Book Review - Last Shot

Author: John Feinstein

Two teenage sports reporters experience blackmail and basketball first hand in Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery. Find out if this basketball novel is a slam dunk or an air ball.

Last Shot - Basketball and Blackmail

When eighth graders Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson win a youth writing contest sponsored by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, they're both flying higher than Vince Carter on an alley-oop. As grand prize winners, the pair have won a trip to the Final Four college basketball tournament in New Orleans and a chance to cover the event as working journalists. They're both given press credentials and a chance to write about the exciting events of March Madness. The Final Four becomes truly mad when Stevie and Susan Carol overhear the star player of Minnesota State being blackmailed to throw the Championship Game. The two writers put their investigative skills together and try to to save college basketball's most important game, but not before running into high-stakes danger and mystery.

Last Shot - Rivalry and Romance

Last Shot is a fast-paced read which is made more enjoyable by the tension and competitiveness between Stevie and Susan Carol. Stevie is short kid from the East Coast who absolutely hates Duke (who doesn't?), while Susan Carol is a tall girl from the South who absolutely loves Duke. Stevie thinks he knows more about college hoops than Susan Carol and hates the fact that he's been partnered with a Duke fan. But the two put their differences aside to uncover what's going on behind a basketball blackmail scheme. A strong friendship and possible romance between these two opposites develops along the way.

Last Shot - Bottom Line

Last Shot is a great read because it combines a clever mystery with a real look inside the Final Four tournament. The author, John Feinstein, is a sports reporter who has covered the tournament several times and he provides great behind-the-scenes details about how the Final Four is influenced by the media, big TV money and the pressures of big-time college sports. If you love college basketball, you'll really enjoy Last Shot. It's a fast-paced story and a perfect way to spend your time when you're not watching the live hoops action over Final Four weekend.

Last Shot Rating:

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