Heliacal Star

The story begins with Matt Galiano listening in on a discussion about match rigging at the racetrack. The culprits found out and started looking for Matt since they knew that if he revealed their secret, it might jeopardize their business. Due to his love of horses, Matt Galiano is frequently spotted attending horse races to observe the action. The Heliacal Star was his favorite racehorse, and it was famous for its speed and agility, but recently, its performance has suffered as a result of being a victim of a race-fixing ring. The sport was well-liked and popular among Belmont Park residents.

Matt meets Kristine Connelly, a talented horse trainer who offers him help from the criminals, when he’s fleeing Tony and his men. In the end, Matt and Kristine work together to expose the villains, but the situation is more difficult than before because the gangsters want to exact revenge on Matt. Along the journey, a bond is formed between Matt and Kristine as their shared love of horses and amazing friendship bring them together. The tale is enhanced by the variety of people, each of whom has a unique story. For instance, Alex Sherman disregarded his responsibility to safeguard the Heliacal Star, and other charges of animal abuse, fraud, and theft were brought against Marie Casey and John Nanske, among other individuals.

The characters were a labor of love for the author. Readers can identify with them because there were both heroes and villains present. Gangster and compulsive gambler Tony Kaufman consistently manipulates the odds to his advantage. Whether it’s collecting insider information, buying off players, bribing officials, or fixing races, he cheats to win. Larry, his assistant, has a criminal history and will follow Tony’s orders no matter what. Though Tony is an intriguing character, Matt is still my favorite. Obviously, because he’s the good guy in the story.

Prior to meeting Kristine, Matt felt a little alone. He went to races more frequently to pass the time when his father died away, and he constantly wished he might find someone who shared his enthusiasm for racing. His transition from being friends with Kristine to a loving partner was fascinating to read about. I could simply tell they were meant to be together.

I think the story was captivating enough, and the plot was straightforward. The author writes with a wealth of knowledge about horses. As someone who didn’t know anything about horses, my understanding has grown drastically. For those who enjoy a blend of romance, horse racing, suspense and crime fiction, Victor Bahna’s Heliacal Star is highly recommended.