Shooting Star: A Nikki Latrelle Mystery, Book 5 (The Nikki Latrelle Mystery-Thriller Series) by Sasscer Hill

Shooting Star: A Nikki Latrelle Mystery, Book 5 (The Nikki Latrelle Mystery-Thriller Series) Reviews

• 
  Kathi Defranc

  A Movie Being Filmed At A Racetrack, The Suspense Drags You Along..
  
  A fabulous thriller as a film crew moves onto a horse racing track, bringing stars and increased excitement to the backstretch. Nikki Latrelle has been hired as an agent for the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, to keep an eye on things the film folk do. She gets to learn about the movie industry, and is excited, until the cameraman is murdered while at the track!!
  There are very interesting characters, wild action scenes and a realistic glance into life on the racetrack. I trained racehorses for years and felt right at home! I highly recommend this mystery for all horse lovers and mystery readers alike!!
• 
  Lori Herbst

  I came late to the game with the Nikki Latrelle series, starting with SHOOTING STAR, book 5. I will definitely be going back to get the rest. I very much enjoyed the main character—her wit, determination, and resilience. The book has a bit of a noir tone, and it's refreshing to have a female lead in such a book. I loved, loved, loved the premise. The horse racing entranced me, and the glimpse into the Hollywood movie-making world was fun too. I did have to suspend my disbelief a couple of times as Nikki made her way into a starring role in the film, but it was easy to do so, and a pleasure. Overall, the book was fast-paced, with plenty of plot twists and nail-biting scenarios, and I highly recommend it.
• 
  C.J. Shane

  Nikki Latrelle is a consummate horsewoman and jockey who is working on the set of a racing-related film when this story opens. She’s also an undercover agent for an agency devoted to the protection of thoroughbred horses. Nikki was hired by Will Marshall, an intriguing character with whom Nikki had a relationship in the past.
  
  The action starts early when Nikki witnesses the brutal murder of one of the film’s cameramen. She figures out pretty quickly that the murder is connected to illegal dealings by some unsavory characters lurking around the film set. Much of this story is about how Nikki unravels the mystery of fraud and corruption linked to the film production. At the same time, she is desperately trying to stay safe when it becomes clear that she has become a target. Suspense is present throughout the book and becomes quite intense as the story unfolds. Because of this, it’s a fun page-turning mystery-suspense read.
  
  A second strength of this book is to get an insider look into horseracing in the U.S. and a first-person account of what it’s like to be a racing jockey. The only misstep is a romance Nikki has with one of the film’s stars, a sexy film star from the U.K. It’s not really a romance, but more of a two-or-three night stand that is never very interesting and does not end well.
  
  Shooting Star is fifth in the Nikki Latrelle Mystery series. However it can be read as a stand-alone. I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest evaluation.
  
• 
  J.M. Northup

  Original and Exciting
  
  Though there were times I felt more information was given than needed, this was a well written and enjoyable read. The racing was exciting and easy to picture as it unfolded. Truly, horseracing enthusiasts will appreciate this book.
  
  What I liked was the friendship between Nikki, Orlando, and Greta. The love and respect Nikki had for the horses appealed to me, as well. It was something I valued.
  
  What I disliked was the inconsistent details relating to the tapped phone. With the way my mind works, that drove me nuts and distracted from the story.
  
  Overall, this is an original plot, which I found interesting. It had many elements - romance, mystery, suspense, friendship... I recommend it!
• 
  Kelly

  This is my first time reading a book in this series. I liked it so much, I'll have to go back to book one and start from there. Nikki Latrelle is tough and vulnerable, but sometimes does things against her better judgment. (Don't we all, lol?)
  
  The racing scenes in the book reminded me of going to the track with my father growing up and how he studied the background on all the horses ahead of time. I loved the action scenes and could picture the races in my head as described. The author's experiences really informed the story and made it a page turner.
  
  There was a good mix of mystery and romance. I know which beau I cheered for the whole time, but I won't spoil it for others. I love a book where I learn something new. Getting lost in the jockey parts and learning behind the scenes details of a movie set were all new and fun to read. Bottom line: an entertaining read that kept my attention the whole time.
• 
  Rebecca Lloyd

  I so enjoy these books by Hill! They are fast-paced action mysteries that always have a twist at the end. The bonus is that horses and racing are always included too.
• 
  Nancy Sullivan

  When erstwhile jockey, Nikki Latrelle, shows up at the track, she has no idea what she's gotten herself into. First, right out of the gate, the dead body shows up. And she's in for more shooting: She becomes the star of the film alongside the handsome, blond Jamie Jackson (I kept picturing Brad Pitt. Sigh.). Hill writes convincingly of life at Santa Anita with a cast of likeable and the requisite unlikeable characters. She keeps the pages turning in this winner by a length that takes the reader behind the scenes into the drug world, Hollywood, and horseracing as Nikki tries to extricate herself from the clutches of bad guys.
• 
  Candace Carter

  A faced-paced mystery thriller!
• 
  Grady

  ‘The cameraman, Dave was just shot. I think he’s dead!’ – a bristling mystery thriller
  
  South Carolina author Sasscer Hill earned her degree in English Literature from Franklin and Marshall College and is both an amateur jockey and a horse breeder in addition to her busy writing career. Her passion for horses is evident in her mystery thriller series The Nikki Latrelle Mystery Series, of which SHOOTING STAR is volume 5. She has also published TRAVELS OF QUINN, RARE HIGHS KILLER LOWS: TRUE TALES FROM THE TRACK, STEAM ROLLER, COLONEL WARBURTON’S MADNESS, PRETTY FRAUDULENT AND VENOMOUS, GRIPPING TALES OF FACT AND FICTION, and other short story collections.
  
  The female lead of this series - Nikki Latrelle – is a solid creation, and the author’s integration of her qualities in this fifth episode devoted to her exploits is so strong that reading the first four novels will likely be a future destination for first time readers of Sasscer’s work! She manages to set the story in motion with style: ‘The movie camera’s dark eye unnerved me. Like a hungry bird of prey, it swept after me as I raced the horse down Santa Anita’s backstretch. Knowing the camera, a Panavision Genesis, recorded my every move and facial expression intimidated the hell out of me. So did the truck and crew rolling dangerously close to our side. Maybe movie stars like Tom Cruise, who loved to do his own stunt work, get used to this stuff. But me, I was glad I was only an extra, used by the director of photography to work our his blueprint for shooting scenes in ‘The Final Furlong,’ a horse racing movie about to be filmed in Santa Anita Park.’
  
  How Sasscer weaves that opening into this story is summarized as follows: ‘When Nikki’s ex-lover Will hires her to protect the horses used to film a movie at Santa Anita Racetrack, she learns evil is alive and well in Hollywood. Keeping Thoroughbreds safe from a director who doesn’t know a horse from a hamster is tricky. More difficult are the unresolved feelings between her and Will, especially when sexy, young movie star, Jamie Jackson, sets his sights on Nikki. But when a sniper’s bullet shatters the brain of a cameraman close enough that she can smell his blood, Nikki’s need to protect the film crew overrides everything. Her sleuthing unearths a trail of corruption and when she must lie to Will to protect his life, she’s on her own. Can she identify the evil behind the scenes before she and Will become the next victims?
  
  The writing style is sharp, sassy, and spellbinding – the work of an author who both knows her subject matter and has the ability to create a credible tale that works on every level! Recommended.
• 
  Anthony

  The Review
  
  This book starts off quite literally with a bang. The shocking murder of a cameraman shocks readers with a quick introduction to the setting followed by the harrowing events that spark this mystery. Now although I am a newcomer to the Nikki Latrelle series, the author did an amazing job of crafting a narrative that felt self-contained enough to stand on its own while still touching upon scenes and experiences the character had in previous entries in the series.
  
  The balance the author found between the pacing of the mystery and the character arcs of not only the protagonist but of the supporting cast as well as brilliantly written. Each clue and twist in the narrative was delivered naturally and kept the reader invested, while the characters kept you on the edge of your seat as readers tried to solve the mystery themselves. Add some unique and original storytelling elements involving horse racing and the treatment of animals in Hollywood productions overall, and you have the recipe for a highly engaging thriller.
  
  The Verdict
  
  A high octane, adrenaline-fueled, thought-provoking mystery thriller, author Sasscer Hill’s “Shooting Star” is a must-read thriller of 2021. A brilliantly original and heartfelt look into the world of horse racing and the treatment of animals in general blended with a heart-pounding murder mystery and complex character development, readers will not be able to put down this amazing story.
• 
  Sahara Foley

  This is the first book by Sasscer Hill I’ve read and the first I’ve read in this series of 5 books. I love horses (who doesn’t?) so I was looking forward to immersing myself in it. If you love racehorses, you’ll probably enjoy the first couple of chapters. However, I thought there was a lot of info dump that had nothing to do with the plot and really slowed down the pace of the story I almost gave up, but I plowed my way through. And I’m glad I did.
  
  I didn’t find Nikki relatable at the beginning, but by the middle, when the action really picked up, I was cheering her on. Some of the supporting characters I liked were Catalina (I know, I know. Not a nice person, but still I felt sorry for her.) and Gabriel (I love Frenchmen, what can I say.) The one character, or horse, that I wanted to know about was London Fog. Did he reinjure his knee. Did he find a nice home?
  
  As for the villain’s, Diamond and Necklace were perfect for the part. Jamie (Dillon) went back and forth on this. More spoiled kid but there is a line and I feel he crossed it several times.
  
  All in all, once I really got into the story it whizzed by, I couldn’t wait to see what happened and I enjoyed it. It fit all the troupes for a solid mystery / thriller story and I recommend it.
• 
  Theresa

  
  Shooting Star: A Nikki Latrelle Mystery, Book 5 (The Nikki Latrelle Mystery-Thriller Series)
  by Sasscer Hill
  
  Shooting star is a complex mystery set on the stages of movie production. Inviting the reader to see behind the scenes at movie magic and horse racing. The intrigue of mob money and political shine add to the depth of the setting. The author does a great job leading the reader through the key events and the resolution is believable and well thought out.
  
  I was impressed by this stand alone story within the Nikki Latrelle series. As the first exposure to this author I find that fortuitously the reader does not have to have invested in the prior books to find a connection to the story, and the characters. She has a way of showing the backstory of the characters throughout the story that makes them have consequence and depth. This adds to the mental cost of the central mystery, not only to Latrelle but her supportive cast. She has a realistic idea of the problems adherent of movie making, money making and the horse world.
  
  I would recommend this book to mystery readers, horse lovers, and just the book for the reader looking for a hard luck case working though life to a better place.
  
• 
  Juli Sante

  This is the first Nikki Latrelle mystery I have read. I realize I started with the fifth book in the series, and I will go back and read them in order. I did not have too much trouble following the story.
  
  Nikki is smart and tenacious. She has been hired by the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, to ensure that the horses are not hurt while a horse racing film is being made. It was interesting to read about horse racing. It certainly is a different setting and the author, Sasser Hill, knows this world.
  
  During filming a camera man is shot and Nikki happens to be right next to him. Nikki begins to investigate this incident and learns things she would rather not have found out.
  
  There is some romance in that Nikki still has feelings for Will, her ex, and there is also a good looking actor, Jamie, who likes her.
  
  All in all this is a good read, fast paced.
  
  I received an advance review copy for free, from BookSirens,and I am leaving this review voluntarily
• 
  Danielle Urban

  Shooting Star by Sasscer Hill is the new Nancy Drew mystery but with equines involved. I love the how beautiful the story molds together with the themes. Animal treatment, truth, trust, and justice are the central themes in this engaging read. Nikki is amazing. She is smart and knows exactly when things are fishy. She and Will have one of those most juicy relationships ever. Past lovers and now he has hired her for a job only for another job to take place. A mystery investigation unravels, and I am so quickly drawn into the danger. Suspenseful and well-done, Shooting Star is a must read for all fans of mystery and whodunnits. This is also another fabulous women's fiction story to add to the shelves! Overall, I highly recommend this novel to all.
  
  I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
• 
  Linda

  It was great fun to get back in the saddle with Nicki Latrelle. In Shooting Star she makes her Hollywood debut with a splash. Of course, there is a murder to be solved and Nicki finds herself in the middle of some dirty dealing. I loved the fact that it is set at Santa Anita Race track in Arcadia. I spent a couple of seasons there following the ponies. Fast-paced, with lots of plot twists, romance, and blood-pumping horse racing scenes. Sasserhill does not disappoint.
• 
  Dolly Macfarlane

  I love horse racing and this book is written by someone who not only knows horses but she also knows the sport horse racing. I was drawn in by the first page and hated to put it down for even a minute. Her characters were true to what you would expect their personalities would be. I highly recommend this book and now reading the first in the series. Happy reading.
• 
  Kait Carson

  Being in the movies is every girls dream. It turns into a nightmare for Nikki Latrelle when a dreadful accident on the track lands her the lead in a movie. Hill shows her superb writing chops in this can't put down page turner. The action moves as fast as a stakes race and the ending as satisfying as holding the winning ticket. Great addition to the series.