The Hunt (Hunt Country Suspense) [Hardcover]

Jan Neuharth (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hunt Country Suspense | Publication Date: April 1, 2004

The complex and romanticised lifestyle of elite fox hunters is revealed in this thrilling murder mystery. An attractive and wealthy lawyer and horseman, Doug Cummings personifies the old-money equine subculture of Middleburg, Virginia. Driven to succeed, Cummings's climb to the top is halted when he becomes the target of a twisted scheme to frame him for the murders of his former lover and horse groom. As Cummings attempts to find the true culprits, the conflicting forces of his community offer a revealing look at how vengeance, love, and envy obscure the search for truth and justice.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Hunt is a fast, entertaining read, the ending of which Neuharth cleverly sets up for Hunt II! Stay tuned. -- Covertside, September 2003

"It is always a pleasure to read a novel that is accurate in every detail concerning horses, riding and foxhunting." -- Equisearch, August 15, 2003

'Hunt' on for hot summer reading . . . Neuharth unravels a tale of murder, deception and intrigue . . . -- Loudoun Times-Mirror, May 21, 2003

Jan Neuharth has proven her mastery in the art of suspense in her first time out of the starting gate. -- The Chronicle of the Horse, August 1, 2003

The book jacket shows an intriguing image . . . And the plot delivers . . . page-turning murder mystery . . . Neuharth's dramatic prose . . . -- The Washington Post, June 19, 2003

The setting in The Hunt authentically depicts the scenic, small-town community, and the close-knit, foxhunting crowd that lives there. -- Middleburg Life, June 2003

There are so many surprises, including the ending . . . It is a 'page turner.' You can't go wrong buying this book. -- Murder And Mayhem Bookclub, July 24, 2003

From the Inside Flap

Doug Cummings, an attractive, wealthy lawyer and expert horseman, is riding high at the top of his career. But things change when he becomes the target of a twisted but clever scheme to frame him for murder. When Doug's former lover and then his horse groom are killed, Doug becomes the prime suspect. With the media and local law enforcement breathing down his neck, Doug struggles to protect his loved ones and races to find the killer. But the evidence against Doug mounts until even his own attorney doesn't believe him.

Set in the historic and picturesque Virginia hunt country just outside Washington, "The Hunt" depicts the elite community of Middleburg and its close-kint, foxhunting crowd. Doug wonders whether the locals will band together to stand behind one of their own, or view him as an outcast, and he's stunned to discover where the lines of allegiance are drawn.

The book's compellingly crafted characters include Doug's beautiful but aloof female attorney, who is torn between her feelings for Doug and her uncertainty about his innocence; a spirited little girl whose special bond with Doug makes her the victim of a nightmarish kidnapping scheme; and a belligerent cop whose judgment is clouded by a lifetime of resentment towards the wealthy equestrian gentry.

As the plot twists and turns, "The Hunt" carries the reader on a gripping, fast-paced adventure packed with love, scandal, envy, and vengeance.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 347 pages
• Publisher: Paper Chase Farms Publishing Group; 1st ed edition (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972950303
• ISBN-13: 978-0972950305
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,521,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jan Neuharth, an attorney and avid equestrian, is a graduate of the University of Florida and Vanderbilt Law School. She practiced law in Los Angeles before moving to the Virginia hunt country in 1985 to establish Paper Chase Farms, one of the premier equestrian facilities of its kind. She lives in Middleburg, Virginia with her husband, who is a former Master of Foxhounds, and their children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Entertainment, January 28, 2005

By 

M. Lewis (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hunt (Hunt Country Suspense) (Hardcover)

While I concur with some of the negaive comments, I found the book to be over all very entertaining and a quick read. Yes there are plenty of stereotypes and I could have used more about the horses and more hunting...but it is a fast paced story with a good hook right from the start. The dangling ending was cheesey but I was glad that it meant another book was coming. I'm not looking for literature, I'm looking for entertanment, and this book delivers...

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excited about such a great new author!, November 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hunt (Hunt Country Suspense) (Hardcover)

I do not know much about fox-hunting, but I found that that did not make a difference when reading this book because Neuharth explains the hunting 'terminology' in a wonderful way that totally clued me in. I was recommended this book by a friend, and I read it all in one night. I could not put it down, it was suspenseful, thrilling, and realistic. This book would make a good movie, (and I'm surprised one isn't already planned) because there is never a dull moment. You don't have to read very far to reach action, and this book not only had mystery book qualities, but it could be put under a romance genre for the sub-story romantic plot line. This is a great book, and I would highly recomend it to anyone who may not know everything about fox-hunting, but is looking for a wonderful edge-of-your-seat thriller.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Involving to the very last page, September 15, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hunt (Hunt Country Suspense) (Hardcover)

The Hunt by Jan Neuhart is an thoroughly enthralling, superbly crafted mystery novel of a successful lawyer and horseman who is framed for a vicious double murder. Doug Cummings is forced to race against time to find the culprit and protect his loved ones when even his own attorney doesn't believe his innocence! Very highly recommended reading for the mystery/suspense enthusiast, The Hunt presents life in the upper crust as far less idyllic than would first appear, with hidden jealousies and resentments steaming beneath the tranquil atmosphere. Involving to the very last page.