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At Risk
Kit Ehrman Book Review

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Plot Summary of At Risk
"

Poisoned Pen, Oct 2002, 24.95, 299 pp.
ISBN: 1590580362

Deciding not to follow in the footsteps of his dad, Steve Cline drops out of college and accepts a job at Maryland's Foxdale Farm. Though he works hard, Steve feels good about his decision as he feels his future with thoroughbreds has jut begun as Foxdale trains and boards jumpers.

Steve nurses an ailing horse that he visits at night to see how the steed is doing. However, this evening, he walks in on a horse rustling and he is fortunate to escape with his life as the thugs try to abduct him too. Fearing they will return to insure he cannot identify them, Steve begins his own sleuthing over the objections and dire warning of the police.

Though the villains are too nasty for this tale, readers will risk anything to peruse Kit Ehrman's entertaining amateur sleuth story. AT RISK gallops at a fast pace while providing insight into the thoroughbred business that will please fans of Dick Francis. However, the novel works because the “jockeys”, especially those at Foxdale who propel the plot forward seem genuine and heroic. Readers will root for Steve Cline to reach the finish line before his foes and want him to perform in future “jumping races”.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of At Risk
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 20%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%




Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story: - present (2000-2010)
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller Yes
General Crime (including known murderer) Yes
Who's the criminal enemy here? - stolen goods organization

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - champion of justice
Age: - 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use? - none
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Southeast

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 0 (not a murder mystery)
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
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