FFB: Murder at the Foul Line

In honor of the NBA playoffs, I'm posting this FFB basketball-themed "classic":

In 2006, Otto Penzler released the anthology Murder at the Foul Line, with stories contributed by a Who's Who of crime fiction: Lawrence Block, Jeffery Deaver, Sue DeNymme, Brendan DuBois, Parnell Hall, Laurie R. King, Mike Lupica, Michael Malone, Joan H. Parker and Robert B. Parker, George Pelecanos, R. D. Rosen, S. J. Rozan, Justin Scott and Stephen Solomita.

Michael Malone's winningly deadpan "White Trash Noir," about domestic violence from a former NCAA star that seemingly drives his wife to murder, was nominated for the 2007 Edgar Award for best short story, but had to be withdrawn because it had been previously published in a collection by the author. There are other winners, though: Lawrence Block's hitman character Keller takes in a Pacers game in "Keller's Double Dribble," but the assignment doesn't go as planned and we get glimpses into Keller's past; "String Music" by George Pelecanos focuses on a streetwise D.C. kid trying to escape his troubled life by playing pickup basketball; Laurie R. King's "Cat's Paw" features the coach of a girl's junior high basketball team who is haunted by repressed memories and whose life is shaken up after she runs over a cat; and Jeffery Deaver's "Nothing But Net" is filled with Deaver's trademark twists and turns, featuring con men trying to swindle a naive NBA player.

Penzler would probably argue there's plenty more fodder for murderous takes on professional basketball. As he notes in his Introduction, "Perhaps the biggest difference in the game is the level of criminal activity. One of the big crime stories of the 1950s was when some Manhattan College, CCNY, and Long Island University players conspired to fix games so that certain gamblers could make a killing. The scandal rocked the sport for years, and those teams, then national powers, never recovered. Today, of course, that would be looked upon as kid stuff. Now we're really talking. Stars are commonly arrested for drug abuse, drunk driving, wife (and girlfriend) battering, barroom brawling, rape, and so many other acts of violence and criminality that it is difficult to keep track."

Murder at the Foul Line is the fifth installment in Penzler's sports mystery anthology series, so if you're not a fan of basketball, instead try Murderer's Row (baseball), Murder on the Ropes (boxing), Murder is My Racquet (tennis) and Sudden Death (football). I should point out that these books were published by the defunct New Millennium publishing arm, and that Penzler successfully sued the company claiming breach of contract. It's an unfortunate conclusion to what was originally an intriguing collaboration, but that doesn't change the fact the stories still stand on their own, with many sparkling three-pointers among them.

Comments

[George Kelley]

This is a dandy anthology! Very entertaining stories. And I think FLORIDA will win the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.

[BV Lawson]

Yes, George, I believe you are right. It would be one of the biggest upsets of all time if Florida loses this one. They certainly look unstoppable. This is a big year for the SEC - three teams in the Sweet Sixteen. (And UK and UT have their women's teams in the Six Sixteen, also).

[J F Norris]

This made me smile when I read the list of authors who contributed. Rozan organizes a pick up basketball game at every Bouchercon for anyone who wants to play. I think it's mostly writes who show up. Not being a sports fan (something a man should never confess, I suppose) at all I never went to one to play or watch. And I would never have known that they all wrote stories featuring the game.

[BV Lawson]

It was pretty surprising to see some of the folks who penned these stories. Might have to give it a try myself soon. :-)

[SteveHL]

Nothing to do with this book, but S. J. Rozan wrote a very good, Edgar-nominated basketball-themed short story, "Hoops", in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine back in 1996. It has been anthologized several times, including a couple of "best of the year" collections.

[BV Lawson]

Thanks for that tidbit, Steve! I'll search it out ASAP.