Chestnut Gold

Jinny #9

by Patricia Leitch

Jinny, on Shantih, led the way. As a stir of wind cleared the path before them, Jinny felt her flesh clutch at her bones in fear. The man in black was walking ahead of them. . . Trekking with Shantih and the chance to help with a TV programme shape a bright end to the summer for Jinny. But something strange and troubling is casting a shadow. Who is the sinister figure that haunts the moor? And why is he following Jinny and her Arab mare?

Genres: Horses, Childrens

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 1984

About the author

Patricia Leitch (July 13, 1933 - July 28, 2015) was a Scottish writer, best known for her series of children's books about a girl named Jinny Manders and her wild, traumatized Arabian horse Shantih, set in the Scottish Highlands.
The 12 books in the Jinny series were published between 1976 - 1988 by Armada. They are currently in reprint by Catnip Publishers.
Two more of her novels, Dream of Fair Horses (1975) and The Horse from Black Loch (1963) have been republished by Jane Badger Books.
Leitch has also written under the pseudonym Jane Eliot.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the more mystical Jinny stories, and the one that I was most scared to re-read as a child. I've never been good with horror and the Walker really got to me. A couple of scenes gave me rather vivid nightmares, and this novel has always sat uneasily with me. Again, there is some tough reading - Jinny has longed for Sue to arrive, and then discovers a much changed Sue, a girl who has discovered make-up and boys. This is really poignant, considering it reflects reality - that moment when you and your best friend drift apart because you realise you have less and less in common. Another decent outing for the skinny redhead and her fiery chestnut Arab.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly have absolutely no recollection of this book and wonder if it was one in the series that I kind of missed. I'm pretty sure I would have remembered the Walker.

This story is a companion to Night of the Red Horse - Jinny is once again caught up in the Ancient Celtic world, this time while also trying to get a group of Highland ponies across the moor to take part in filming a TV programme. Haunted by the Walker, she constantly flees from him until she is forced to listen to what he has to say - and discovers something amazing.

In the more mundane world, she is plagued by her annoying sister and a best friend who is growing up faster than she is. She also has her first crush, on the Director, who turns out to be nothing like she imagined.

As an adult reader, I can spot so many things in this story that seemed so unrealistic - and I'm not talking about the Celtic stuff. How anyone, let alone a well-known Director, could be so cruel, selfish and idiotic when it comes to the children and the ponies, is beyond me. But he makes a nice 'villain' for a Children's story. And I loved the whole journey into the Celtic world once more - a great bit of fantasy that I would love to revisit.

[Debbie Tink · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one off the miss Tuke ones I like the ones with trekking and the highland ponies.
There riding over the moor to be in a documentary, at first Jenny thinks it will be grate but then thing began to unravel.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poor Jinny. Her life is just full of bad events that her parents seem to let her suffer through with no real input. In the last few books, Shantih has been stolen, her parents wanted to uproot them all back to Stopton, she had to go through the heartache of watching Easter die and also Keziah dying and now she's lost her best friend to Petra. Sue, what are you thinking? 2 weeks in Greece does not a changed personality make! This was quite a frustrating read, with more of the irritating Petra and equally as irritating (in this) Sue and Royce. Miss Tuke & Bramble on form as ever, however.