled to work her first case. The author created a cast of believable characters and then wrote a story that had you invested in what happened to them. Rae was a good main character but my favourite character was the young football player caught up in all the drama.

Special Agent Rae Johnson is assigned her first case as an FBI agent, based on her knowledge of growing up with a successful football coach. She is tasked with tracking down money being funded through the game. The case takes a deadly turn when the star quarterback takes a drive off the roof. Can Rae find a way to investigate the death and the money? She needs an informant or a way to get close to the man running the show before somebody else gets hurt.
I liked the narrator. He has a pleasant voice that was easy to listen too.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.