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saranel81's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tartbarbie's review
5.0
I received Racing from Death in return for an honest review from the publisher. Racing for Death is the second book in the Nikki Latrelle series my new favorite sleuth. This time Nikki is being sent by her boss Jim to Virginia for some upcoming races. She’s taking Hellish her filly in hopes of putting her in a race and seeing what she can do. With the help of Lorna her friend to help exercise the horse things should be easy for them. However the first night at the track they encounter a tall stranger coming out of the forest with a shovel.
The girls meet Bobby the son of a rich barn owner who Loran is instantly smitten with but there is something about him Nikki doesn’t trust. When the pair learns that the cottage they are renting used to be the home of two teenage boys that had been murdered a year before and Bobby might have been involved. As if Nikki doesn't have enough to worry about with Lorna’s new boyfriend as well as the six horses already two more show up belonging to a rich woman who does things her own way. Will Nikki find out what happened to the boys? Will she find out why jockeys are dying?
Another fantastic book in the Nikki Latrelle series. Nikki isn't your typical sleuth she’s not a detective or cop she’s just a jockey trying to make it in a man’s world. She’s joined by several charming characters each one bringing a little something to the story from Lorna to Mello the old stable hand. The story caught my attention right from the start, only letting go at the end. The books are well written creating a unique mystery while giving an interesting insight into the horserace world. Racing for Death is a captivating story that anyone with a love of horses will enjoy. The characters are engaging and the twist and turns will keep you guessing till the very end. Can’t wait for the next one.
Merged review:
I received Full Mortality in return for an honest review from the publisher. Nikki Latrelle has been working with race horses since she was thirteen years old. Right after her mother passed away in a fatal accident. She’s finally getting her big chance to prove herself as a jockey when she wakes up early and decides to head to the track to check on her horse for the race. Upon arrival at the stable she see’s someone run from Gildys stall and finds her dead. When she learns that the shady trainer in the barn next door is going to sell a filly to slaughter Nikki heads off after her intent on buying her before and she does.
However fate is not on her side when she decides to check on her new horse and finds the body of a fellow jockey she’s had altercations with as well as another dead horse. The police are looking at her as a suspect next thing she knows she’s the prime suspect in a murder as well as the death of two horses. Nikki is suspended pending how the police case works out. When she arrives at a rundown track to stable her horse and look for work riding the race horses until the police can solve the case. Nikki starts piecing the case together herself as the cop continue to keep her as their prime suspect. Will Nikki solve the case or will it be too late?
I’ve always loved books with horses so of course I couldn't pass up the chance to read a jockey series. Full Mortality incorporates the life of Nikki who’s not had the easiest live but knows what she loves and is willing to do what it takes to work with horses. She’s a fun character to connect with she’s smart, and really good at getting herself in a mess but unlike some she solves her own mystery. The story has a great cast of character from her fellow jockeys, the people she works with even the new friends she makes along the way they all enhance Nikki’s adventure. Plus it has horses what else can I say. I really enjoyed the fun mystery and the insight into Nikki’s world I look forward to checking out the rest of the series.
The girls meet Bobby the son of a rich barn owner who Loran is instantly smitten with but there is something about him Nikki doesn’t trust. When the pair learns that the cottage they are renting used to be the home of two teenage boys that had been murdered a year before and Bobby might have been involved. As if Nikki doesn't have enough to worry about with Lorna’s new boyfriend as well as the six horses already two more show up belonging to a rich woman who does things her own way. Will Nikki find out what happened to the boys? Will she find out why jockeys are dying?
Another fantastic book in the Nikki Latrelle series. Nikki isn't your typical sleuth she’s not a detective or cop she’s just a jockey trying to make it in a man’s world. She’s joined by several charming characters each one bringing a little something to the story from Lorna to Mello the old stable hand. The story caught my attention right from the start, only letting go at the end. The books are well written creating a unique mystery while giving an interesting insight into the horserace world. Racing for Death is a captivating story that anyone with a love of horses will enjoy. The characters are engaging and the twist and turns will keep you guessing till the very end. Can’t wait for the next one.
Merged review:
I received Full Mortality in return for an honest review from the publisher. Nikki Latrelle has been working with race horses since she was thirteen years old. Right after her mother passed away in a fatal accident. She’s finally getting her big chance to prove herself as a jockey when she wakes up early and decides to head to the track to check on her horse for the race. Upon arrival at the stable she see’s someone run from Gildys stall and finds her dead. When she learns that the shady trainer in the barn next door is going to sell a filly to slaughter Nikki heads off after her intent on buying her before and she does.
However fate is not on her side when she decides to check on her new horse and finds the body of a fellow jockey she’s had altercations with as well as another dead horse. The police are looking at her as a suspect next thing she knows she’s the prime suspect in a murder as well as the death of two horses. Nikki is suspended pending how the police case works out. When she arrives at a rundown track to stable her horse and look for work riding the race horses until the police can solve the case. Nikki starts piecing the case together herself as the cop continue to keep her as their prime suspect. Will Nikki solve the case or will it be too late?
I’ve always loved books with horses so of course I couldn't pass up the chance to read a jockey series. Full Mortality incorporates the life of Nikki who’s not had the easiest live but knows what she loves and is willing to do what it takes to work with horses. She’s a fun character to connect with she’s smart, and really good at getting herself in a mess but unlike some she solves her own mystery. The story has a great cast of character from her fellow jockeys, the people she works with even the new friends she makes along the way they all enhance Nikki’s adventure. Plus it has horses what else can I say. I really enjoyed the fun mystery and the insight into Nikki’s world I look forward to checking out the rest of the series.
kairosdreaming's review
4.0
**This book was received as a free Advanced Reader's copy**
Racing From Death is the second in a series by Sasscer Hill. But I'm happy to say that even though I read this one first, instead of starting with the first book, I still enjoyed it quite a bit. It was quick paced but interesting and since I like horses, it kind of fit that area of my enjoyment too.
Nikki Latrelle has been assigned by her boss to manage the training and racing of some of the stable's mounts in Virginia. A jockey herself she knows what this entails but is still nervous. Especially when strange things start happening at the track and she can't control her riding assistant Lorna's actions even though Lorna is making increasingly bad choices. Because of Nikki's natural curiosity she stumbles on some things she shouldn't and falling off during a race is no longer the only danger she has to face in Virginia.
I liked Nikki. She was flawed, but strong as well. While I didn't agree with some of her actions in this book, they did seem realistic. She also seems to care deeply about the horses she's working with and that's always a positive quality. Lorna I didn't really like as much. For as much as Nikki sticks her neck out for her, she doesn't seem to appreciate it or even make an effort at becoming a better person. The bad guys, well it was easy to tell who they were, but they were menacing enough to make the plot interesting. And just to throw a little mystery in there, she has a groom who appears to be a little bit psychic.
The books was fairly rushed and I would have liked it to slow down a little and develop the plot more. But even so it kept my attention and I was able to read it practically in one sitting. The mystery was decent, if easy to solve and there were a few elements that came as a surprise. The writing itself was detailed and the dialogue easy to follow. There were some almost sex scenes in the book that were just as detailed as everything else, so if you're expecting a G-rated mystery, this isn't it. I don't think it detracted from the story at all, but it did make you question the characters motives, which is a good thing.
A good mystery, I would definitely read more by this author. And I'll probably have to go find the first book now to see how Nikki's story starts.
Racing From Death
Copyright 2012
193 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2013
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
Racing From Death is the second in a series by Sasscer Hill. But I'm happy to say that even though I read this one first, instead of starting with the first book, I still enjoyed it quite a bit. It was quick paced but interesting and since I like horses, it kind of fit that area of my enjoyment too.
Nikki Latrelle has been assigned by her boss to manage the training and racing of some of the stable's mounts in Virginia. A jockey herself she knows what this entails but is still nervous. Especially when strange things start happening at the track and she can't control her riding assistant Lorna's actions even though Lorna is making increasingly bad choices. Because of Nikki's natural curiosity she stumbles on some things she shouldn't and falling off during a race is no longer the only danger she has to face in Virginia.
I liked Nikki. She was flawed, but strong as well. While I didn't agree with some of her actions in this book, they did seem realistic. She also seems to care deeply about the horses she's working with and that's always a positive quality. Lorna I didn't really like as much. For as much as Nikki sticks her neck out for her, she doesn't seem to appreciate it or even make an effort at becoming a better person. The bad guys, well it was easy to tell who they were, but they were menacing enough to make the plot interesting. And just to throw a little mystery in there, she has a groom who appears to be a little bit psychic.
The books was fairly rushed and I would have liked it to slow down a little and develop the plot more. But even so it kept my attention and I was able to read it practically in one sitting. The mystery was decent, if easy to solve and there were a few elements that came as a surprise. The writing itself was detailed and the dialogue easy to follow. There were some almost sex scenes in the book that were just as detailed as everything else, so if you're expecting a G-rated mystery, this isn't it. I don't think it detracted from the story at all, but it did make you question the characters motives, which is a good thing.
A good mystery, I would definitely read more by this author. And I'll probably have to go find the first book now to see how Nikki's story starts.
Racing From Death
Copyright 2012
193 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2013
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
suerreal's review
4.0
Interesting read. Bad guys weren't hard to peg, but a lot of very intriguing characters. Maybe we'll see some of them again.
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