Cut Shot

(A Jack Austin Mystery)

by
John R. Corrigan

Sleeping Bear Press, October 2001, 213 pp.
ISBN: 1-58536-028-7

Genre: Mystery
Subgenre: PGA Tour
Reviewed: 11/29/2003

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Excerpt

In the Scorer's Tent after Shooting a 69 in the PGA Tour

"Frank would like to see you," Gianni said to me.

I punched the numbers again. After I failed fourth-grade math, a teacher told me mother: "Face it, some kids are just slow." Thankfully, my mother did not accept that; instead, she took me from rural Maine to a specialist in Boston who diagnosed me and suggested using a calculator.

I slid the card to the scorer. "Let me see," I said, "what's tonight? Laundry is Tuesdays. I talk to my mom every Wednesday. Maybe I can squeeze him between Frasier and Seinfeld reruns."

Gianni didn't smile.

I said: "Tell Frank I'll take him to dinner. I'd like to make it up to him. No hard feelings."

"No hard feelings?"

"Sure. I don't hold a grudge."

"You don't hold a grudge?"

Gianni stood looking over me. Then he leaned close to me and whispered: "Either you've got balls the size of grapefruits or you're one dumb bastard."

"Probably the latter," I said.

Synopsis

One night, rookie Hutch Gainer appears outside Jack's room an pleads for his help. It seems that Hutch has gotten involved with the New Orleans mobster, John Pickorino, and has been forced to shoot worse then he normally would.

Jack contacts his friend, a private investigator, Perkins, to help Hutch figure out how to get out of this unspeakable situation and save the integrity of the game. Jack is dating Lisa Trembley, the lead golf analyst for CBS. Afraid that Lisa will get wind of stroke-shaving in the PGA, he hides what is happening and even finds himself getting involved with the mob himself. His intention is to set up a sting.

When he is told to shoot a 75, Jack goes along with the mobster until he tees off. He informs one of the gangsters that he will not throw strokes and shoot a 75. Now, Jack walks a thin line avoiding his fiancee on one hand and avoiding the mob on the other. Sooner or later someone is bound to make their move.

Cut Shot is the first Jack Austin mystery book by John R. Corrigan. The book takes place during the PGA Tour. Although Jack Austin has dyslexia, and his openly gay caddy, Tim Silver, he is able to uses his wits and humor to figure his way out of sticky situations.

Review

I love a character who has passion...and Jack Austin has a lot of passion. Even though the mob has hired a hitman to kill him, Jack's only real concern is that the PGA name is not tarnished. John R. Corrigan does a wonderful job or portraying life in the PGA in the first Jack Austin mystery, Cut Shot.

Although I have never played golf, except on a gaming console, I have always been intrigued with the game. You do not have to be a huge fan of golf to enjoy this book. The tempo of the story is excellently paced and the characters are well-developed. Cut Shot is a highly enjoyable first story by John R. Corrigan and not to be missed.

Overall, I quite enjoyed reading about Jack Austin taking on the mob to save a game he loves. I look forward to seeing what Jack Austin will come up with in his next story, Snap Hook.  

I rated this book an 8 out of 10.