Synopses & Reviews
Aspiring racecar driver Kate Reilly goes looking for a full-time ride in the American Le Mans Series—and stumbles over a dead driver. When she takes that driver’s job just hours later, she also takes pole position on the list of suspects in his murder. Suddenly she’s in the hot seat with little time to clear her name and get ready to race a Corvette at Lime Rock Park.
Amidst suspicion, Kate buckles down, quickly getting to know the racecar and team, bumping into plenty of suspects who might have committed murder. Clues fly at her as fast as the turns on the track, including a cryptic list of blackmail victims, unexplainable car performance at racing speed, a jealous husband with an adulterous wife, and drivers and crew who are openly happy her predecessor is dead. Kate finds exhilaration and hazards exist on- and off-track as she throttles up both the Corvette’s V8 and a murder investigation.
The green-flag countdown ticks away, and Kate must decide who she can trust to help probe alibis, untangle rumors of team breakups and personal betrayals, and determine whose drive to win also constitutes a willingness to kill. Because what’s at stake in Kate’s race to the truth is her career … only by uncovering a murderer can Kate restore her reputation and prove she belongs in the racing world.
Review
Kaehler's winning debut introduces Kate Reilly, a driver hoping to latch on to an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) team who finally gets that opportunity after Corvette driver Wade Becker is found murdered at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn. Unfortunately, Kate discovers the body, and initially Detective Jolley treats Kate as a suspect, but that's not as bad as the nasty rumors that begin to circulate about Kate personally. Becker, a declining star on the circuit, had no shortage of enemies among the drivers, sponsors, cuckolded husbands, team owners, and pit crew, but Kate, with the most at stake, wants to clear her own name. Even those unfamiliar with this world will appreciate Kaehler's vivid descriptions of the intricate teamwork involved in racing, the amazing equipment, the split-second decision making required of the driver, and the pulse-pounding race itself. -- Publishers Weekly
Review
"[A] winning debut...Even those unfamiliar with this world will appreciate Kaehler's vivid descriptions of the intricate teamwork involved in racing, the amazing equipment, the split-second decision making required of the driver, and the pulse-pounding race itself." —Publishers Weekly
"... chock full of [good drama]. The characters were full of life and completely believable. Kate was aggressive but not pushy, and she didn't make a big deal of being a 'female driver' ... which quickly gets old. I really hope this becomes a series." —Fresh Fiction
"Pedal to the metal from start to finish, Tammy Kaehler's sensational debut is a high-octane whodunit so real you can smell burnt rubber and racing fuel. Displaying a veteran's writing skills, Kaehler's Kate Reilly series is off to a jackrabbit start!" —Julia Spencer-Fleming, author of One Was a Soldier
"Kaehler’s debut wraps the reader in layers of racing detail." —Kirkus Reviews
"A tale of mystery and intrigue that involves Corvettes and racing will often move high on a recreational reading list...[Kaehler] became interested in racing after a visit to a hospitality suite. That day led to intense research and a quest for accuracy that will appeal to the knowledge race enthusiast." —Auto Enthusiast
About the Author
Before trying her hand at fiction, Tammy Kaehler established a career writing marketing materials, feature articles, executive speeches, and technical documentation. A fateful stint in corporate hospitality introduced her to the racing world, which inspired the first Kate Reilly racing mystery. Tammy works as a technical writer in the Los Angeles area, where she lives with her husband and many cars.