Tabikat

by Harriet Redfern

Tabikat is a talented racehorse, bred in rural Ireland by Eoghan Foley, a former jump jockey with a dramatic past. This thriller, set in the horse racing world, tells the story of the fight back against an organised crime family by Tabikat's connections.

The main action moves between Sampfield Grange, a point to point training yard in Somerset; Frossiac, a village on the Canal du Midi in Aude, France; Gleannglas, a small town in County Kerry, Ireland; and the famous Cheltenham racecourse in Gloucestershire.

Tabikat holds an entry in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and is unexpectedly sent from a top Irish yard to reclusive English trainer James Sampfield Peveril, known to the racing world as Sam. Sam is visited by an old friend, Frank Stanley, who asks him to take on a mysterious new employee, Isabella Hall. The staff at Sampfield Grange suspect that isabella is not what she seems, and are determined to uncover her secret. Kye McMahon, Sam's stable groom, fears Isabella will expose his activities as a drug dealer, whilst household staff Kelly and Lewis believe Isabella to be having an affair with Frank Stanley. Sadie Shinkins, the yard manager is preoccupied with her affair with Merlin ap Rhys, Tabikat's jockey, as the two of them help Sam to prepare Tabikat for the race of his life.

Meanwhile, a mysterious English visitor to a remote French village is writing a novel about a murder at a deserted airfield committed by the head of an organised crime family. The connection between the author George Harvey, Isabella Hall and the racehorse Tabikat gradually emerges as Sam desperately tries to understand the true nature of what Frank Stanley has really asked of him. Peopled by colourful characters, both good and bad, from the racing world, the story reaches its climax as the Cheltenham Gold Cup is run.

The story of Tabikat will appeal to anyone who enjoys a gradually unfolding thriller set in the exciting world of horse racing.

577 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2016

Reviews

[Edward Bonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

First book i have read by this author can not wait for the next book. Keep you going till the end

[Holly Lenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tabikat is a complicated story full of mystery and intrigue with in which seemingly unconnected tales all come together to create a fascinating book. The story is centered around a racing stable and horses and can seem meandering at times, but the payoff is worth it in the end.

The narrator is terrific, though I found the occasional sound effects distracting. I am certain some listeners would appreciate them.

"This book was given to me for free at my request, and I provided this voluntary review."

[K.S. Agustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the unexpected visit from a long time albeit estranged friend of James Sampfield Peveril, the reclusive racehorse trainer and squire of Sampfield Grange, provokes the curiosity of the members of his household staff, the arrival of Isabella Hall as a temporary replacement office manager throws them in a state of suppressed agitation. Apparently, the presence of the ‘outsider’ has an unwelcome effect on each of them, probably for his or her own reason.

Unbeknownst to the staff, James Sampfield Peveril (known as Sam to his fellow trainers) himself is kept in the dark about the story behind his mysterious temporary employee. Sam is normally reserved and indifferent about the personal lives of the people under his employ. However, an intriguing account by his cousin piques his interest and makes him conclude that there is more to Isabella than a woman in need of a job. As if the situation isn’t perplexing enough, Sam receives a request to train Tabikat, a talented racehorse with elusive owners and mysterious bloodline.

With a steady pacing and solid main plot, this is a suspenseful and exciting novel basically about a fight for justice against a crime family. Aside from the main plot, the author introduces other subplots and expertly puts them together in one satisfying climax. Moreover, characters are supplied with ample backstories that it is easy to visualize them as real people with dreams, priorities, weaknesses and flaws. Furthermore, unlike other books in a series with cliffhanger endings and cases unresolved, this book ends satisfactorily enough.

However, the multiple subplots as well as the multitude of characters may be too confusing to other readers. Moreover, though I appreciate the backstories, I find them too detailed and a little overdone.

[sarah j l melville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Racing

Not
Brilliant could not put it down better than sick Francis ! I will
Definitely tell all my friends to read it.

[George Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read

Very clever how the author brought all the different histories of the subjects together and kept the reader guessing at the outcome

[Leigh Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grew up around horses and horse racing so I wanted to love Tabikat. Redfern does get a lot of the elements of horse racing correct, but I found that it often got bogged down in the details of horse racing without contributing to the story.

I found that at least in audiobook form Tabikat had way too many details and I found myself zoning out while listening to the audiobook and couldn't keep track of the story.

[Stef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully descriptive book - I feel like I know the characters so well, and I can’t wait to find out more about them in the sequel!!

[Harriet Redfern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It's the second time I've read it, and I love Harriet's characterisation of the people in the story. And, it reminds me of lovely holidays on the Canal du Midi in the south of France. I bet I will reread it in a year or two!