At Risk: A Steve Cline Mystery (Steve Cline Mysteries)

### From Publishers Weekly Both horse lovers and crime fans who've never stepped into a stirrup will relish Ehrman's riveting debut, set on a Maryland horse farm. When his successful surgeon father disowns him after he drops out of college, 21-year-old Stephen Cline takes a job as barn manager of Foxdale Farm, which specializes in the training and boarding of thoroughbred jumpers. In the middle of a late February night, Steve visits the stable to medicate a sick horse only to stumble on a horse theft in progress. Haunted by the events of that night after barely escaping from being kidnapped and murdered, Steve resolves to track down the perpetrators before they find him. In spite of the warnings of state police detective James Ralston, he continues his search to unravel what becomes a suspenseful mystery, but not before he puts himself in grave peril. The cold, wet Maryland spring vividly turns to summer amid the smells of horses, hay and sawdust as the plot gallops forward. As a former groom, veterinary assistant and barn manager, Ehrman treads Dick Francis territory with a sure foot. From Steve's girl-crazy friend, Marty, to the motherly farm manager, Mrs. Hill, to the ruthless villains who leave more than one body in their wake, she has created a memorable cast. The sensitively drawn relationship between Steve and the alluring Rachel, a boarder at Foxdale, is one of the novel's highlights. With his youthful zeal and perseverance, Steve Cline makes a captivating hero and sleuth, one readers will be eager to see again. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. ### Review "...When seven of these horses are stolen in the dead of night, Stephen Cline, the 21-year-old barn manager . . . in the honored tradition of a Dick Francis hero, vows to track down the thieves." --The New York Times "Ehrman's writing is unobtrusively crisp . . . The plot is intricate, intriguing, and solid in the best traditional style . . ." --The Drood Review "The smart money could make the unusually likable protagonist a favorite in the Francis Stakes." --Kirkus " The descriptions of the horse country and the horse farm and its workings are well drawn. Stephen Cline is a very likable hero who should return for this reader's enjoyment. And even without Cline, any forthcoming books from this author will be welcomed and well received. This is an author with a great future." --MyShelf.com "*At Risk* by Kit Ehrman is suspense on steroids and one of the best debut novels to hit the crime literature racetrack since Dennis Lehane's *A Drink Before the War. *Clear, ample shelf space for a Steve Cline series." -- Andrew McAleer of *Austin Layman's Crimestalker Casebook *

at 21, Steve Cline Seems Too Young To Be In Charge Of A Major Stable In Maryland's Horse Country. When He's Hijacked Early One Morning Along With Some Of His Horses, His Escape Turns Him Into A Killer's Target.

publishers Weekly

both Horse Lovers And Crime Fans Who've Never Stepped Into A Stirrup Will Relish Ehrman's Riveting Debut, Set On A Maryland Horse Farm. When His Successful Surgeon Father Disowns Him After He Drops Out Of College, 21-year-old Stephen Cline Takes A Job As Barn Manager Of Foxdale Farm, Which Specializes In The Training And Boarding Of Thoroughbred Jumpers. In The Middle Of A Late February Night, Steve Visits The Stable To Medicate A Sick Horse Only To Stumble On A Horse Theft In Progress. Haunted By The Events Of That Night After Barely Escaping From Being Kidnapped And Murdered, Steve Resolves To Track Down The Perpetrators Before They Find Him. In Spite Of The Warnings Of State Police Detective James Ralston, He Continues His Search To Unravel What Becomes A Suspenseful Mystery, But Not Before He Puts Himself In Grave Peril. The Cold, Wet Maryland Spring Vividly Turns To Summer Amid The Smells Of Horses, Hay And Sawdust As The Plot Gallops Forward. As A Former Groom, Veterinary Assistant And Barn Manager, Ehrman Treads Dick Francis Territory With A Sure Foot. From Steve's Girl-crazy Friend, Marty, To The Motherly Farm Manager, Mrs. Hill, To The Ruthless Villains Who Leave More Than One Body In Their Wake, She Has Created A Memorable Cast. The Sensitively Drawn Relationship Between Steve And The Alluring Rachel, A Boarder At Foxdale, Is One Of The Novel's Highlights. With His Youthful Zeal And Perseverance, Steve Cline Makes A Captivating Hero And Sleuth, One Readers Will Be Eager To See Again. (oct. 1) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Stubborness has its price. So does pride.... Stephen Cline will pay heavily for both when he drops out of college against his father's wishes and lands a job as barn manager at Foxdale Farm, one of Maryland's premiere equestrian facilities. An obnoxious trainer and difficult, demanding boarders are all part of the job, but Steve will need every bit of his smarts when he interrupts a bunch of thieves very early one morning and is hijacked along with the horses. In making his escape, he unwittingly jeopardizes a lucrative scam and challenges a sadistic killer. When the police investigation stalls, Steve uses his connections in the horse industry and launches his own fact-finding campaign. As he moves closer to uncovering the rustlers' ring, he learns that nearly everyone else around him also runs risks....Praise for At Risk "Both horse lovers and crime fans who've never stepped into a stirrup will relish Ehrman's riveting debut, set on a Maryland horse farm....With his youthful zeal and perseverance, Steve Cline makes a captivating hero and sleuth, one readers will be eager to see again." -Publishers Weekly " "Stubborness has its price. So does pride ... Stephen Cline will pay heavily for both when he drops out of college against his father's wishes and lands a job as barn manager at Foxdale Farm, one of Maryland's premiere equestrian facilities. An obnoxious trainer and difficult, demanding boarders are all part of the job, but Steve will need every bit of his smarts when he interrupts a bunch of thieves very early one morning and is hijacked along with the horses. In making his escape, he unwittingly jeopardises a lucrative scam and challenges a sadistic killer. When the police investigation stalls, Steve uses his connections in the horse industry and launches his own fact-finding campaign. As he moves closer to uncovering the rustlers' ring, he learns that nearly everyone else around him also runs risks."--Provided by publisher Twenty-one-year-old Stephen Cline, having dropped out of college and taken a job as a barn manager, seems too young to be in charge of a major stable, at one of Maryland's premiere equestrian facilities, puts himself in grave danger, when he is hijacked early one morning along with some of his horses, his escape turns him into a killer's target