Night Mares

Kellen Stewart #2

by Manda Scott

Dr Nina Crawford of the University of Glasgow's Vet School - driven, fanatically dedicated, a survivor - is one of the most respected animal surgeons in the country. But now she seems to be losing her grip. On her operating theatre, on her skills - and on her mind. After routine operations, horses are dying of the highly infectious E. Coli endotoxaemia, and it seems the outbreak can't be stemmed. Under fierce scrutiny from those around her, Nina feels herself spiralling into suicidal depths. Her friend Kellen Stewart, heroine of Manda Scott's astonishing debut novel Hen's Teeth, is catapulted into Nina's dilemma when her own horse needs emergency surgery. And soon it becomes clear that not only horses' lives are on the line...

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Lesbian

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 1998

About the author

Manda Scott is an award-winning novelist, host of the international chart-topping Accidental Gods podcast and co-creator of the Thrutopia Masterclass.

Best known for the Boudica: Dreaming series, her previous novels have been short-listed for the Orange Prize, the Edgar, Wilbur Smith and Saltire Awards and won the McIllvanney Prize.

Her latest novel ANY HUMAN POWER is a 'seismic' Mytho-Political thriller which lays out a Thrutopian road map to a flourishing future we’d be proud to leave to the generations that come after us.

Welding the power of intergenerational connection to combat the sting of death and the vicious vengeance of a dying establishment, it opens the doors to a new way of being.

Dream Deeply. Rise up Strong. Change is Coming!

'Instantly immersive and compelling, rich and strange, human and humane, and most of all inspiring ... an extraordinary story.’
Lee Child

"One of our best, most challenging writers is back..." Ian Rankin

"If you don't believe a world where our democracy improves as fast as our devices is possible... Manda Scott will change your mind with this visionary novel." Audrey Tang, Digital Minister of Taiwan

"A light to guide us through a difficult time: Descrying the thin possible path between static social decay and populist rage is the defining problem of our time. Without lights like Manda Scott and this blessed book, we would surely fail." Glen Weil, co-author of Plurality.

Reviews

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real Rating: 3.5* of five

In 1999, I lived in Austin, Texas, again after 13 years' absence. I dealt with a sense of isolation by reading (shocking, I know) and preferentially of QUILTBAG writers. I found this series about a Scottish lesbian vet at BookPeople's airport kiosk and was immediately hooked.

Read all three in less than a week. I might go looking for them again for a sentimental re-read.

[Sharlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Night Mares - Another excellent mystery, the second of Scott's in the Kellen Stewart series. Quite different, yet equally as technically precise and masterfully written as Hen's Teeth. Night Mares shadows around human betray at the highest level involving a client of Kellen's, a highly respected and driven veterinary doctor. Given the Vet's relentless quest to find out what's killing local horses and Kellen's love of her own horses, it's a natural match for this new mystery. I love Scott's work and have already begun reading the third book in the series. Sometimes in reading (or watching) a mystery, I'll get a clue that will usually tip me off...but not so in Scott's writing. In the Kellen Stewart series books, it' ain't over til it's over and the fat lady sings, so to speak. If you really love genuine characters who are well-developed woven into a great mystery, this series is for you!

[Tina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I expected to love this book, but didn't care for her style of writing, so didn't read past the first chapter.

[Deborah Pickstone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Manda Scott can't write a bad book. The Kellen Stewart ones are not her best - but they are still a really good read! And it just gets better and better from here......

[Sydney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure this is really detective fiction, but I do know that there are way too many dead animals. I kind of skimmed through the last 1/3 or so of the book, as I had figured out "whodunit" and there kept being dead animals.

[Andy Plonka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I had trouble following the plot in this book but it was obvious that bad things were happening to some good animals and quite sad when they died.

[Judy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't feel really comfortable rating and reviewing this book since I barely read any of it. I did just finish The Crystal Skull and enjoyed that a lot so now Goodreads is suggesting this and other Manda Scott books. Really, I'm just trying to get Goodreads off my case!

I didn't like this book because of the graphic descriptions of medical treatments and illnesses in both animals and in the self abuse the veterinarian had heaped on herself. It just felt that it would be bad for *my* mental health.

[Kirsty Darbyshire]

Very mind bending and psychadelic,sometimes I was wondering what kind of crazy stuff the author was on butit all made sense when the end came around (I wasn't expecting it tomake sense by that point!).

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

More horse that a dozen distilled Dick Francis novels and a style of writing, of observation and characterisation that, once again, leaves me slumped in open-mouthed admiration. And the plot twisty tight too.

[Gav'riel Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book. I'm mad the villain didn't suffer as much as I was hoping. Loved Kellen.

[Colleen Mulrooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Riveting!

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book though a little too much for me right now.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery, good lesbian lead character.

[Fleppy85 · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my most favorite books of all times.
I miss this series!

[Tara Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and tense book where the reader is never quite sure exactly what's going on. An excellent portrayal of a character pushed to the edge, and then beyond.