Post by tintin on Dec 8, 2016 23:25:20 GMT 1
I found this book while somewhat desparately searching for Mounted Police books, of which there are not a great many
The book is basically about a Woman Police Sgt who is appointed to lead the newly formed Mounted Branch of the Tacoma Police in Washington State in the US.(In real life Tacoma is policed by a Sheriff and Deputies with, sadly no horses) Sgt Rachel Bryce is under a cloud in the force as she is very much a rule book bound officer and has unwittingly got a popular officer from a well established police family dismissed. She is moved aside out of trouble to the new section after the original Sgt is killed, being suitable because she grew up n a ranch. Slowly we learn why she is like she is which has a lot to do with her being fostered. Her supervisor Lt Hargrove, also a woman officer, cannot stand her. The section has to be ready for the 4th of July. The 3 constables are poorly trained and resent their new supervisor
This is a police story rather than a crime story. It is a bit like John Wainwright for the UK in that it is about police officers and their relations with each other and their duties. It is very good about horsey things and the horses have characters too. One of the most charming things in the book is the worst rider has the most difficult horse, but won't give her up because he has become genuinely fond of her. There is a lovely episode where he is frightened his horse might have to be destroyed because she is lame, but she only has a stone bruise and the Sgt sorts them out. While the mare soaks her foot in a bucket of Epsom Salts solution instructed to keep her calm the constable reads to her from a small arms ammunition manual.
Their is a crime story in here about corruption deliberately setting up the new section to fail so the stables can be re-developed as luxury flats. It is a little bit reminiscent of Scooby Doo..
The book is also a romance. Because of the tight time frame for the training the Police bring in a top lady Polo player as an adviser. This lady is the female equivalent of a society playboy. Cal Lanford does exactly as she likes and has to seduce every pretty woman that crosses her path, but her jet set lifestyle and polo stardom are not as happy as they appear
The characters are well drawn and you want to know what happens next. The author knows horses and it shows.
The romance is really good. The ladies are good for each other. There are, however, explicit bedroom episodes although you can skip them quite easily. If you are okay with female couples the book actually has good messages about relationships and if I had a daughter I would be a lot happier with her reading this than many of the romances around today.
The only black mark is the cover illustration. The officer's boots and the horse's head kit and coat are in a horribly idle condition which I hope no Police Force in the world would tolerate.
Happily this is a series - "Mounting Evidence" is about Lt Hargrove and "Amounting to Nothing" about Policewoman Billie Mitchell is due out in Feb 2017. I have given this a five because I like Regimental stories
The book is basically about a Woman Police Sgt who is appointed to lead the newly formed Mounted Branch of the Tacoma Police in Washington State in the US.(In real life Tacoma is policed by a Sheriff and Deputies with, sadly no horses) Sgt Rachel Bryce is under a cloud in the force as she is very much a rule book bound officer and has unwittingly got a popular officer from a well established police family dismissed. She is moved aside out of trouble to the new section after the original Sgt is killed, being suitable because she grew up n a ranch. Slowly we learn why she is like she is which has a lot to do with her being fostered. Her supervisor Lt Hargrove, also a woman officer, cannot stand her. The section has to be ready for the 4th of July. The 3 constables are poorly trained and resent their new supervisor
This is a police story rather than a crime story. It is a bit like John Wainwright for the UK in that it is about police officers and their relations with each other and their duties. It is very good about horsey things and the horses have characters too. One of the most charming things in the book is the worst rider has the most difficult horse, but won't give her up because he has become genuinely fond of her. There is a lovely episode where he is frightened his horse might have to be destroyed because she is lame, but she only has a stone bruise and the Sgt sorts them out. While the mare soaks her foot in a bucket of Epsom Salts solution instructed to keep her calm the constable reads to her from a small arms ammunition manual.
Their is a crime story in here about corruption deliberately setting up the new section to fail so the stables can be re-developed as luxury flats. It is a little bit reminiscent of Scooby Doo..
The book is also a romance. Because of the tight time frame for the training the Police bring in a top lady Polo player as an adviser. This lady is the female equivalent of a society playboy. Cal Lanford does exactly as she likes and has to seduce every pretty woman that crosses her path, but her jet set lifestyle and polo stardom are not as happy as they appear
The characters are well drawn and you want to know what happens next. The author knows horses and it shows.
The romance is really good. The ladies are good for each other. There are, however, explicit bedroom episodes although you can skip them quite easily. If you are okay with female couples the book actually has good messages about relationships and if I had a daughter I would be a lot happier with her reading this than many of the romances around today.
The only black mark is the cover illustration. The officer's boots and the horse's head kit and coat are in a horribly idle condition which I hope no Police Force in the world would tolerate.
Happily this is a series - "Mounting Evidence" is about Lt Hargrove and "Amounting to Nothing" about Policewoman Billie Mitchell is due out in Feb 2017. I have given this a five because I like Regimental stories