The Horse Thief in Aussie Readers

Aug 22, 2015 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-authors, 2015-release, net-galley, read-on-kindle, arc, own-read, historical-fiction, autographed-book

Left by her father at Helligen Stud in the Hunter Valley with her invalid mother and sister Violet, along with the servants, India Kilhampton was determined to use the twelve months her father had granted her to make a difference to the fortunes of her home. The sadness and tragedy of the past would be to some degree made better if she could breed a champion stallion which would win the Melbourne Cup.

When she advertised in the local Maitland Mercury for a Stud Master, using her father’s name but Left by her father at Helligen Stud in the Hunter Valley with her invalid mother and sister Violet, along with the servants, India Kilhampton was determined to use the twelve months her father had granted her to make a difference to the fortunes of her home. The sadness and tragedy of the past would be to some degree made better if she could breed a champion stallion which would win the Melbourne Cup.

When she advertised in the local Maitland Mercury for a Stud Master, using her father’s name but without his knowledge, she was excited to receive a response almost immediately. And when Jim Mawgan arrived regarding the position, she knew his knowledge of horses and what the job entailed made him the perfect candidate. Was it possible she could actually do what she had set out to achieve? Her excitement and passion was intense…

But Jim had an ulterior motive; one that he had no intention of telling India or any of the Kilhampton family...

As India and Jim worked out a plan to breed from the mares that remained on Helligen Stud, India felt sure that Jim had the same goal she did. Jim’s stallion Jefferson was a beautiful horse; his pride in him was obvious, the love of his horse outstanding. But gradually the secrets of a long ago past rose up, threatening to engulf them all. What had India done when she brought Jim into their lives? Was she destined to fail her family once again?

The Horse Thief by Aussie author Tea Cooper is an exquisitely written historical fiction novel which is set in the beautiful countryside of the Hunter Valley in NSW. Wonderfully descriptive, the landscape was brought to life for me – Morpeth, the steamer to Sydney via Newcastle – all familiar. Mystery, intrigue and tangled emotions mix with determination and loyalty; India was a naïve young woman who was trying to make her way in a man’s world. Her strength and desire to succeed made her a character to love. I thoroughly enjoyed The Horse Thief and have no hesitation in recommending it highly.

With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my copy to read and review. ...more

18 likes · Like · see review