“Poet Meschery (Over the Rim) makes his fiction debut with an outstanding series launch…A breathless adventure full of tension, humor, pathos, and heart.”
–Publishers Weekly starred review of The Case of the ’61 Chevy Impala: A Brovelli Brothers’ Mystery, Book 1 (Oct. 2022)
Former NBA Basketball star turned poet, and now mystery novelist, Tom Meschery has written a new book,The Case of the ‘66 Ford Mustang: A Brovelli Brothers’ Mystery, Book 2, published by Camel Press (Oct. 2023, paperback and ebook formats).
Meschery, who was dubbed ‘the most interesting man in the NBA’ by WBUR Radio, traces his love of writing to his Russian maternal ancestors, Alexei and Leo Tolstoy.
Set in Oakland, CA in December 1969, amidst a tumultuous time of change and social upheaval, The Case of the ‘66 Ford Mustang: A Brovelli Brothers’ Mystery, Book 2 follows the further adventures of Vincent and Victor Brovelli, identical twin brothers, who run a used car dealership.
Book Description: When Victor and Vincent learn that their beloved older brother Mario murdered his girlfriend Grace Conner, then committed suicide, the twins set out to prove the Oakland police department is wrong. Mario must be vindicated, and family honor must be preserved. Victor again takes on the principal detective duty. Vincent agrees to working the Brovelli Brothers’ used car business with the understanding that he is ready at any time to help his twin. With all the evidence pointing to Mario’s guilt, Victor must trust his instincts. He is helped by his girlfriend Dila Agbo, a member of the Black Panthers. Together, they are led in many desperate directions. On his quest for the truth, Victor is haunted by the ghosts of his brother Mario and his girlfriend whose unspoken message of grief frightens and motivates him. Will Victor learn the truth of Mario’s death even as Dila’s life is threatened?
About the Author: TOM MESCHERY is the author of five books of poetry: Over the Rim, Nothing We Lose Can Be Replaced, Some Men, Sweat, Clear Path, and one chapbook, Time Out. Meschery was born Tomislav Nikolaevich Mescheriakov in Harbin, Manchuria. He and his mother and sister spent the duration of World War II in a Japanese internment camp in Tokyo. Following the war, the trio were reunited with father and husband in San Francisco. Tom Meschery attended Lowell High School and Saint Mary’s College where he played basketball and was named All-American. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors (now Golden State Warriors) in the first round in 1961. He played NBA basketball for the Warriors and the Seattle Sonics from 1961 – 1971.
After retirement from the NBA, he earned an MFA in creative writing from the University of Iowa. He taught literature and creative writing for 26 years in high school and community college. Meschery has traveled extensively through West Africa, coaching basketball. In retirement, he continues to write poetry and fiction. The Brovelli Brothers’ Mystery: The Case of the ’61 Chevy Impala, was his debut novel into the mystery field. His memoir, The Mad Manchurian: From the Internment Camps of Japan to the Hardwood Courts of the NBA is due out next year. The second in the Brovelli Brothers’ Mystery series The Case of the ’66 Ford Mustang was published in October of 2023. Meschery lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, painter, Melanie Marchant.
Pictured below is Tom Meschery in 1965 and Tom Meschery in 2023. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors (now Golden State Warriors) in the first round in 1961. He played NBA basketball for the Warriors and the Seattle Sonics from 1961 – 1971.
Related Links:
Publishers Weekly review of The Case of the ‘61 Impala: The Brovelli Brothers Mystery, Book 1, by Tom Meschery, October 2022
Wikipedia page for Tom Meschery
WBUR Radio Interview: ‘Tom Meschery: The Most Interesting Man in the NBA’ (July 2017)
‘Warriors’ Championship Brought Joy Back to Tom Meschery’ -Sports Illustrated, 2017
‘Tom Meschery, aka The Mad Russian’ Basketball History 101 podcast
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