by Jaimy Gordon
First published 2010
Tommy Hansel arrives at Indian Mound Downs with four horses and a calculated plan. The animals look unremarkable on paper, but Tommy knows better. He intends to run them at long odds, collect his winnings, and disappear before anyone catches on. His partner Maggie Koderer becomes fascinated by the broken down horses at this cheap track. She also attracts unwanted attention from Joe Dale Bigg, the track's top trainer. Word of Tommy's scheme spreads through the tight community of grooms, jockeys, and hustlers. Medicine Ed, the veteran groom, hears about it. So does Two-Tie, a dangerous loan shark, and Kidstuff, who shoes the horses. As the plan unfolds, Maggie finds herself at the center of the action. She discovers what truly matters in this world where everything can be bought and sold.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, mystery, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Indian Mound Downs
296 pages · Hardcover · McPherson