Toss

I bought this figuring it was just something to fill the time, and because although it is fashionable to 'diss' Boomer, I think he's a bright and straigtforward guy. The book is lots better than most people would expect: I think most of us think football players are kind of dumb bozos. Some of the characters in this novel are not all that bright, but the characters ARE characters, and the plot grabs you from about page 15 and keeps you hooked for another 300 pages. The protagonist, Brody, is a likeable yet imperfect guy. And the book is smart, not dumb or even formulaic. There's a lot about football here -- and much of it not what you get in the sanitized version every Monday night on ABC. If you like football, or like crime novels, you'll like this book.

Toss is a fascinating read from beginning to end. The twists and turns in the story will keep you gasping for breath with every page. This is not just a book for football fans, it's a book for readers who love a good crime story and a good writer(s) to tell it. Though the dirty secrets of the NFL are a big part of the book, it is the fascinating main character of quarterback Derek Brody that keeps the pages turning. You can't help but wonder just how much of Boomer Esiason is in Derek Brody, which makes it all the better of a read. Esiason (and Cauffiel) has definitely thrown for a touchdown on his first play from scrimmage.

Toss is a very satisfying read, one that is hard to put down. The research was excellent and the story unfolds quickly, without a lot of boring - and unnecessary - football details. Don't get the wrong idea - there is lots of football 'stuff' in this book and the facts ring curiously true. Most of the events probably really occured, names changed to protect the guilty. Yes, I read North Dallas Fourty. This book is nothing like that. It is told from the rookie point of view, by someone still in love with the game. The characters are vivid with gratuitous sex kept to a minimum. This book will be enjoyed by both men and women.