Bruised in body and psyche from his adventures in At Risk, 22-year-old Steve Cline gets another blow in Dead Man's Touch: the sudden death of his estranged father. But at the funeral, Steve learns that his real father, horse trainer Christopher J. Kessler, is very much alive. Curious, Steve heads for the Maryland track to find Kessler. When Kessler learns that he's a father and Steve is his son, he recruits Steve to work undercover at his training barn to discover who's been doping the most promising horses. Steve settles in and is soon caught up in the unique lifestyle inherent to the "backside." But it is not a life without peril-some men are willing to do anything to get the right horse under the wire first. When a young woman is found dead in a horse's stall, Steve becomes the prime suspect in her murder. Steve must discover the ringleader's identity to keep from being put in jail...or worse, in the ground. "Kit Ehrman has created a driven, principled character and puts him into situations where he must fight for the moral high ground" -The Denver Post "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." -Publishers Weekly Kit Ehrman lives and writes on a horse farm near Columbus, Indiana. The second Steve Cline Mystery, Dead Man's Touch follows At Risk and is followed by Cold Burn and Triple Cross. www.kitehrman.com
DEAD MAN'S TOUCH (Steve Cline Mysteries)
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Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Still 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 an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"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." --Marilyn Stasio, New York TImes
"With its sensitively drawn characters and enchanting horses with unique personalities, this is sure to be a contender for the winner's circle.” –Publishers Weekly
"Smooth prose surrounds the knowledgeable equine subject matter, while Steve’s psychological barriers provide ample subplot material. Recommended." –Library Journal
"Kit Ehrman has created a driven, principled character and puts him into situations where he must fight for the moral high ground…. Readers who love the excitement of the race will be thrilled with the arrival of this new addition to the field of mystery fiction." --The Denver Post
"Kit Ehrman, who gave us the well-received At Risk, has produced a second solid, diverting and apparently authentic equine mystery." --Chicago Tribune
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Harriet Klausner
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
He saw a man executed and was nearly killed himself. Twenty-two years old Steve Cline has recovered but is still emotionally fragile and unable to return to his job at Foxdale Horse Farm. He is estranged from his wealthy and prominent family but when he learns that his father was killed, he returns home for the funeral. His angry and embittered brother Robert tells Steve that he was not biologically related to the individual he thought was his father.
When he confronts his mother, she admits that his biological father is racehorse trainer Kessler working out of Washington Park. When he finally tells Kessler who he is, the man tells him that he is glad to have a son. When he learns his father is having trouble with an unknown person who wants him to fix the races, Steve volunteers to go undercover to find the guilty parties. In the course of his inquiries, a co-worker is murdered and Steve comes within a pixel of losing his life too.
Kit Ehrman has a unique voice that makes DEAD MAN'S TOUCH an exciting amateur sleuth tale. The protagonist, rather young in physical years, has experienced so much that he comes across as a mature person so familiar with death that he realizes it can strike without warning at anytime. There is a lot of action in this straightforward mystery much of it dealing with a protagonist who refuses to stay down after being threatened and battered. DEAD MAN'S TOUCH is as good as the works of Dick Francis.
Harriet Klausner
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars
36 reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
exciting amateur sleuth
Nov 26 2003
By Harriet Klausner
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
He saw a man executed and was nearly killed himself. Twenty-two years old Steve Cline has recovered but is still emotionally fragile and unable to return to his job at Foxdale Horse Farm. He is estranged from his wealthy and prominent family but when he learns that his father was killed, he returns home for the funeral. His angry and embittered brother Robert tells Steve that he was not biologically related to the individual he thought was his father.
When he confronts his mother, she admits that his biological father is racehorse trainer Kessler working out of Washington Park. When he finally tells Kessler who he is, the man tells him that he is glad to have a son. When he learns his father is having trouble with an unknown person who wants him to fix the races, Steve volunteers to go undercover to find the guilty parties. In the course of his inquiries, a co-worker is murdered and Steve comes within a pixel of losing his life too.
Kit Ehrman has a unique voice that makes DEAD MAN'S TOUCH an exciting amateur sleuth tale. The protagonist, rather young in physical years, has experienced so much that he comes across as a mature person so familiar with death that he realizes it can strike without warning at anytime. There is a lot of action in this straightforward mystery much of it dealing with a protagonist who refuses to stay down after being threatened and battered. DEAD MAN'S TOUCH is as good as the works of Dick Francis.
Harriet Klausner
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good Story - Too much blasphmy
Mar 24 2012
By Beorge
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I enjoyed the story. Steve Cline takes a huge amount of punishment for what seems to be other peoples problems. And the background of stable management is very interesting.
I say a prayer each time I encounter a blasphemous word which breaks up the story line.
Overall a good read.
I say a prayer each time I encounter a blasphemous word which breaks up the story line.
Overall a good read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
GOOD SECOND ENTRY IN THE SERIES
Mar 22 2012
By drkhimxz
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Readable follow-up in this horsey series. Our hero, Steve Cline, moves to another setting for another dose of murder, mayhem, danger and romance. It is well written and decently plotted not withstanding the tendency to make the hero appear more childish than his 22 years make likely. A bit more self control would keep him out of life-threatening situation; however, it would also reduce the action component, perhaps to the point of dullness. To allow the hero to escape from the dilemma of an unloving father, the author kills the old man off and provides a more stimulating relationship. This is a neat counter in the love game as the reader will find. For those who have dined off the rich wares of the late Dick Francis, this series may not be a complete replacement but it should be an enjoyable substitute.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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