Tip On A Dead Crab

[sonnyp]

didn't want to hijack the thread on dick francis......saw he passed. loved the racing background of his novels.

im not a big reader, but i had a guy give me "Tip on a Dead Crab" by wm. murray (not the L A Times). i really liked it. i found it to be very "real".

anybody else read this guy or any other "backstretch" author that was any good ?

[DJofSD]

Bill Murray died a few years ago. While I can not claim I knew him, I was always able to strike up a conversation with him when he was at the off track wagering site at Del Mar (the original location in the old grand stands).

I would say there was not one bad one in the bunch and if you know anything about the local San Diego thoroughbred industry and other movers and shakers of the area, you'd recognize characters. Check out a good online used bookstore such as Powell's in Portland, Oregan, and you should be able to find his works in paperback.

[BELMONT 6-6-09]

TIP ON A DEAD CRAB featured a character named Jay (really Gerry Okenuff),who has been handicapping and playing professionally for over 50 years on the Southern California circuit.

Willaim Murray was friends with Okenuff and attended the track daily as indicated in the book. I really enjoyed the book also.

[Grits]

Guys, is this the same William Murray that authored, "The Right Horse?" If so, I could read many more of his books. Great stuff, and funny as can be!!

[BELMONT 6-6-09]

Guys, is this the same William Murray that authored, "The Right Horse?" If so, I could read many more of his books. Great stuff, and funny as can be!!

Yes Grits he has a few other horse related books...all are entertaining imo.

[sonnyp]

Guys, is this the same William Murray that authored, "The Right Horse?" If so, I could read many more of his books. Great stuff, and funny as can be!!


from wikipedia :

William Murray (8 April 1926, New York City (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City) — 9 March 2005, NYC) was an American fiction editor and staff writer at The New Yorker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Yorker) for more than thirty years. He wrote a series of mystery novels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_novel) set in the world of horse racing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_racing), many featuring Shifty Lou Anderson (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shifty_Lou_Anderson&action=edit&redlink=1), a professional magician (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magician_%28illusion%29) and horseplayer (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Horseplayer&action=edit&redlink=1). Among his many contributions to The New Yorker was the magazine's "Letters from Italy" of which he was the sole author. The majority of his later years were spent living in Del Mar, California, "exactly 3.2 miles from the finish line" of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Murray died in March 2005 at age 78. Just prior to his death, Murray had completed a book about Chicago (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago)’s Lyric Opera Center for American Artists (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyric_Opera_of_Chicago#Lyric_Opera_Center_for_Amer ican_Artists).[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Murray_%28writer%29#cite_note-opera-0)

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Murray_%28writer%29&action=edit&section=1)] Selected works

Shifty Lou Anderson Series




Tip on a Dead Crab (1985)
The Hard Knocker's Luck (1985)
When the Fat Man Sings (1987)
The King of the Nightcap (1989)
The Getaway Blues (1990)
I'm Getting Killed Right Here (1991)
We're Off to See the Killer (1993)
Now You See Her, Now You Don't (1995)
A Fine Italian Hand (1996)

[Johnny V]

Guys, is this the same William Murray that authored, "The Right Horse?" If so, I could read many more of his books. Great stuff, and funny as can be!!
William Murray also wrote "The Wrong Horse" which was also very good. The Shifty Anderson mystery novels were excellent. I have read every one of them. I highly recommend any of his books.

[njcurveball]

Great author, great book.