Forced Out is a slightly different novel than Stephen Frey’s trademark financial thrillers. This book is not at all financial – money is important in motivating and influencing the 
The key figure in Forced Out is Jack Barrett. He is an aging guy in his 60’s. He has been forced out of the Yankees organization, where he was a talent scout and great at his job. Now, after having lost his job and his benefits package, and having lost most of the rest of what he had managed to scrape together in a divorce settlement with his wife, he lives a hand-to-mouth life in Florida. He lives with his daughter, and is doing his best to make sure her boyfriends do not become husbands.
Then, while watching a minor league game along with his daughter and her boyfriend, he spots a huge talent. An infielder named Mikey Clemant has incredible skills, so much so that old Jack is baffled and astonished. He knows that this kid could become a major league player – a real star even – if he had someone to guide him.
However, Mikey is a young man with a past. And in that past is a big loan from the Mafia. And more. So much of a history with the Mafia, in fact, that one of its bosses wants him dead.
In my opinion this is one of Stephen Frey’s best books. It is intelligent, it deals with pretty real characters, there is little glamour and lots of real life and real life problems. If I were to point out a weakness, I would probably say that the plot is a little too complicated and the ending a little on the weak side. But those are, in this case, very minor objections to a very good and very entertaining thriller. Forced Out is one to read!
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