Book Four in The Wager Series
In the high-stakes world of horse racing, a murder investigation unfolds at the backstretch. Jessie Rivera, a longtime assistant trainer and key figure in the racing community, has been found dead, and the spotlight falls on Sal Nicoletti, a prominent trainer. As the prime suspect, Sal's reputation and future hang in the balance.
Enter Eddie and his uncle, retired homicide detective Mike O'Connell, who team up to unravel the complex web of secrets and lies surrounding Jessie's murder. Eddie's girlfriend, Nicole Nicoletti, Sal's daughter, has made a name for herself in Chicago's sports betting scene, but now she needs Eddie's help to clear her father's name.
As they dig deeper, they discover a stolen lab book containing confidential blood test results for horses, which could hold the key to the case. Meanwhile, a powerful mob boss lies on his deathbed, and the kingpin of the mob's offshore gambling operation has returned to Chicago, stirring up trouble.
The track's top owner enlists Eddie's help to gamble on his horses, adding another layer of intrigue to the investigation. Eddie and Mike must navigate the treacherous world of the backstretch, where hidden agendas, rival trainers, migrants, gamblers, and mobsters converge. With time running out, they must find the killer before the trail goes cold.
This gripping mystery combines the thrill of horse racing with the intensity of a detective thriller, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Eddie and Mike work to uncover the truth behind Jessie's murder.
Industry Reviews
WAGER LATE (BOOK FOUR)
"A terrific, fast-paced addition to a satisfying thriller series featuring a winning, unconventional cast." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A seedy thriller seeped in atmosphere and authenticity. Wager Late is an engrossing novel that blends gritty crime fiction and racing culture into a seamless, page-turning whole." -Indies Today (Five Stars)
WAGER SMART (BOOK THREE)
" Much like the previous outings in this series, Farrell's foray into the interconnected worlds of gambling and organized crime yields a story full of narrative crackle and well-drawn characters, here enhanced by the added element of Wall Street "masters of the universe" (plus a few criminal Russians as a bonus). The author's skill at pacing is superb, without any lulls or dead-end subplots, and his ear for characterization is so keen that huge swaths of the book are carried by dialogue alone." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"WagerEasy is a high-stakes, adrenaline fueled ride through the rougher areas of a modern urban landscape." -Indies Today Book Reviews
" (Farrell) skillfully unfolds the complicated tale as Eddie delves deeper into the underworld and fi nds out how it intersects with the impending legalization of sports betting in Illinois."
-Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Indie Books of 2021 and one of the Best Indie Mystery Thrillers of 2021
"Wager Tough is a taut thriller featuring a fl awed but endearing antihero." -INDIES TODAY BOOK REVIEWS
WAGER TOUGH (BOOK ONE)
" . . . even more compulsively readable than Wager Easy. The author has a pitch perfect ear for the intricacies of the no man's land Eddie inhabits." -KIRKUS REVIEWS (STARRED REVIEW)
