The Horsewoman - by James Patterson & Mike Lupica

This is the first Patterson book I have ever read. I bought it because it was about equestrian competition — it was pretty accurate. Only riders would “get it” - to others - what goes into competition - would be tedious and boring. And it did become painfully tedious and boring despite being familiar with the game. The Patterson “formula” is predictable. He had to throw in an un-documented trainer, a spoiled and arrogant, dirty player, top rider, the wealthy, unscrupulous and abrasive “investor” with expensive tastes in cars and women, who just wants his horse/rider to win so he can flip it for triple his investment. Against all odds, the crusty horsey grandmother who controls what little money their stable makes - enters into a win big/lose big agreement with the greedy investor. Will she lose her beloved stable? Her daughter… an Olympic level rider suffers a serious accident when her high dollar horse shies from a fox on the path. But, despite pain and suffering from several broken bones and internal injuries, takes back the horse from her backup rider daughter, and gets back in the saddle to continue training and competing to become eligible for Olympic competition… despite the acute pain she suffers. This creates a terrible tension between mother and daughter. Daughter rides the stables second string but talented mare into the same competition. Undocumented horse trainer disappears for several days. Arrogant top rider called Border Patrol so horse trainer can’t train top riders competition. Ex-husband lawyer shows up periodically to support daughter on second string horse… At this point I gave up - it was just to tedious - without finishing the book I’m sure Mom won the Olympic medal, daughter came in second, humiliated arrogant top rider comes in behind somewhere, undocumented alien gets papers, wins the daughter, Dad reconciles with Mom and crusty grandmothers saves the family stable. Or not. I just didn’t care. What an awful read… or partial read.

Good book and decent story line. Slightly predictable. As an equestrian, it is sometimes difficult to read and not notice the lack of correct information that the author has not obviously researched. Overall a decent read, and I enjoyed myself. Just wish it was more of an accurate depiction of this horse world.

Can publishers please stop allowing people who clearly know nothing about horses write books about them? English saddles , which weigh 15-25 pounds described as “heavy as hell” had me rolling my eyes. That was only the first of many eye rolls. So many inaccuracies paired with completely unlikable and predictable characters made this a tough read. I gave up after chapter 43. James Patterson truly will put his name on anything these days.