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Jan Hardy #1
On the Edge
In her first novel, Jenny Pitman draws on her years of experience in the world of horse racing, with a fast-paced and heart-stopping tale of one woman's life after the death of her husband. Left to bring up her two children, Jan Hardy faces a bleak future in the wilds of Wales looking after a crumbling farm-holding while under the watchful and suspicious eye of her bitter mother-in-law. Her only escape lies in her affinity with horses she has a natural gift in their handling. She begins her quest to carve out a new future for her and her two young children in Gloucestershire in the tough and masculine world of training racehorses. As success starts to come her way initially by breaking in problem horses she endures setbacks from her family and almost overwhelming financial disaster. And to make matters worse, someone seems determined to derail her life.
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 8, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 13, 2020
On the back (of my edition anyway) it says “Move over Dick Francis and John Francome …”, which was probably enough for me to buy this book. Reading the rest of the backside just before I started reading gave me some doubts and indeed I must confess I was disappointed.
First of all, why anyone would want to compare Pitman to above mentioned authors, apart from the horsey bit, is a mystery to me. Intentionally using a key word here: Mystery. Because that is what Francis and Francome (and Lyndon Stacey if you’re interested) do: they write mystery novels. Which happen to be set in or around a world of horses, because that is what they know best. Had they been travel agents, the setting might have been some obscure Caribbean island or the Chinese Wall. Really, why do you think John Grisham does legal and Robin Cook medical mysteries? So Pitman may have a great background in horses, but she’s not a mystery writer, and as such cannot be compared to any of these authors.
Having got that out of my system, On the Edge is pleasant enough, although with nearly 600 page I thought it was a bit on the bulky side for this kind of easy read. It is rather slow and uneventful, but never really boring. Biggest let-down is the main character Jan, who at times is fairly likeable, but who has an unrealistic view of the world that is hard to ignore.
First of all, why anyone would want to compare Pitman to above mentioned authors, apart from the horsey bit, is a mystery to me. Intentionally using a key word here: Mystery. Because that is what Francis and Francome (and Lyndon Stacey if you’re interested) do: they write mystery novels. Which happen to be set in or around a world of horses, because that is what they know best. Had they been travel agents, the setting might have been some obscure Caribbean island or the Chinese Wall. Really, why do you think John Grisham does legal and Robin Cook medical mysteries? So Pitman may have a great background in horses, but she’s not a mystery writer, and as such cannot be compared to any of these authors.
Having got that out of my system, On the Edge is pleasant enough, although with nearly 600 page I thought it was a bit on the bulky side for this kind of easy read. It is rather slow and uneventful, but never really boring. Biggest let-down is the main character Jan, who at times is fairly likeable, but who has an unrealistic view of the world that is hard to ignore.
December 26, 2014
Two stars for an easy easy holiday read. But, 3/4 of the way through and I'm increasingly frustrated by the one dimensional brattiness of our heroine. Her children are nothing but little orbiting accessories from page one. She faces widowhood, moving house, moving business, enemies and sabotage and then becomes distraught because she cannot become a Licensed Trainer. Are you kidding me? Any single mother with a one year old and pre-schooler (who suddenly is old enough to start school) would be well chuffed with what she had achieved, and pleased to manage/balance her life at this level. Especially as she is inadvertently making enemies, being ripped off and sabotaged while becoming the bemused/flattered lust interest for a variety of male characters. But so far the the flash point for me has been the occasion where she sits in church on Christmas Day pissed off with her new neighbour/aquaintance/client who has not agreed to go guarantor for her! Her goals/ambitions/priorities are unconvincing and ridiculous. Her pigheadedness has already caused her to lose 100,000 pounds on the sale of her home and really??? she is annoyed that someone else won't back her to the tune of 35,000 pounds? Oh no wait, he told her he would! If she proved herself over the next few months, but that would be a waste of time for this heroine. And her supporters,friends, family mostly plot and conspire with her increasingly unrealistic goals.
Hmmph!! (and by the way no-one would be reading half of charlie and the chocolate factory in one sitting to a child, and her children are just too young for this book, ditto BFG)
Hmmph!! (and by the way no-one would be reading half of charlie and the chocolate factory in one sitting to a child, and her children are just too young for this book, ditto BFG)
January 11, 2015
When I discovered this title, I thought it might help scratch the same itch that Dick Francis, John Francome, and a few others do. Did it? Well, yes and no.
Although set principally in the point to point and hunter races in the UK, rather than the larger flat and steeplechase races of the other authors, the familiar flow of trainers, owners, riders, and the race world were once again comforting.
But if you are looking for the sometimes rather violent aspects (off track) found in Francis, et al, you will be disappointed. That doesn't mean there's not a few dodgy things going on and a few red herrings thrown in.
Overall I liked the characters, both good, bad, and conflicted. They all made the story flow. I guess the main irritant I felt was with Jan, the main character, the trainer. Newly widowed, but anxious to stand on her own and develop her career to provide a good life for her children and herself, she is a character I can empathize with and root for. However, sometimes her naiveté in some business/financial aspects began to irritate me. Although I'm an eternal optimist myself, she became somewhat annoying at times when I felt she had a little sense of entitlement that others owed her or she was very quick to place blame before she actually had grounds.
But I will definitely try Pitman's next book. The plot had just enough suspense, romantic possibilities, and race/training description to make it all comforting for Francis fans.
Although set principally in the point to point and hunter races in the UK, rather than the larger flat and steeplechase races of the other authors, the familiar flow of trainers, owners, riders, and the race world were once again comforting.
But if you are looking for the sometimes rather violent aspects (off track) found in Francis, et al, you will be disappointed. That doesn't mean there's not a few dodgy things going on and a few red herrings thrown in.
Overall I liked the characters, both good, bad, and conflicted. They all made the story flow. I guess the main irritant I felt was with Jan, the main character, the trainer. Newly widowed, but anxious to stand on her own and develop her career to provide a good life for her children and herself, she is a character I can empathize with and root for. However, sometimes her naiveté in some business/financial aspects began to irritate me. Although I'm an eternal optimist myself, she became somewhat annoying at times when I felt she had a little sense of entitlement that others owed her or she was very quick to place blame before she actually had grounds.
But I will definitely try Pitman's next book. The plot had just enough suspense, romantic possibilities, and race/training description to make it all comforting for Francis fans.
February 18, 2008
It was a weird experience having recently read the sequel to this, as I was unravelling a backwards mystery. I knew what some of the conclusions were, and some of the pivotal moments, but didn't know when or how they would occur. I also had a sense of who was to become an important character and whose name I didn't recognise from the second book. But this was still an enjoyable read.
One thing that bothered me in this book that I didn't notice so much in the second is that the main character seems to get things from other people quite easily. She has a setback, moans about it, tells someone and then that person or someone else offers a quick and easy solution to fix her problems.
I do wonder if I would have liked this better if I read it before the sequel!
One thing that bothered me in this book that I didn't notice so much in the second is that the main character seems to get things from other people quite easily. She has a setback, moans about it, tells someone and then that person or someone else offers a quick and easy solution to fix her problems.
I do wonder if I would have liked this better if I read it before the sequel!
October 4, 2012
The first in the series, and my first Jenny Pitman read and it won't be my last. I really enjoyed it especially as it was based around horses, and although about racing wasn't the usual Dick francis or John Francome type book. It was even better as it was based in Gloucestershire so I knew most of the local places mentioned.
July 1, 2012
I love horses, stable life and the horse racing world. I couldn't wait for each new book to be written and released. I wish she would write more!!!
August 9, 2012
Gave up when half way through still nothing had happened (other than the first sentence of the book where her husband died)..
May 6, 2013
enjoyable
August 1, 2013
This just didn't really grab me. In places I got bored and almost stopped reading. I love horses so was really looking forward to this book but it didn't fulfill its promise for me.
October 3, 2013
Her writing improves as the series goes on and there are many glimpses of the real Jenny Pitman scattered through her books.
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August 31, 2021Beach read...not my thing.
August 15, 2016
A gentle novel following racing and some interesting characters. Very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews