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Duncan Claymore #2
Narrowing the Field
Everything seems to be going right for brilliant young jockey Duncan Claymore. A career on the up, a beautiful wife, and all the trappings of wealth. But Duncan is haunted by the death of one of his arch-rivals. He may not have pulled the trigger, but he still has blood on his hands.
As Duncan struggles to keep his focus on the job, Michelle O'Brien - a friend and talented fellow jockey - is killed and Duncan knows this was far from a tragic accident. He's never liked William Osborne, but now he will stop at nothing to avenge Michelle's death.
With Duncan's seemingly perfect world starting to come apart at the seams, can he balance his desire for victory on the field with his desire to see justice served?
- GenresFiction
287 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2016
15 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
A.P. McCoy
7 books7 followersA.P. McCoy is a record-breaking Northern Irish horse-racing jockey with a series of impressive wins to his name, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, King George VI Chase and the 2010 Grand National.
McCoy was named BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR in 2010, becoming the first jockey to win the award.
McCoy was named BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR in 2010, becoming the first jockey to win the award.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 6, 2019
In the world of horse racing, there are always those who will do anything to win. Including murder.
The verdict of the coroner was anticipated with interest all round, not least by Duncan. As witnesses came and went – guests at the shoot, staff assisting at the occasion, the police officers who attended the scene – he tried to conquer the irrational fear that the coroner would turn to him.
‘I see Mr Duncan Claymore is present at this proceeding. Would you mind answering a few questions, Mr Claymore?’ He wouldn’t have any choice. He’d have to swear on the Bible and tell the truth. That would be awkward.
‘You say you rode one of Mr Cadogan’s racehorses at the Cheltenham Festival six days before he died. What instructions did he give you before the race?’
‘He just told me it wasn’t the horse’s day.’
‘What did you understand him to mean by that?’
‘That he didn’t want Ra-Ho-Tep to win.’
‘But he did win, didn’t he? Why did you disobey the deceased’s instructions?’
‘Because I always ride to win! I’ve never thrown a race and I never will.’
‘So, let me get this straight. There were a number of people – dangerous people – under the impression that Ra-Ho-Tep would not win that race, and by winning , you knowingly put the deceased in danger. Is that right?’
‘Yes. But I never thought they would kill him!’
‘And when you later told a third party that it was Mr Cadogan’s desire that you should win because he had placed a substantial bet on the outcome, that was a lie, wasn’t it?’
‘Yes.’
‘And why was that?’
‘Because I placed the bet myself. In his name, on his account. He didn’t know a thing about it.’
‘What reason did you have for placing a bet without his knowledge?’
‘I wanted his associates to think that he had betrayed them.’
‘Would it be accurate to suggest that you set Mr Cadogan up?’
‘Yes.’
‘And what bearing do you think your actions had upon his death?’
‘I didn’t know they would kill him!’
‘But you did want revenge on Mr Cadogan. Isn’t it true that he was responsible for destroying your father’s career?’
‘He was a bastard who’d ruined my dad but I never wanted him dead!’
‘However, that was the consequence of your actions, wasn’t it, Mr Claymore?’
Yes. He’d almost spoken the word out loud in the court. That was the consequence of what he’d done. He’d not foreseen it and would never have wished for it but the father of the woman he was going to marry had been murdered on his account. That was the truth.
‘Duncan, are you OK?’ Lorna was squeezing his hand, looking urgently into his face. He was conscious of murmurs in the courtroom, people turning to look at them. ‘Yes, I’m fine.’
He saw Rodney smiling at Lorna. ‘Thank God for that,’ the old man muttered. ‘Never would have lived it down otherwise.’
He turned to Kerry. ‘What’s happened?’
‘Trust you to drop off, you dozy bugger. The verdict’s in – accidental death.’
********
Narrowing the Field by 28 time champion jockey, A.P. McCoy was a fast paced, thrilling, and a thoroughly enjoyable novel! The story is compelling, and filled with tension but has some great bits of humor mixed in and well written with realistic characters who are both likeable or unsavory depending upon their place in the story, written with perfect personalities that suit them.
I'll leave you with an example of the humor that I couldn't help but laugh at!
Keep in mind that the book is set in 1980 when you read this next bit!
Following the race, the chief broker, a bald-headed chap with a cut-glass accent called Tennyson-Collins, requested a word with Petie. After a lot of bad-tempered grumbling, the trainer stumped off to see him. When he came back after ten minutes, his mood hadn't improved. 'Tried to get me to invest in some new-fangled rubbish,' he complained.
'What sort of rubbish.'
'Something called a mobile phone. I mean, what sort of clown would want to carry his phone with him everywhere he goes? You'd never get a moment's ruddy peace. I sent him away with a flea in his ear.'
Duncan and Kerry agreed. It seemed like a daft idea.
The verdict of the coroner was anticipated with interest all round, not least by Duncan. As witnesses came and went – guests at the shoot, staff assisting at the occasion, the police officers who attended the scene – he tried to conquer the irrational fear that the coroner would turn to him.
‘I see Mr Duncan Claymore is present at this proceeding. Would you mind answering a few questions, Mr Claymore?’ He wouldn’t have any choice. He’d have to swear on the Bible and tell the truth. That would be awkward.
‘You say you rode one of Mr Cadogan’s racehorses at the Cheltenham Festival six days before he died. What instructions did he give you before the race?’
‘He just told me it wasn’t the horse’s day.’
‘What did you understand him to mean by that?’
‘That he didn’t want Ra-Ho-Tep to win.’
‘But he did win, didn’t he? Why did you disobey the deceased’s instructions?’
‘Because I always ride to win! I’ve never thrown a race and I never will.’
‘So, let me get this straight. There were a number of people – dangerous people – under the impression that Ra-Ho-Tep would not win that race, and by winning , you knowingly put the deceased in danger. Is that right?’
‘Yes. But I never thought they would kill him!’
‘And when you later told a third party that it was Mr Cadogan’s desire that you should win because he had placed a substantial bet on the outcome, that was a lie, wasn’t it?’
‘Yes.’
‘And why was that?’
‘Because I placed the bet myself. In his name, on his account. He didn’t know a thing about it.’
‘What reason did you have for placing a bet without his knowledge?’
‘I wanted his associates to think that he had betrayed them.’
‘Would it be accurate to suggest that you set Mr Cadogan up?’
‘Yes.’
‘And what bearing do you think your actions had upon his death?’
‘I didn’t know they would kill him!’
‘But you did want revenge on Mr Cadogan. Isn’t it true that he was responsible for destroying your father’s career?’
‘He was a bastard who’d ruined my dad but I never wanted him dead!’
‘However, that was the consequence of your actions, wasn’t it, Mr Claymore?’
Yes. He’d almost spoken the word out loud in the court. That was the consequence of what he’d done. He’d not foreseen it and would never have wished for it but the father of the woman he was going to marry had been murdered on his account. That was the truth.
‘Duncan, are you OK?’ Lorna was squeezing his hand, looking urgently into his face. He was conscious of murmurs in the courtroom, people turning to look at them. ‘Yes, I’m fine.’
He saw Rodney smiling at Lorna. ‘Thank God for that,’ the old man muttered. ‘Never would have lived it down otherwise.’
He turned to Kerry. ‘What’s happened?’
‘Trust you to drop off, you dozy bugger. The verdict’s in – accidental death.’
********
Narrowing the Field by 28 time champion jockey, A.P. McCoy was a fast paced, thrilling, and a thoroughly enjoyable novel! The story is compelling, and filled with tension but has some great bits of humor mixed in and well written with realistic characters who are both likeable or unsavory depending upon their place in the story, written with perfect personalities that suit them.
I'll leave you with an example of the humor that I couldn't help but laugh at!
Keep in mind that the book is set in 1980 when you read this next bit!
Following the race, the chief broker, a bald-headed chap with a cut-glass accent called Tennyson-Collins, requested a word with Petie. After a lot of bad-tempered grumbling, the trainer stumped off to see him. When he came back after ten minutes, his mood hadn't improved. 'Tried to get me to invest in some new-fangled rubbish,' he complained.
'What sort of rubbish.'
'Something called a mobile phone. I mean, what sort of clown would want to carry his phone with him everywhere he goes? You'd never get a moment's ruddy peace. I sent him away with a flea in his ear.'
Duncan and Kerry agreed. It seemed like a daft idea.
December 20, 2017
Highly enjoyable horseracing crime thriller written by a former jockey
February 28, 2018
This is the second thriller written by the former Champion Jump Jockey Sir Anthony McCoy.
As you would expect it centres on the activities of horse racing. A talented female jockey is killed following a fall, however Duncan Claymore doesn't think that it was an accident, and starts to investigate. Now I am not going to spoil the story by telling you what happens next.
If you have read books by Dick and Felix Francis, John Francome, Richard Pitman previously, you will know what to expect. With all his charity work and racing commitments it will be interesting to see if there are any more books to come out in the future.
As you would expect it centres on the activities of horse racing. A talented female jockey is killed following a fall, however Duncan Claymore doesn't think that it was an accident, and starts to investigate. Now I am not going to spoil the story by telling you what happens next.
If you have read books by Dick and Felix Francis, John Francome, Richard Pitman previously, you will know what to expect. With all his charity work and racing commitments it will be interesting to see if there are any more books to come out in the future.
September 28, 2025
Readable when l had nothing else. The story follows a racing yard trying to get justice for the main character who's father's yard was put out of business by an opposing racing yard.
Somewhat mundane as horses are taken to various races around the country but amusing at times particularly when the Irish fraternity are included.
They always have a good turn of expression
Somewhat mundane as horses are taken to various races around the country but amusing at times particularly when the Irish fraternity are included.
They always have a good turn of expression
March 8, 2020
Not a classic thriller/mystery. I thought the ending was a bit weak and left several questions unanswered. Some characters such as his new wife are absent for significant parts. Needs more work I'm left thinking.
July 9, 2017
An interesting thriller. I will read some more of the authors books when published
October 4, 2021
love horseracing mysteries as a rule but this one is not always logical and more character based than story orientated, passable but not exceptional.
January 2, 2016
A great thriller set in the world of horse racing, written by someone who knows all about the subject of which he is writing.
All the ingredients are there, Champion Jockey hopeful, sabotage, money troubles etc.
These are all that's needed to make an intriguing, unputdownable story.
Tony, now Sir Anthony, McCoy is up there with that other jockey turned thriller Dick Francis.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Orion Publishing Group via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
All the ingredients are there, Champion Jockey hopeful, sabotage, money troubles etc.
These are all that's needed to make an intriguing, unputdownable story.
Tony, now Sir Anthony, McCoy is up there with that other jockey turned thriller Dick Francis.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Orion Publishing Group via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
January 3, 2016
2.5 really, but I'm feeling generous with my second book of the year. This is a Netgalley book, received in exchange for an honest review: writing leaves a lot to be a deserved, it's pedestrian to the point of inertia at time, but the plot is satisfactory and keeps the attention. Some of the dialogue is grand, more of it is clunky, characterisation similarly hit-or-miss but overall I think the point is that this book is aimed at the fraternity of horse racing readers and it fills a gap. Far too much explaining though, as if the reader were completely dim!
August 24, 2016
A great mystery story set in horse racing, in the same vein as Dick Francis
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews