Dark Horse

By: Tami Hoag

Narrated by: Beth McDonald

Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

In a trailer in a Florida swamp, time is running out for Erin Seabright. A pawn in a kidnapper's terrifying game for a ransom no one can pay, her last hope is a washed-up ex-cop who has already lost it all - not once, but twice.

The wealthy world of the Palm Beach horsey set seems a long way from a cop's world in the narcotics division. A lifetime ago, undercover sheriff's detective Elena Estes worked the mean streets and back alleys, living by her wits and playing the long odds until she took one risk too many. Now Estes lives on the ragged edge of lost hope and self-hatred, hiding from the past and believing she doesn't deserve to have a future. But the past is about to come back with a vengeance, and the future is about to become a race between life and death.

A young woman is missing and her 12-year-old stepsister comes to Estes for help. No one but serious, studious Molly Seabright seems concerned about what's happened to her troubled older sister. Estes has no P.I. license, and no desire to break her self-imposed exile. But the more she learns about the people Erin Seabright was involved with, the more her long-dormant cop instincts come back to life.

One trip to the showgrounds where Erin worked as a groom, and Estes is quickly pulled to the dark side of a glamorous sport. Behind the ultra-rich facade is an ultra-ruthless world of drugs, payoffs, and dirty deals. And in that world stalks a killer who will lead Estes down a twisted trail of mayhem and murder to a final showdown that could cost her everything. A race against time and evil. A race in which Estes is the dark horse...and no one is betting on her to win.

©2002 Tami Hoag (P)2002 Random House Inc., Random House Audio, a Division of Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

"A definite winner." (Booklist)

good for a long drive

I bought this book to listen to during a road trip, and it certainly served its purpose keeping me entertained. It was enjoyable enough but I had the plot figured out already halfway through. The narrator did a good job, I do generally like variations of voice for every character (but her accents, as others have pointed out, were terrible), and I felt that she rushed a bit sometimes. I'd recommend it if you're looking for something to keep your mind busy while you drive, but don't expect to be blown away.

Win!

Great book! It was very well written and the plot twist kept you guessing. I'm a mystery junkie and I really enjoyed this one.

Dressage anyone?

I wondered as I listened just how many people could relate to the horsey part. Maybe I underestimate the number and those who would pick up this particular book. I grew up riding so I followed that part easily. Had I not had that experience I would have moved on.

But in the rest of the book the characters fell like flies. Most of us can claim a dysfunctional family but this family re-defines dysfunctional. Some of it was downright funny, most of it was getting to know the characters so we would understand when they were murdered.

I'm really not sure I would recommend this but then again I've read much worse.

Not my favirite

I did not care for this book as much as the other Hoag books I've read.
For some reason it just was not as interesting and became difficult to follow!

Terrific read -- hard to get out of the car

One of the best mysteries I've listened to in a long time. I actually -- for the first time -- got out my ear set and listened in bed -- and so spent a few very tired days. An absolutely terrific and well written book.

A good story about a tough intelligent woman.

This story centers around a tough, intelligent woman that can't come to grips with her own mistakes. The book is slow at times but engaging. While the story bogs down sometimes, the ending seemed rushed and not flowing from the previous story development. If you like women to be sweet, dependant, and stupid, you won't like this book.

Enjoyable!!

I love this narrator! It's a great story line and I enjoyed every minute of this listen!

Wow!

Great plot matched with excellent writing. Suspenseful right to the end. The author's insight into human nature made for marvelous character development. Certainly high on my list of recommended books.

A good listen, not Hoag's best.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Not really, the story line was good but it moved slow.

What did you like best about this story?

Each character with unique personalities.

What aspect of Beth McDonald’s performance would you have changed?

She needed to put more emphasis in parts of the audio.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

That I cannot answer.

Any additional comments?

Tami Hoag is a great author. So enjoy her others. This one is not so good.

Behind the equine scenes thriller

I have been a devoted Tami Hoag fan for many years, and this is my first audio book. The direction, narration, music was absolutely above reproach! I feel like I was actually in the story..Just when you thought you had an idea who set up who, you're clearly mistaken! I felt the power of the horses, the smell of the hay & grasses, the hate and love the characters had for one another. Truly a writer with so much talent,.you can get lost in her book (s) for days!