Tabikat

by Harriet Redfern

When reclusive racehorse trainer James Sampfield Peveril agrees to an old friend's request to employ a new assistant at his rural racing yard, he cannot guess at her connection to the violent death of a drug dealer at a remote airfield and a fatal accident at an Irish racecourse thirty years earlier. The orderly rural world of Sampfield Grange is turned upside down by the arrival of Tabikat, a Cheltenham Gold Cup contender with elusive owners and a mysteriously hidden bloodline. With no one to guide him, the trainer must prepare the magnificent horse for the race of his life. But it seems that more than one of the racing yard staff has a secret to hide, and that Gold Cup Day will be the ideal place for a brutal murder.

512 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2018

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!