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Cy Young
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Kicker: Going the Distance (Kicker: The Scarmazino Mystery Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Cy Young (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 68 ratings

What is the greatest victory a man could ever achieve? Saving another person’s life.

Meet a man of bravery and valor, who transitions from a gridiron super star into a genius powerhouse Private Investigator:

FRANKIE SCARMAZINO

Frankie is the epitome of grit ... a man who exudes great magnetism and power. Lethal against any enemy, he's never lost a street fight.

Want an education in handling life situations? Learn these life lessons from Frankie: stay calm in a crisis; know your enemy; exploit any weakness; temper brute force with strategy.

Whether overcoming a trio of airborne killers, outwitting a Mexican cartel, thwarting a terrorist attack, or combatting a rattle snake’s kiss ... Frankie’s been there and triumphed.

If you admired Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, you’ll go bananas over the multi-talented Frankie Scarmazino, another winning creation from the pen of author Cy Young.

Young’s experience in various venues including award-winning short stories, plays, screen plays, humor, and animation scripts, have given his works a richness of scope. Deathload, a topnotch thriller, was recently optioned by several film companies.

The Frankie Scarmazio Mystery Series takes you alongside the NFL star as he uncovers dark secrets of corruption and deceit. Tormented by childhood loss and fueled by an intolerance for power hungry scumbags, join Frankie as he conquers the criminal element.

Can Frankie solve his first case as a private eye before the murderer strikes again? Click the Buy Now Button to enter Frankie’s world to find out!

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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Kicker: The Scarmazino Mystery Series
  2. Print length
    354 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    November 25, 2021
  6. File size
    4.3 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

Frankie Scarmazino investigates the death of his teammate's brother in this fast paced crime story.

Kicker Football Suspense Investigator Fiction Mystery Cy Young

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Frankie Scarmazino, famous NFL kicker who was still nursing a thigh injury decided to take a break in a small town called Jasper and also use the opportunity to investigate Jack Kehoe's violent death. Kehoe's murder was the third in a series of brutal murders within the past six months; however, things were destined to turn nasty when he confronted a group of rowdy men who went by the name Wife Beaters Club of America. At the opposite end was Mira Strickland, a beautiful attorney and women's right advocate with an intriguing past.

Trying to establish a motive for the murders would eventually become a hard nut to crack.

A unique feature that makes Kicker One absolutely enjoyable to read is the funny but flowery way the author describes characters and scenes as they unfold in the book. This is a crime story that would keep readers engrossed to the end."

4 out of 5 stars - ILoveUniqueBooks.com

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09L5KBCGY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cy Young Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 25, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.3 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 354 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ Kicker: The Scarmazino Mystery Series
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 68 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Cy Young

Cy Young

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Cy Young’s professional career began as a dancer at the Empire Room of the Palmer House in Chicago and progressed to performances ranging from Broadway’s Upstairs at the Downstairs to London’s Globe Theater. Naturally, he first started writing for the theater and three of his plays were published by Samuel French. His short story, “The Schitzle Connection” won first prize in the Oklahoma City Writer’s Contest and was later published by Twit Publishing (Winter/Spring 2011 Edition).

His vast range of experience includes writing and producing several musicals, vocal recording for Painted Smiles Records, and “Draw Me A Circle” a song he wrote on Barbra Streisand’s Third Album. Some of his most notable performances were Divorce Me Darling in London and Once Upon a Mattress, where he played the king’s son opposite the great Buster Keaton.

As a line producer on F. Lee Bailey’s show, Lie Detector, Cy was exposed to the criminal element which provided inspiration for some of his characters and fictional storylines. During his time with the show, Cy co-produced one of the most famous segments featuring Caril Ann Fugate. Bailey interviewed Caril Ann about her alleged co-conspiracy with Charles Starkweather, and she passed the lie detector test helping prove her innocence.

Subscribe to receive updates at www.cyyoungbooks.com or reach out to Cy at cy@cyyoungbooks.com.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
68 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's twists engaging, with one describing it as an action-packed narrative filled with intrigue. They appreciate the memorable protagonist and easy-to-read writing style.

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8 customers mention "Twists"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the twists in the book, with one customer describing it as an action-packed narrative filled with intrigue, while another notes it's a gripping introduction to the Frankie Scarmazino Mystery Series.

"...Kicker One: Going the Distance is a fast-paced, easy-to-read, and exciting story featuring a likable hero, dastardly villains, and some very smart..." Read more

"...Heck, no! But if you are looking for a fast-paced, fun mystery romp a la Mickey Spillane then you need to grab this Scarmazino mystery...." Read more

"...his investigation into the death of 3 men and leads to an unexpected twist at the end. Very well written." Read more

"...In an amazing twist, Scar's talent with kicking also plays a part in this tale...." Read more

5 customers mention "Characterization"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the characterization in the book, particularly the memorable protagonist, with one customer specifically enjoying the professional football player character.

"...is a fast-paced, easy-to-read, and exciting story featuring a likable hero, dastardly villains, and some very smart and sexy women...." Read more

"Loved the professional football player that has a heart of gold...." Read more

"...and rated this 3.5 stars (rounded up) because of the characterization and the imagination...." Read more

"...Fans of thrilling mysteries and dynamic characters will undoubtedly enjoy diving into Frankie's world." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing style"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style of the book very well written and easy to read.

"...Kicker One: Going the Distance is a fast-paced, easy-to-read, and exciting story featuring a likable hero, dastardly villains, and some very smart..." Read more

"...Very well written." Read more

"...But this was written like a movie and when I say that, I mean with camera shots described…and angles...." Read more

"Good reading. Frankie will become your idol from the first pages. Everything he does is imbued with justice and punishment of scoundrels...." Read more

3 customers mention "Enjoyment"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fun to read, with one describing it as exciting.

"...readers looking for something light and easy-to-read for a fun and engaging diversion...." Read more

"...Thoughtful, passionate, whimsical, exciting: Kicker One is all those things." Read more

"Enjoyable read with interesting twists and characters...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Karen Siddall
    5.0 out of 5 stars Someone is taking justice into their own hands!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The year is 1997, and when the NFL New York Giants kicker, Frankie “Scar” Scarmazino, is injured in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he must take time off to heal and recuperate. In his heart, Scar believes he’s lost his nerve to return to the game, but as he’s still in his early 30s knows he’s got to come up with a backup plan.

    He confides to a good friend and teammate that he wants to be a private detective, and the friend tells him of the perfect place to start. The teammate’s brother had been murdered back home in his hometown, and the killer was never caught. So Frankie loads up his old Ford Pinto, Gilda, and heads to Jasper, Arkansas, to see if he can catch a murderer.

    When Frankie rolls into Jasper, he inadvertently becomes embroiled in the shady goings-on of the small town. He witnesses a man, baseball bat in hand, chasing after a battered and bleeding woman, and jumps to intervene. The sheriff, a personal friend of the abuser, turns a blind eye to the crime, and Frankie finds himself the target of the abusive husband and his gang of similarly-minded wife-beating buddies.
    But Frankie is on a mission and will not be run out of town. In the process of his investigation, he discovers that his teammate’s brother isn’t the only recent and unsolved murder. Someone is taking justice into their own hands when the sheriff fails to act and is murdering the men who are abusing their wives and girlfriends.

    However, the sheriff is taking an interest in the murders of his buddies and has a local attorney working to help the victimized women in his sights. One meeting with Mira Strickland has Frankie’s senses reeling and his fervent hopes that the sheriff is wrong.

    Kicker One: Going the Distance is a fast-paced, easy-to-read, and exciting story featuring a likable hero, dastardly villains, and some very smart and sexy women. Frankie Scarmazino is an interesting guy, a professional football player with some hidden characteristics. When he takes off for the Ozarks, he does so in his old 1971 Pinto and not some flashy, celebrity-worthy luxury vehicle. Beside him on the passenger seat is his most recent knitting project: a sweater he’s creating for his ex-wife as a gift.

    In the story, Frankie’s nemeses include town bully Buddy Haymes, his backwoods buddies, and their close friend, Sheriff Bill Burrows. Happily, there’s not much to like about these guys, so it was easy to cheer for Frankie to beat them every step of the way literally.

    The women of Jasper have their own hometown hero in attorney Mira Strickland. After having grown up in Jasper, she left town to pursue her law degree and, until recently, successfully practiced on the East Coast before returning home after having her own husband troubles. Frankie’s immediate attraction to her was fun and created tension and a significant conflict later when her actions and motives begin to look suspicious to him.

    I recommend KICKER ONE: GOING THE DISTANCE to mystery readers looking for something light and easy-to-read for a fun and engaging diversion. The football theme was fresh, the setting in the Ozark region of Arkansas is different, and despite the underlying crime, it was fun to read.
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  • Sherry Johnson
    4.0 out of 5 stars A mystery to thrill the football fan in your house
    Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    What does the NFL's best kicker do after an injury sidelines him for the season? He starts thinking seriously about a career move into private investigation. His first "case" lands him in a backwater town with one-too-many murders of known wife-beaters, a cast of quirky local characters, a man-eating female lawyer who crusades to protect battered women (and who has a tendency to crank up our hero's libido big time!) and some seriously deranged sleazoids out to rid their town of the "foreigner". Is this high-brow, deep thought-provoking literature? Heck, no! But if you are looking for a fast-paced, fun mystery romp a la Mickey Spillane then you need to grab this Scarmazino mystery. Grab a chocolate doughnut (you'll understand that when you read the book) and enjoy!
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  • Josette Mandela
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced murder mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Loved the professional football player that has a heart of gold. He gets hurt in the first game of the season and then agrees to look into the death of a fellow player's brother. Frankie goes to a small town and before long is enmeshed in intrigue and finds himself agreeing to coach the local high school football team's kicker. And that's just the first couple of chapters. The book goes on to document his investigation into the death of 3 men and leads to an unexpected twist at the end. Very well written.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Doug Y.
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Fast Read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2022
    Fun book to read if you’re willing to believe almost anything. Murders are being committed. Wife abusers are the victims. So an NFL kicker comes to the rescue. Lots of interesting characters. Important topic is almost trivialized by the story.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Raymond E. Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read with interesting twists and characters.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The writer does a great job of keeping the reader engaged while at the same time dealing with a very hard subject. Want to know what that subject is, then read the book.
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  • J Black
    4.0 out of 5 stars written like a movie
    Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I went ahead and rated this 3.5 stars (rounded up) because of the characterization and the imagination. But this was written like a movie and when I say that, I mean with camera shots described…and angles. At the end of the big event, we’re literally “zooming out” in the description. We get close ups on props (we see a newspaper with an ad circled in red). There’s all caps for yelling.

    And we sometimes skip out of POV to “see” what happened in pieces of backstory - like we would in a movie.

    POV issues aside, in a highly improbable turn, a pro football player, after being injured, longs for a low-pay street-wise stint as a psuedo Marlowe or Hammer instead of his league minimum almost half-a-mil paycheck. And so off he goes to a backwoods noplace town near the Ozarks - where a bunch of wifebeaters live and are being killed off. He’s been asked to investigate the death of a dear friend’s brother.

    (The Ozarks are actually lovely by the way, and probably don’t have an above-avg population of wife-beaters. But I suppose the view of the entire South as being some extended version of Deliverance prevails).

    The main cast held an interesting and eclectic bunch. The mystery was twisty. It’s hard to be a “lite, fun read” when it’s written in a genre meant to shed light on some of the darker parts of the human condition. But if you’re in the mood to follow along with a mystery-theater production that’s a little gritty and a lot of football, this could be your diamond in the rough.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Jimmy K Brown
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mystery-Sports Thriller
    Reviewed in Australia on December 15, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This thrilling and fast-paced mystery-sports thriller weaves together football, crime, and justice. The former NFL player turned private investigator, Frankie Scarmazino, brings a unique twist to the genre by utilizing his football skills in solving cases. The author's intricate storytelling, powerful character portrayal, and thought-provoking themes make this book engaging and socially critical.
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