Heliacal Star

Heliacal Star

No Matter How Fast You Are, the Past Has a Way of Catching Up Thoroughbred racing is one of the oldest, richest, and most traditional of sports. In ancient Greece, horse-drawn chariots sped around oblong hippodromes. In North America, racing dates to the mid-1600s on Long Island, only a few miles east of present-day Belmont Park. Today, crowds cheer and scream from the stands as intelligent, athletic equines thunder toward the finish line, but few consider the welfare of the horses once the track lights go dark. It’s at Belmont Park where former bookie Matt Galiano encounters the bewitching Heliacal Star, a horse on the cusp of greatness–if only he weren’t at the center of a race-fixing scheme. It’s also where Matt meets fledgling trainer Kristine Connelly, whose trust and savvy he needs if he’s going to have any chance of escaping the gangsters embroiled in heinous activities at the track–and who are none too pleased to encounter Matt there, years after he’s caught skimming from their coffers. As they bond over their love of horses and racing, Matt and Kristine must learn to lean on each other, or they’ll lose more than just a wager. What People Are Saying about Heliacal Star “For those who enjoy a blend of romance, horse racing, suspense, and crime fiction, Victor Bahna's Heliacal Star is highly recommended.”—City Book Review Seattle (5 stars) “ Heliacal Star is an exhilarating and emotional novel centered on the rich history and thrilling atmosphere of thoroughbred racing. A compelling blend of sporting action, thrilling danger, and heartfelt moments.”—Readers Favorite (5 stars) “The fast-paced world of horse racing serves as the background to this entertaining novel. Author Victor Bahna tells a compelling story from start to finish.”—City Book Review San Diego (5 stars) "Bahna skillfully manages a sense of perpetual immediacy, with danger lurking just around the corner. An intense crime thriller that will resonate with those who favor chilling page-turners."—Booklife Review