The Virginia-based Hudgens (Drive Like Hell
) channels regular guy Joe Rice for his rollicking sophomore effort. Gruff, conscientious Joe owns a Washington, D.C., car-detailing service and “ticket brokerage,” while best friend Gene Dellorso manages a local limo service. Joe’s the manager and catcher for the Vicodin-and-beer-fueled Whip Spa Yankees, for which Gene also plays. When Gene, 35, collapses dead at a game, his pre-game confessions of an unsalvageable marriage and a desire to flee for Las Vegas aren’t the only secrets he’s been hiding: a cavalcade of thugs come crawling out of the woodwork all wanting to claim a 1932 vintage bat used by Babe Ruth that’s now worth a cool three million. Things only get worse from there. Though lacking the hyperactive dramatic punch of Hudgens’s debut, consistent conflict and a whole heap of mischief keep this lean, amusing novel chugging along. The story is narrated by Rice, and his constant onslaught of conversational expletives may prove a challenge for some, but those ready for a rowdy ride won’t be disappointed. (Sept.)
