Ever heard of "show, don't tell"?

This writer would really benefit from taking some writing lessons and joining a tough critique group. It's a shame that this charming idea with a built-in audience (everyone interested in golf) has been executed so badly. Eighty percent of the book are "tell" instead of "show" - come on, even teeny-fanficcers know better than that!

You simply cannot write, "He went there, then he did that and while he did it he thought about such and such..." etc. You have to take the reader into your protagonist's head and let them experience the world through their eyes.

I bought this because it was suggested on a board I visit and I was taken in by all the great reviews. I can only assume that all these enthusiastic readers are the author's friends and/or golf buddies, because otherwise I have no idea how they can be so enthralled by something as badly (and boringly) written as this.

Golf thriller? Isn't that an oxymoron?

So I never thought that a murder mystery surrounding golf of all things would fly for me. Had great reviews though, so I gave it a shot. Very engaging story, loved the characters and their intricate web of relationships. The history of the golf ball itself was also a very interesting aspect of the book as I found myself doing searches online for featheries. Very well done Mr. Flynn. Top Flite. :)

This is a keeper

I love this book.

As I read the back cover, I noticed it dealt with golf, which I must admit is not my favorite sport, and I was a little scared. But this book is written in such a way that you learn the history of the sport without KNOWING you are learning history.

The feathery is a sought after memoriblia and by the end of the book you just want to reach through the pages and hold it in your hands. You have no choice but to be in awe of it and show it the respect it deserves. Anyone who is a sports fan can relate to the feeling of having that "hard to find" object.

The characters are likeable (or not) and you relate to each one of them as each of their personalities can be found in each of us. The descriptions of the rolling greens are great and even succeeded in making me want to take up golf.

I can't image anyone not liking this book. While there were a couple of editing issues, they were minor enough to become almost invisible. The action is non-stop and never feels forced. Towards the end I didn't want to continue reading because I didn't want it to end.

This is a great gift book! A MUST buy!

Superb murder-mystery with an inside look at professional golf

Living in Atlanta, the home of Bobby Jones, and with Augusta just down the road, it's hard not to be a golf fan. Although I don't play golf (having tried and given up many years ago), I'm a big golf fan, having attended a number of tournaments in person, and I watch most tournaments on TV. So when a friend passed on a copy of Bill Flynn's book "The Feathery," I was eager to read it. I'm glad I did. Mr. Flynn has written a marvelous novel that perfectly blends golf history with a modern day story of professional golf, murder, and mystery.

The prologue hooked me immediately, with an event that happened at St. Andrews, Scotland in 1849, when the course record was broken. It was fascinating to learn how golf balls were made in that era. Nothing like the golf balls of today, balls were either made of goose down stuffed into a stitched leather pouch (a "feathery") or of gutta percha, a rubbery-like substance. It's the feathery that plays a key role when the novel shifts to the present day.

The story focuses on Scott Beckman and his best friend and caddy, Matt Kemp, as they enter the world of professional golf. After graduating from the grueling Q-School, Scott earns his PGA card and starts out on the tour. Scott and Matt both owe their success to their mentor, golf pro Sandy McNair, who took them in after they got in trouble with the law as teenagers. When Sandy dies, he leaves all of his golf memorabilia to Scott, including the legendary Feathery, which was the ball used in 1849 to set the course record at St. Andrews.

Unfortunately for Scott, many collectors want the legendary Feathery, and some of them will do anything, including kidnapping and murder, to get it. There's no shortage of bad guys and suspects, and mystery lovers will have a field day trying to figure out which suspect is the guilty party. To say much more about the plot would be a spoiler, so you'll have to read "The Feathery" yourself to find out how the story goes.

The story/plotline is quite original, and Mr. Flynn has filled the story with some memorable characters, both good and evil (and some of the "good" characters may not be so good, as you'll learn). The story is played out in the United States and the United Kingdom, with the climactic scenes taking place in Turnberry, Scotland, at the British Open. I found the story to be a fascinating look at life on the PGA tour and a revealing inside view of the business of golf-related antiques and collecting.

Mr. Flynn's writing style is very good. His writing is smooth and polished, and the characters' dialogs were realistic. For ratcheting up the suspense, I would rate him at just a shade below authors like Greg Iles and Nelson DeMille, but only a handful of authors can equal those guys.

Overall, I give "The Feathery" an unqualified Two Thumbs Up for all readers. It has a special appeal to golf fans, but any reader who likes a good page-turner will enjoy it.

a story about golfers that's above par (or below par, whichever is better)

to begin with, I'm not a golfer, but that doesn't factor in much while reading this book. there is a bit of golf jargon and knowledge that escaped me, but not enough to ruin the book. flynn has a kind of laid-back style when telling his story of a couple of jouvenile delinquents who are saved by golf. and these kids sink themselves into the game well enough that it brings them all the way to the british open (one as a contender, one as his caddy). while the one kid has a few valuable golf antiques he inherited from his mentor which collectors will kill for, and he's also beating the odds of winning this prestigeous tournement (much to the chagrin of the betting community), the british open turns dangerous for these two newcomers. it's an interesting tale. it's not a hard-driving, screamingly face-paced novel. but it is a well-paced story of growing up, finding your way and getting cast into a world that's more volatile than you expect. it is well-written with a style that keeps you turning pages. i was surprised at how easily i was drawn into the story and how easy it was to care about the characters. flynn is a promising author with a compelling story to tell...even if, like me, you're not a golfer. take my word for it. give this book a try. you won't be disappointed. this book is a hole-in-one!