Touch of Vengeance, A SIGNED/LINED

Jay Jessop Racing Thriller #1

by Graeme Roe

An international thriller of intrigue set against the high stakes backdrop of National Hunt Racing. Three powerful men and a rich young South African woman set out to settle a long-standing grudge and take National Hunt Racing by storm. Each has different motives, but they combine to make a formidable team. Against a background of racing the reader is taken on a thrilling ride of intrigue that moves between the US, Ireland, Cotswolds high society and the ganglands of the East End.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Educated at Hampton Grammar School and the University of Nottingham, Graeme Roe had a marketing career working for major international companies.

He then founded and built an extremely successful advertising agency. At the age of forty he decided to take up riding and under David Nicholson's guidance gained an amateur National Hunt licence. For ten years he rode both on the flat and over hurdles and fences. His biggest success was winning the Ayr Yeomanry Cup on Dom Perignon.

He then took out a Jockey Club permit quickly followed by a full licence. Amongst his many winners were All Bright, Dom Perignon, Kitty Wren, We're in the Money, Le Grand Maitre, Fairly Sharp and Bad Beatrich.

Graeme now runs a communications firm and successfully self-published Touch of Vengeance and Odds on Death.

Reviews

[Kathy KS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended for fans of Dick Francis, John Francome, and the like. The pace seems slower than those authors' books. Violence is kept to a minimum, although the threat is clearly evident.

My best description of the story would be to call it a British racing procedural, similar to a "police procedural". We learn many details about various aspects of the horse business, from the jockey, the trainer, the owners, and related individuals. Detailed descriptions of races will appeal to those sports fans that love that kind of information.

I did enjoy the book, but felt it may have been longer than necessary. The ending also seemed a little rushed and a surprise popped up without much explanation (to be continued, perhaps?).

[Denise Rawling · Rating 3 out of 5]

A National Hunt fantasy with a somewhat unbelievable plot but so rich in authentic detail and genuine love of the sport, it is well worth a read if you want to get up close and glimpse the high end of jump racing.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The successful jockey becoming a successful trainer had a nice touch. I really liked the ending. The connections and the story-line were nice as well.