The Last Shot: Mystery at the Final Four

The Last Shot:
Mystery at the Final Four
by John Feinstein

Grades 6 & up

Mystery / Sports

The Sixth Man
The Walk On
Backfield Boys

Book Summary:
Stevie is thrilled to win a journalism contest that gives him tickets to the championship NCAA basketball games - and access to some of the coaches and players as he writes about the experience. When he arrives, he meets Susan Carol, the other middle school journalism contest winner, and he tries not to judge her for being a Duke fan. Before long, they discover a lot more than they planned to write about - someone is trying to fix the results of the final game by blackmailing a star player. What can two kids do to solve the mystery in less than 48 hours?

There are several other books about a variety of different sports in a related collection of mysteries by this author.

Book Review:
I wish this book were based more on character development, but it was really about the plot from start to finish, which some readers will appreciate. The writing doesn't offer a lot of variety in sentence length or structure, but again - there are plenty of readers who will appreciate this straightforward style. Basketball fans may enjoy the references, but I think you can appreciate the mystery without being a hoops enthusiast. As a UConn alum and former North Carolina resident, I felt well-represented, but I was surprised The University of Kansas didn't get a mention in a basketball book. There is not a lot of danger, but some suspense, and aside from some mild profanity and crush references, middle grade readers (4th and 5th) might find this book appealing.