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Steve Cline #2
DEAD MAN'S TOUCH: A Steve Cline Mystery (Book Two)
What do you do when everything you’ve held to be true, when your entire life, in fact, turns out to be a lie? When 22-year-old Steve Cline learns that he’s illegitimate, and his real father is a race- horse trainer, he heads to the Maryland track. Steve’s father recruits him to work undercover in an effort to discover who’s been doping his most promising horses, and he quickly gets caught up in the unique lifestyle inherent to the backside. But it is not a life without peril because some men are willing to do anything to get the right horse under the wire first.From Publishers WeeklyStill recovering from the physical and psychological bruises he received in his first outing, At Risk (2002), 22-year-old Steve Cline, barn manager of a Maryland horse farm, faces more trauma when his estranged father dies in a car accident in this chilling sequel from Ehrman. At the father's funeral, Steven learns from his brother that he's not the son of the man in the coffin, but rather the product of an affair. When Steve confronts his socialite mother, she confesses that his real father is horse trainer Christopher J. Kessler. Curious, Steve heads for the Maryland track to observe him until Kessler becomes suspicious and accuses Steve of being involved with the people who are pressuring him to throw races. When he learns that Steve is his son, Kessler hires him to work undercover at his training barn to find out who's been drugging his most prized horses. With the determination, bravado and resilience of the young, Steve begins an investigation that will lead to two murders. From the labor-intensive work in the oppressive heat of a Maryland summer to the cockroach-infested living quarters of the help, Ehrman creates an authentic and vivid picture of the reality behind the glamour of the races. The bad guys may be a bit too obvious, but with its sensitively drawn characters and enchanting horses with unique personalities, this is sure to be a contender for the winner's circle. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.ReviewHidden away from the glittering stage of thoroughbred racing, with its flashing silks and gleaming horseflesh, is a place they call ''the backside.'' In her second stable mystery, DEAD MAN'S TOUCH (Poisoned Pen Press, $24.95), Kit Ehrman refers to this behind-the-scenes area -- where trainers, grooms, barn managers and stable hands minister around the clock to the needs of their high-strung charges -- as ''a world unto itself.'' Ehrman, who has worked at show barns and breeding farms, strikes a solid claim to this gritty territory with another heels-up thriller that takes up where Dick Francis left off. In the barn. Steve Cline, the young stable hand who made such a strong and sympathetic hero in ''At Risk,'' searches out the father he never knew, a thoroughbred trainer at a Maryland racetrack, and signs on as a ''hot-walker,'' a lowly exercise worker, when he discovers that someone has been fixing races by tampering with his father's horses. In true Francis tradition, Steve takes plenty of physical punishment as a sleuth. But his undercover role also gives him the inside track on life as it's lived on the backside, a grueling, even squalid existence that pays off in the chance to get close to the magnificent animals that have more character and heart than the two-footed fools who view them as a commodity. --Marilyn Stasio, NY Times -- Review --This text refers to the hardcover edition.“Ehrman, who gave us the well-received At Risk, has produced a second solid, diverting and apparently authentic equine mystery. Along the way we get enough details of the hard, smelly, underpaid life in that part of racing called--not without humor--the backside to make up for several screenings of Seabiscuit.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2003
About the author
Kit Ehrman
8 books31 followersAfter discovering the works of Dick Francis, Kit Ehrman quit her government job and went to work in the horse industry. Twenty-five years later, she combined her love of horses and mysteries by penning an equine-oriented mystery series featuring barn manager and amateur sleuth Steve Cline. (E-book editions now available for $2.99) The series has received outstanding reviews in The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, etc.
www.kitehrman.com
www.kitehrman.com
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 3, 2016
Although I like a good mystery as much as anyone else, what keeps me coming back to a mystery author is a compelling central character. This book takes the reader deeper into the psychology of Steve Cline, Ehrman's amateur sleuth. Cline occupies an interesting double consciousness--he was born to privilege but feels more comfortable working in blue-collar jobs in the horse industry. This makes him uniquely able to size up and relate to a wide variety of characters. In this novel, he is coming to grips with the loss of the man he erroneously though was his father and is trying to get to know the biological father (a racetrack trainer) he never really knew until now.
The behind-the-scenes drama at the track is gripping and utterly unsentimental. The novel moves along with the pace of a freight train without ever sacrificing character development or true-to-life details about the horse industry. Some readers compare Ehrman to Dick Francis because of her subject matter but I would urge them instead to judge this book and the rest of her series on its own (excellent) merits.
The behind-the-scenes drama at the track is gripping and utterly unsentimental. The novel moves along with the pace of a freight train without ever sacrificing character development or true-to-life details about the horse industry. Some readers compare Ehrman to Dick Francis because of her subject matter but I would urge them instead to judge this book and the rest of her series on its own (excellent) merits.
September 21, 2020
Continuing suspense, unsuspected work place acquaintances up to no good
Steve is as like-able as ever but is still traumatized from the evil he faced in the first book. He stumbles into another terror packed situation before he can resolve his personal identity difficulties. He must deal with his non-relationship with his parents and is jarred with unexpected information when his father is killed in a gruesome accident. He pulls into his shell and goes on survivor-mode, endangering his critical relationships and focusing on sleuthing, making questionable decisions. The reader is pulled into the mysteries and suspense by the outstanding skills and descriptive abilities by the author. I couldn’t put it down because it is a gripping, twisting and originally plotted read. I am especially delighted with the insights and informative depictions of all the horses.
Steve is as like-able as ever but is still traumatized from the evil he faced in the first book. He stumbles into another terror packed situation before he can resolve his personal identity difficulties. He must deal with his non-relationship with his parents and is jarred with unexpected information when his father is killed in a gruesome accident. He pulls into his shell and goes on survivor-mode, endangering his critical relationships and focusing on sleuthing, making questionable decisions. The reader is pulled into the mysteries and suspense by the outstanding skills and descriptive abilities by the author. I couldn’t put it down because it is a gripping, twisting and originally plotted read. I am especially delighted with the insights and informative depictions of all the horses.
April 2, 2016
Another good Steve Cline mystery by Kit Ehrman: Dead Man's Touch. I really like these tight little mysteries set around horses. Check out my review; https://justcanthelpwriting.wordpress...
June 7, 2020
Excellent again
Another great story. Yet again the mixture of murder and horses blends
seamlessly.Just can't wait to read the next one
Another great story. Yet again the mixture of murder and horses blends
seamlessly.Just can't wait to read the next one
September 27, 2020
Great!
This was the second time reading this book and enjoyed it all over again. I really like this book series and look forward to the third book.
This was the second time reading this book and enjoyed it all over again. I really like this book series and look forward to the third book.
October 3, 2012
Steve Cline Mysteries, take two.
On the plus side, DEAD MAN’S TOUCH has the same great level of equestrian detail (which may be too much for non-horsey folk, but warms the cockles of my heart), and the same taut action and complex mystery as the debut novel, AT RISK. If anything, I enjoyed the mystery aspects of this book even more than the first one. I also loved the peek into Steve’s back story and family ties. And the realistic way Ehrman handled the conclusion of his tortured relationship with his father—not all endings are happy ones.
Once again, Steve Cline was a likable character ... until any female of child-bearing age appeared on the page.
And that’s the one negative with this book as with the first. Though Steve has a girlfriend (Rachel) that he claims to love, the graphic sex scenes in this book (as in the first one) are not with her, but with the first female that drops her pants (literally). This time, at least, Steve actually likes the girl in question. Steve also comes perilously close to shagging his own half-sister, who is attracted to him in return until she learns he’s her half sibling.
As in the first book, Steve has a sterling excuse for his behavior. In AT RISK, his encounter with a married woman whom he dislikes, distrusts, and thinks is up to no good is excused because he and Rachel are only at the very beginning of their relationship. This time, the rationale is that they’ve had a fight over the danger he puts himself in and he’s not sure if they’re still "on".
I found myself looking at my husband and wondering if guys really can turn their emotions on and off like running water. By the end of the book, the “other woman” is dead and Steve and Rachel are back together with no one the wiser.
Without this weakness of character, Steve Cline would be a very likable and admirable character, but his complete inability to control his sexual urges is weird because it creates a strange gap in his emotional accessibility. He seems to feel deeply about the other people and the animals in his life, but when it comes to sex, his character and emotional depth bottom out around two inches.
If Ehrman could see her way clear to cut way back on Steve’s hyper-sexuality, I’d give these books five stars.
I’m going to try one more and pray really hard that Steve can remain faithful to Rachel for one book. My hopes are high because Kit Ehrman is, in many ways, a splendid writer.
On the plus side, DEAD MAN’S TOUCH has the same great level of equestrian detail (which may be too much for non-horsey folk, but warms the cockles of my heart), and the same taut action and complex mystery as the debut novel, AT RISK. If anything, I enjoyed the mystery aspects of this book even more than the first one. I also loved the peek into Steve’s back story and family ties. And the realistic way Ehrman handled the conclusion of his tortured relationship with his father—not all endings are happy ones.
Once again, Steve Cline was a likable character ... until any female of child-bearing age appeared on the page.
And that’s the one negative with this book as with the first. Though Steve has a girlfriend (Rachel) that he claims to love, the graphic sex scenes in this book (as in the first one) are not with her, but with the first female that drops her pants (literally). This time, at least, Steve actually likes the girl in question. Steve also comes perilously close to shagging his own half-sister, who is attracted to him in return until she learns he’s her half sibling.
As in the first book, Steve has a sterling excuse for his behavior. In AT RISK, his encounter with a married woman whom he dislikes, distrusts, and thinks is up to no good is excused because he and Rachel are only at the very beginning of their relationship. This time, the rationale is that they’ve had a fight over the danger he puts himself in and he’s not sure if they’re still "on".
I found myself looking at my husband and wondering if guys really can turn their emotions on and off like running water. By the end of the book, the “other woman” is dead and Steve and Rachel are back together with no one the wiser.
Without this weakness of character, Steve Cline would be a very likable and admirable character, but his complete inability to control his sexual urges is weird because it creates a strange gap in his emotional accessibility. He seems to feel deeply about the other people and the animals in his life, but when it comes to sex, his character and emotional depth bottom out around two inches.
If Ehrman could see her way clear to cut way back on Steve’s hyper-sexuality, I’d give these books five stars.
I’m going to try one more and pray really hard that Steve can remain faithful to Rachel for one book. My hopes are high because Kit Ehrman is, in many ways, a splendid writer.
October 23, 2009
This is the second book in the series about Steve Cline by Kit Ehrman. While not quite as intense as AT RISK, it's still very good read.
Steve is having a lot of trouble dealing with the trauma suffered in AT RISK. On top of that, his estranged father dies. Then at the funeral, he finds out that the man he thought was his father wasn't.
His biological father is a horse farm owner/trainer. Steve seeks him out and get dropped right into the center of another big mystery about horse doping and race fixing.
This books also contains graphic violence, but it's all very well written.
The only mark against it, was I didn't think the murder of Trudy was handled very well.
Other than that, a good book to follow up the wonderful AT RISK.
Steve is having a lot of trouble dealing with the trauma suffered in AT RISK. On top of that, his estranged father dies. Then at the funeral, he finds out that the man he thought was his father wasn't.
His biological father is a horse farm owner/trainer. Steve seeks him out and get dropped right into the center of another big mystery about horse doping and race fixing.
This books also contains graphic violence, but it's all very well written.
The only mark against it, was I didn't think the murder of Trudy was handled very well.
Other than that, a good book to follow up the wonderful AT RISK.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2015
I liked the story very much. I can fully see all the details as described in the story clearly; very well written. I learned a lot about horse racing, their training, and the negativity of gambling and horse racing.
One problem I have with the book was the usage of words that are sacred to me being used by the characters to curse. That took away from the story for me and I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 stars. I thought it unnecessary to use "Christ" and g__damned every time they cursed. There are plenty of other words for that. Also, for me, details of sex escapades could be less detailed. The scenes seemed out of place and unnecessary with what the story was about. A little romance goes a long way for me without tons of sex details.
One problem I have with the book was the usage of words that are sacred to me being used by the characters to curse. That took away from the story for me and I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 stars. I thought it unnecessary to use "Christ" and g__damned every time they cursed. There are plenty of other words for that. Also, for me, details of sex escapades could be less detailed. The scenes seemed out of place and unnecessary with what the story was about. A little romance goes a long way for me without tons of sex details.
July 1, 2019
Beyond the protagonist, few of the characters are developed all that fully. This book had more rounded characters than the first one. I enjoyed the book, and the first one. I'll read them all, but I would like to know the characters better.
The villains seem to be outrageously violent out of proportion to the types of crimes that are committing, and you don't know them well enough to understand what motivates them. Abducting and murdering for profits on the sale of horse meat or for drugging horses seems a bit over the top, even for the bad guys.
The villains seem to be outrageously violent out of proportion to the types of crimes that are committing, and you don't know them well enough to understand what motivates them. Abducting and murdering for profits on the sale of horse meat or for drugging horses seems a bit over the top, even for the bad guys.
February 25, 2014
Here is an interesting follow up to his first book, however to an extent more of the same.
It's a thriller, with somewhat less horse stuff thrown in than the first, but more about racing. Certainly it's a different story, also catching up with his real dad, but otherwise the general idea is similar to the first book.
A fair enough tale to while away a few hours, as long as you don't spend too much on it. Hours and dollars that is.
It's a thriller, with somewhat less horse stuff thrown in than the first, but more about racing. Certainly it's a different story, also catching up with his real dad, but otherwise the general idea is similar to the first book.
A fair enough tale to while away a few hours, as long as you don't spend too much on it. Hours and dollars that is.
September 26, 2010
A very enjoyable read. The characters are mostly believable. I did not read the first book (yet) so I missed some of the character background. I look forward to reading more by this author. A plus for me is that I grew up in Baltimore.
September 23, 2016
I love the horse background, find Steve Cline interesting and enjoy the mysteries. This one, however, added a little too much graphic sex, which the story didn't need. I'll try the next one but the sex scenes put me off. Yes, I can skip those pages, but shouldn't have to.
August 11, 2012
A great sequel. Steve is a wonderful character and this book did not disappoint.
August 10, 2012
Loved it ... can't wait to get the next one!
December 16, 2013
A page turner! I think this will be a fun, easy-read series. However the Kindle edition had a lot of typos and grammatical error, which distracted me.
June 13, 2022
High tension danger and heart ache
Great read
I couldn't guess all the twists and turns but they held together and made sense. I will read it more than once.
Great read
I couldn't guess all the twists and turns but they held together and made sense. I will read it more than once.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews