What do you think?
Rate this book
Bloodline
Liam Dee’s world is turned upside down when a young foreign groom is murdered at Bailey McFarlane’s stables on the Curragh. Liam, a champion steeplechase jockey, is initially both witness and suspect. However, shrewd police detective Diarmuid Yeats takes a gamble on his innocence and enlists his help in the hunt for the killer. This nightmare experience exacerbates the tensions in Liam’s life. He has been falling out of love with his job, his joy in racing relentlessly worn away by the struggle to keep the weight down on his six-foot frame. Is it time to quit? But McFarlane’s stables houses the brilliant Patrician, a potential Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, and Liam wants to be the jockey to get him first past the finish post in the race that matters most. With emotions at pressure point, Liam falls in love with the exotic blonde Ukrainian stable girl, Lara, leaving him in an even more vulnerable position than before. Then the killer strikes again and the race to the finish post is replaced by a race for survival . . . and there is no second place.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 25, 2020
An OK racing mystery story. The pace is quite slow, but does resolve in the end. Not a bad book, particularly for a first novel.
May 30, 2020
"A racing certainty"
There's no such thing in the real world, but between the covers of a book it's a different matter. A terrific story line, great characters and twists galore. Even if you're not a racing fan you can't fail to be swept along with this gripping thriller. Highly recommended.
There's no such thing in the real world, but between the covers of a book it's a different matter. A terrific story line, great characters and twists galore. Even if you're not a racing fan you can't fail to be swept along with this gripping thriller. Highly recommended.
December 28, 2016
I suppose the author is sick of being compared to Dick Francis, but there are worse authors to be compared to. His main character seems to be lacking to masochism gene that is such a prominent element in Francis' characters. This guy knows how to enjoy himself.
A workmanlike murder mystery, but for me the attraction is the life of professional jockey and the horses. I would read another Brian O'Connor book with equal enjoyment if horses were at the center of it.
A workmanlike murder mystery, but for me the attraction is the life of professional jockey and the horses. I would read another Brian O'Connor book with equal enjoyment if horses were at the center of it.
January 30, 2017
Bloodline
Enjoyed this book because of the horse racing and the mystery in involved. Kept me interested till the end as there was a surprise ending.
Enjoyed this book because of the horse racing and the mystery in involved. Kept me interested till the end as there was a surprise ending.
June 18, 2017
Horses
This was a very good book. Reminded me of the Dick Francis books.The horse references were accurate, characters were believable and it was not predictable.
This was a very good book. Reminded me of the Dick Francis books.The horse references were accurate, characters were believable and it was not predictable.
December 27, 2021
An okay read . If you like horse racing you probably find it enjoyable. The mystery component was decent. Best action came at the end of book unfortunately.
July 21, 2020
A race to solve a crime
When I was in London in 1996, I went to the lounge and found a bookshelf with books which could be borrowed. I found Whip Hand by Dick Francis. I had never been into horse racing, but wanted something to read - a finished it in one sitting. I have read every novel by Dick and Also Felix Francis, and quite a few other authors.
Bloodline is in the same genre - in first person, intrigue connected with horse racing, great characters, and a twist at the end to reveal the villain. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and I will read the author’s other titles.
When I was in London in 1996, I went to the lounge and found a bookshelf with books which could be borrowed. I found Whip Hand by Dick Francis. I had never been into horse racing, but wanted something to read - a finished it in one sitting. I have read every novel by Dick and Also Felix Francis, and quite a few other authors.
Bloodline is in the same genre - in first person, intrigue connected with horse racing, great characters, and a twist at the end to reveal the villain. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and I will read the author’s other titles.
May 27, 2020
While comparisons with Dick Francis are inevitable, Brian O'Connor is establishing himself as a writer capable of presenting an exciting story which is well written and engages the reader's interest from the outset. Our hero battles successfully against a range of problems, emotional and physical,and some sinister characters ranged against him. Happily, he emerges unscathed, and the ending does come as a surprise!
Looking forward to more of the same!
January 28, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, probably because I love horses and family members have been jockeys. The details about the track and the jockey life style match up with the stories I heard - with some adjusting for U.S. vs. Ireland cultures, of course. The story was a little slow paced, but by the end I was hoping that was because O'Connor was creating a character who was going to be in a few more books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2020
Brilliantly written. Thoroughly enjoyed.
If I could have given more stars, I would have. It was a slow start for me since the Irish lingo and horseracing were foreign to me. It didn't take long to catch on. The storyline was so captivating, I was completely drawn in. I almost felt that I was peeping into real lives. The characters were so great as was the descriptive background.
If I could have given more stars, I would have. It was a slow start for me since the Irish lingo and horseracing were foreign to me. It didn't take long to catch on. The storyline was so captivating, I was completely drawn in. I almost felt that I was peeping into real lives. The characters were so great as was the descriptive background.
July 12, 2020
Irish Horse Racing
An interesting novel about Horse Racing in Ireland and a jockey and his race to retirement he did not realize he was truly ready for. Add “ who done it“ murder of an immigrant stable hand, add a love story and “how did this jockey survive” all that happened to him make a great read!
An interesting novel about Horse Racing in Ireland and a jockey and his race to retirement he did not realize he was truly ready for. Add “ who done it“ murder of an immigrant stable hand, add a love story and “how did this jockey survive” all that happened to him make a great read!
January 22, 2022
four and a half stars
Excellent whodunnit, great plot and beautiful horses, who could ask for more. A young Ukrainian groom is murdered at the stables of a jump racing trainer in Ireland. All at the stable are stunned. The police are stymied and facing a dead end and then the stable’s jockey is attacked.
Excellent whodunnit, great plot and beautiful horses, who could ask for more. A young Ukrainian groom is murdered at the stables of a jump racing trainer in Ireland. All at the stable are stunned. The police are stymied and facing a dead end and then the stable’s jockey is attacked.
May 24, 2020
Fantastic
Like reading the new Dick Francis
Quick and fast read..makes for an enjoyable plot and a lovely read.
Suspense, romance and the taste of the steeplechase.
All a good fit.
Like reading the new Dick Francis
Quick and fast read..makes for an enjoyable plot and a lovely read.
Suspense, romance and the taste of the steeplechase.
All a good fit.
May 24, 2020
Excellent
Easily comparable to Dick Francis in his obvious understanding of the racing world and first-hand experience of riding and especially steeplechasing. Well written and most enjoyable. I will be getting more of his books very soon.
Easily comparable to Dick Francis in his obvious understanding of the racing world and first-hand experience of riding and especially steeplechasing. Well written and most enjoyable. I will be getting more of his books very soon.
May 28, 2020
A Modern Day Dick Francis
Excellent storyline, kept you involved and guessing all the way to the end. Good characters and interesting titbits of information along the way. Thoroughly enjoyable read and highly recommended.
Excellent storyline, kept you involved and guessing all the way to the end. Good characters and interesting titbits of information along the way. Thoroughly enjoyable read and highly recommended.
June 4, 2020
Bad download
I liked what I was reading BUT this book skipped at least 2-3 pages each chapter. It's hard to know what's going on when you're missing out on so much of the book.
I WILL try to find it and download again because it's an interesting story line.
I liked what I was reading BUT this book skipped at least 2-3 pages each chapter. It's hard to know what's going on when you're missing out on so much of the book.
I WILL try to find it and download again because it's an interesting story line.
December 8, 2020
Not very good! !
I have given two stars because I finished it !
Apart from the first and last few chapters nothing happens !
The majority is an endless repetition of gaining weight and losing it.
Probably the most boring book I have read, but it was FREE
I have given two stars because I finished it !
Apart from the first and last few chapters nothing happens !
The majority is an endless repetition of gaining weight and losing it.
Probably the most boring book I have read, but it was FREE
March 27, 2021
Fairly bog standard murder/mystery type book but being a big fan of horse racing I really enjoyed the parts involving races and the constant battles with the weights that these athletes have to overcome.
January 30, 2023
dreadful awful language
I wish it wasn’t so,
but it seems to be,
That this authour cannot write
Three decent words strung together
Without them being full
Of horrible dreadful language
And so to this style of writing
I say a big NO!
I wish it wasn’t so,
but it seems to be,
That this authour cannot write
Three decent words strung together
Without them being full
Of horrible dreadful language
And so to this style of writing
I say a big NO!
July 13, 2017
just didn't do it for me. Characters were weak & plot kind of boring.
May 22, 2020
Gripping with profanity
It is too bad that some authors feel a story is not good without the use of “f” words. Nay.
It is too bad that some authors feel a story is not good without the use of “f” words. Nay.
May 24, 2020
A new author to me. Excellent mystery set around Irish horse racing. Can't go wrong with that combo.
May 25, 2020
Obvious similarities to mysteries by Dick Francis. Set in the world of Irish racing
May 26, 2020
WONDERFUL HORSE STORY
This book had a great storyline that kept me reading until late last night. The characters were very predictable but still likable.
This book had a great storyline that kept me reading until late last night. The characters were very predictable but still likable.
July 28, 2020
After reading plenty Dick/Felix Francis books i tried this author out. Thoroughly good book with well thought out plots.
September 21, 2020
Good story with gripping characters.
September 26, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Well developed characters and good horse racing and training background. I look forward to reading more by O'Connor. Five stars.
Well developed characters and good horse racing and training background. I look forward to reading more by O'Connor. Five stars.
November 18, 2020
Reminds me of Dick Frances books. Really enjoyed it!
March 23, 2021
Great read,
Fast paced with lots of twists and turns. A real page turner,, hard to put down from start to finish.
Fast paced with lots of twists and turns. A real page turner,, hard to put down from start to finish.
May 3, 2024
Enjoyed.
Very interesting read,enjoyed all the information about the racing world.
Hopefully it won't all be repeated in future books. Enjoyed the story too.
Very interesting read,enjoyed all the information about the racing world.
Hopefully it won't all be repeated in future books. Enjoyed the story too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews