The Bottom Line
Pros
- Very realistic depiction of the tough life of backstretch workers
- Holds your interest so you don't want to put it down
- Good plot twists
Cons
- Identity of the "bad guy" is perhaps a bit too easy to guess
Description
- Sequel to Erhman's first book "At Risk" but stands on its own
- Excellent mystery in the vein of Dick Francis
- Author has worked at the track so details of backside life are accurate
- Even if you don't usually read fiction, try this to get a true idea about life at the track
- Well written and fun to read
Guide Review - Book Review: 'Dead Man's Touch'
Recovering from the injuries he received in the first book, Steve Cline discovers at his estranged father's funeral that he was the product of an affair his mother had with horse trainer Christopher Kessler. Steve tracks down Kessler and strikes up a friendship with the biological father he never knew. Kessler is being hounded by someone to throw races and because he won't cooperate, they are "getting to" his horses somehow. He hires Steve to work in his barn and keep and eye on things and try to figure out who is drugging his horses.Working as a hotwalker, Steve lives in the track dormitory and sleeps in one of the stalls at night to try and catch them in the act. The work is back breaking and the living conditions are horrible, with oppressive heat and ever present cockroaches. Steve misses them when they drug the next horse, but he finds the syringe in the stall and tries to get it to Kessler. Instead he gets knocked out, kidnapped, and set up to look like he was drunk on the job. Things take off from here and the action really picks up.
If you enjoy Dick Francis or John Francome, you will like this book. The characters are well drawn and the situations are believable. The details of the routine and hard life of the backside will educate most fans since they rarely get to see that side of things. This adds a lot to the enjoyment of the story. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a way to pass a few enjoyable hours.
