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Cut Throat
Ross Wakelin, a talented American rider with a chequered past, arrives at Oakley Manor soon after Bellboy, the Hickstead Derby winner, is found in his stable with his throat cut. Ross is drawn into a deadly spiral of threatening events, and finds himself at the heart of a terrifying campaign.
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2002
7 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Lyndon Stacey
19 books24 followersLyndon Stacey lives in a quiet village in the Blackmore Vale in Dorset, with three assorted dogs and a cat, and her books are set in the surrounding counties.
Although she started writing fiction as a very young child, she worked in many and varied jobs after leaving school, alongside which she gained a very good reputation as an animal portrait artist. Writing was always her first love, however, and when she hit on the winning combination of everyday (if tough) heroes and a rural background abounding with dogs and horses, her first publishing deal was not far behind.
Her many interests include reading (unsurprisingly!) horse riding, Canicross, animal psychology, gardening, music & dance, genealogy and motorcycling, but her overriding passion is for dogs, their training, and all kinds of dog sports.
Although she started writing fiction as a very young child, she worked in many and varied jobs after leaving school, alongside which she gained a very good reputation as an animal portrait artist. Writing was always her first love, however, and when she hit on the winning combination of everyday (if tough) heroes and a rural background abounding with dogs and horses, her first publishing deal was not far behind.
Her many interests include reading (unsurprisingly!) horse riding, Canicross, animal psychology, gardening, music & dance, genealogy and motorcycling, but her overriding passion is for dogs, their training, and all kinds of dog sports.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 2, 2016
Very enjoyable novel by an author I can't get enough of.
I read it too long ago to leave a full review.
I read it too long ago to leave a full review.
March 3, 2021
I wanted to find a book in the same style as Dick Francis and followed the suggestion of a Goodreads contributor who suggested this author. Knowing this was their debut, I wondered if it might be a bit rough around the edges as can sometimes be the case. It was.
I liked this book enough to finish it, but there were several times where I seriously considered chucking it into the fire. The best part was the show jumping and wonderful descriptions which made me feel like I was right there. Mediocre bits included an obvious romantic thread which is invisible to the main character, and obvious plot elements which removed surprises. The worst parts were plenty, but perhaps it's understandable.
This author's supposed first published piece, Cut Throat is sloppy in many regards. Writing, logic flaws, and ridiculous stretches to include an action scene which wouldn't have been there except that the author seemed set on including it. Even understanding the simplest things, such as knowing the difference between a stable (where a group of horses is housed) and a stall (an individual contained area for a single horse (usually--there are foaling boxes for two, for example). Despite the fact that Stacy supposedly loves horses, it's incredulous to me that she doesn't know what a stall is!
I put myself in her shoes at one point and realized how hard it must be to pull together a myriad threads of a mystery-thriller like this and have it make any sense at all. I have to admire the work it must take to keep a proper pace going and to keep all of the facts straight. That being said: proper research before writing is a basic rule and it's really annoying to see a bunch of problems in this regard sprinkled through this book's pages.
Bottom line: it was an entertaining read which kept me turning pages, even through the grumbling annoyance of stupid issues along the way. I enjoyed the parts including horses, which I felt were well-described, and interactions between riders and their mounts too, which came off quite well most of the time. I will try another book in her series because I enjoyed the world she wrote about and would be interested to know if she learned from her mistakes in this one.
I liked this book enough to finish it, but there were several times where I seriously considered chucking it into the fire. The best part was the show jumping and wonderful descriptions which made me feel like I was right there. Mediocre bits included an obvious romantic thread which is invisible to the main character, and obvious plot elements which removed surprises. The worst parts were plenty, but perhaps it's understandable.
This author's supposed first published piece, Cut Throat is sloppy in many regards. Writing, logic flaws, and ridiculous stretches to include an action scene which wouldn't have been there except that the author seemed set on including it. Even understanding the simplest things, such as knowing the difference between a stable (where a group of horses is housed) and a stall (an individual contained area for a single horse (usually--there are foaling boxes for two, for example). Despite the fact that Stacy supposedly loves horses, it's incredulous to me that she doesn't know what a stall is!
I put myself in her shoes at one point and realized how hard it must be to pull together a myriad threads of a mystery-thriller like this and have it make any sense at all. I have to admire the work it must take to keep a proper pace going and to keep all of the facts straight. That being said: proper research before writing is a basic rule and it's really annoying to see a bunch of problems in this regard sprinkled through this book's pages.
Bottom line: it was an entertaining read which kept me turning pages, even through the grumbling annoyance of stupid issues along the way. I enjoyed the parts including horses, which I felt were well-described, and interactions between riders and their mounts too, which came off quite well most of the time. I will try another book in her series because I enjoyed the world she wrote about and would be interested to know if she learned from her mistakes in this one.
November 13, 2018
When American horse rider, Ross Wakelin, is hired to be the riding trainer for a showjumper stable in the UK, he is approached by one of the horse owners to be the inside eyes and ears of the investigative team who are trying to find out who cut the throat of a showjumper a year ago and has been extorting money ever since on the threat that more horses will be killed. Wakelin is recovering from the disastrous incident when a horse he was riding went crazy from a brain tumor and jumped into the stands killing and maiming bystanders, not to mention putting Wakelin into the hospital with injuries that still plague him and bad press that labels him has having lost his nerve to ride. Getting a job in England is a chance to start over, but the rumors seem to follow him.
Cut Throat is a fast paced novel and opens up the world of showjumping that I was unaware of. I knew racing was dangerous and was surprised by the level of danger in showjumping as well. And that's before you add the element of human maliciousness into the mix. Lots of action in this book, almost a little too much, in fact. Wakelin is the stoic type, as most jockeys seem to be, and doesn't usually defend himself when things go wrong. I enjoyed the almost telepathic connection Wakelin has with the horses and his insight into how to train them. The horses are real characters in the book along with the human players.
Cut Throat is a fast paced novel and opens up the world of showjumping that I was unaware of. I knew racing was dangerous and was surprised by the level of danger in showjumping as well. And that's before you add the element of human maliciousness into the mix. Lots of action in this book, almost a little too much, in fact. Wakelin is the stoic type, as most jockeys seem to be, and doesn't usually defend himself when things go wrong. I enjoyed the almost telepathic connection Wakelin has with the horses and his insight into how to train them. The horses are real characters in the book along with the human players.
August 13, 2018
Yeah sure, I picked up Cut Throat for no other reason than that I like Dick Francis’ novels. And boy, am I glad I did! Kudos to Lyndon Stacey for providing a great mystery with horses, looking forward to reading more.
The first ~400 pages were probably 150 too many. There were a lot of details about show jumping, making the story a bit slow. To me it was clear who did it fairly early on, although the motive eluded me at that point. That’s also when the slow pace got to me: I know who did it, but need to know why, and how they’re going to catch the guy! Fortunately, at about 2/3rds in, the pace picked up towards a very satisfying finish.
Stacey pays a lot of attention to character building, including the characters of the horses. Despite being limited to the world of horse jumping, the characters are very diverse and entertaining. Roland deserves to be mentioned specifically, I really enjoyed his character very much and would have liked for him to have a bigger part.
The first ~400 pages were probably 150 too many. There were a lot of details about show jumping, making the story a bit slow. To me it was clear who did it fairly early on, although the motive eluded me at that point. That’s also when the slow pace got to me: I know who did it, but need to know why, and how they’re going to catch the guy! Fortunately, at about 2/3rds in, the pace picked up towards a very satisfying finish.
Stacey pays a lot of attention to character building, including the characters of the horses. Despite being limited to the world of horse jumping, the characters are very diverse and entertaining. Roland deserves to be mentioned specifically, I really enjoyed his character very much and would have liked for him to have a bigger part.
August 7, 2017
Boringly repetitive, a totally ridiculous plot, no believable characters and a lack of suspense or sence of menace means no-one should waste their time reading this dross. And to stop anyone wasting their time DARCY did it ! ! !
Any one who compares this author with Dick Francis is clearly delusional.
Any one who compares this author with Dick Francis is clearly delusional.
January 12, 2019
An excellent horse based mystery.
Take an american who has had a disastrous fall from ahorse with a brain tumour,an ex colonel who takes pleasure in his horses,not one but three pretty girls. Add in the old fashioned antique dealer posing as an upper class twit and an Irish villain along with an unfaithful son and you,likeme, will finishthe book in one sitting.
Take an american who has had a disastrous fall from ahorse with a brain tumour,an ex colonel who takes pleasure in his horses,not one but three pretty girls. Add in the old fashioned antique dealer posing as an upper class twit and an Irish villain along with an unfaithful son and you,likeme, will finishthe book in one sitting.
April 12, 2019
Copycat?
Really enjoyed this book. 4 instead of 5 stars as I felt as if I were actually reading the great Dick Francis. Story line extremely similar, as was that last LS book I read. Will continue to read though, as this is the nearest thing to my very favourite author.
Really enjoyed this book. 4 instead of 5 stars as I felt as if I were actually reading the great Dick Francis. Story line extremely similar, as was that last LS book I read. Will continue to read though, as this is the nearest thing to my very favourite author.
September 11, 2018
enjoying all the equestrian mysteries by this author!
February 13, 2025
A fast paced thriller set in the horse racing world. Good storyline - enjoyable read
April 26, 2011
First Line: Twelve hundred pounds of charging horseflesh hit the wooden railings chest high and somersaulted into the north stands.
27-year-old Ross Wakelin is in Florida trying to drink himself out of the nightmares he's having when British colleague Lindsey Cresswell offers him a fresh start with a new job riding for her uncle who has a show-jumping yard in Wiltshire, England. Ross grabs at the chance, but when he arrives at Oakley Manor, he's thrown right into the thick of it. A horse is poisoned, the overseer isn't at all friendly, one of the grooms actively obstructs Ross's every move, and a ring announcer goes out of his way to put the young rider in a very unfavorable light.
One of the owners is being blackmailed. Whenever he tries to thwart the blackmailer, one of his horses is killed or seriously injured. The owner brings Ross into this on the quiet, hoping the American can help shed light on the identity of the villain. In no time flat, things begin to escalate, and Ross's integrity isn't the only thing that's in danger.
This is Stacey's debut novel, and it shows a bit. At 576 pages, it's about 200 pages too long, and the plot creaked a bit with some well-worn devices. But the good far outweighs the awkward.
This book is a gem for anyone who loves horses and would like to know a bit more about the world of show jumping. Every time Ross schooled a horse or rode one into the ring, the story took flight and I was mesmerized. Stacey has written more books with an equestrian theme, and I look forward very much to reading more. If there are any Dick Francis fans out there, I think you'd enjoy giving Lyndon Stacey's books a try, too.
27-year-old Ross Wakelin is in Florida trying to drink himself out of the nightmares he's having when British colleague Lindsey Cresswell offers him a fresh start with a new job riding for her uncle who has a show-jumping yard in Wiltshire, England. Ross grabs at the chance, but when he arrives at Oakley Manor, he's thrown right into the thick of it. A horse is poisoned, the overseer isn't at all friendly, one of the grooms actively obstructs Ross's every move, and a ring announcer goes out of his way to put the young rider in a very unfavorable light.
One of the owners is being blackmailed. Whenever he tries to thwart the blackmailer, one of his horses is killed or seriously injured. The owner brings Ross into this on the quiet, hoping the American can help shed light on the identity of the villain. In no time flat, things begin to escalate, and Ross's integrity isn't the only thing that's in danger.
This is Stacey's debut novel, and it shows a bit. At 576 pages, it's about 200 pages too long, and the plot creaked a bit with some well-worn devices. But the good far outweighs the awkward.
This book is a gem for anyone who loves horses and would like to know a bit more about the world of show jumping. Every time Ross schooled a horse or rode one into the ring, the story took flight and I was mesmerized. Stacey has written more books with an equestrian theme, and I look forward very much to reading more. If there are any Dick Francis fans out there, I think you'd enjoy giving Lyndon Stacey's books a try, too.
October 15, 2012
I have long been looking for an author who writes like Dick Francis--with great tension and suspense, heroes who are strong emotionally and who fight back against injustices, high odds they have to fight against and yet win, and a lack of human murder. I finally found that in Lyndon Stacey. I have been gobbling up her books in great delight, and I thoroughly enjoyed Cut Throat.
Ross is an emotionally strong character, though I wanted to shake him sometimes for his self-effaciveness and reluctance to tell everything to other people who could have helped him. I loved how good he was, and how, even when his reputation was being ripped apart, he just kept going forward, using his talent with riding horses and his goodness to eventually show people how good he was, AND help solve who was blackmailing another good person, one of the owners of the horses he rides. I also love the thread of romance in the book.
A satisfying, highly enjoyable read. For anyone who loves suspense novels, or Dick Francis, pick up Cut Throat and other Lyndon Stacey's books! Highly recommended.
Ross is an emotionally strong character, though I wanted to shake him sometimes for his self-effaciveness and reluctance to tell everything to other people who could have helped him. I loved how good he was, and how, even when his reputation was being ripped apart, he just kept going forward, using his talent with riding horses and his goodness to eventually show people how good he was, AND help solve who was blackmailing another good person, one of the owners of the horses he rides. I also love the thread of romance in the book.
A satisfying, highly enjoyable read. For anyone who loves suspense novels, or Dick Francis, pick up Cut Throat and other Lyndon Stacey's books! Highly recommended.
January 14, 2014
Miss Dick Francis? Pick up Stacey, who follows in his footsteps.
Ross is an American show jumper who has lost his nerve, and travels to England at the behest of woman friend to work in a local yard that's without a rider.
Ross, who just wants to ride, gets drawn in to being the inside guy for an investigator for one of the owner who is being blackmailed. The owner's Derby horse has already been killed and doesn't want to lose his up-and-comers.
There's no shortage of suspicious characters: the trainer who want talk and refuses to let his son ride; the groom who knows his job but is always trying to get out of work; the father of the yard's former rider, who makes it a point to belittle Ross; and one of the other owner's sons, who seems to have no means of support but is always around when something goes round.
Lots of red herrings, some nice plotting and solid characters but a little lacking in the nuance of feeling that Francis so excelled at in some of his books.
Ross is an American show jumper who has lost his nerve, and travels to England at the behest of woman friend to work in a local yard that's without a rider.
Ross, who just wants to ride, gets drawn in to being the inside guy for an investigator for one of the owner who is being blackmailed. The owner's Derby horse has already been killed and doesn't want to lose his up-and-comers.
There's no shortage of suspicious characters: the trainer who want talk and refuses to let his son ride; the groom who knows his job but is always trying to get out of work; the father of the yard's former rider, who makes it a point to belittle Ross; and one of the other owner's sons, who seems to have no means of support but is always around when something goes round.
Lots of red herrings, some nice plotting and solid characters but a little lacking in the nuance of feeling that Francis so excelled at in some of his books.
August 4, 2013
Read and enjoyed all the Dick Francis books. Found Francone on the library shelf beside him and read three or four. Pretty good reads but I felt something was missing. This is my third or fourth Lyndon Stacey book. I quite enjoy her writing. Good characters. Good plots. Satisfying resolutions. Try her if you want to curl up with a good read.
July 4, 2010
A very enjoyable read. Very much like some of the earlier Dick Francis novels. I will definitely look for other books by this author. I enjoyed the characters, story and plot. A good read for mystery lovers especially if you are also a horse lover.
November 14, 2014
For fans of Dick Francis, John Francome, etc., here is a new author to explore.
Although I felt the denouement wasn't totally satisfying, I'll still be reading another of Stacey's stories.
Recommended.
Although I felt the denouement wasn't totally satisfying, I'll still be reading another of Stacey's stories.
Recommended.
November 15, 2007
reminds me how much I enjoyed Dick Francis
October 24, 2010
Was not sure when I started, but I really like Dick Francis, so I thought I would give it a try, I would read another on by him but there is something missing
December 16, 2014
exceptional read
January 22, 2016
ok/good
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews