Led By The Grey, by Peter DeCosemo

[Heather]

Just finished the first novel by someone whom I would once have considered enemy no 1- ex President of the Ansur saddlery company who I had a legal battle with several years ago. I heard afterwards that Peter had not been for the lawsuit ( a very unjust one, and to this day, I have never been told exactly what it was that I was supposed to have infringed!) and I rang him on his return to the UK when he and his other business partners had split.

We ended up having coffee on my trade stand at Equitana in Germany, in 2007 and have been perfectly friendly ever since. I was therefore delighted to receive a press copy of 'Led By The Grey', a novel written to commemorate the soldiers and horses who died in the Hyde Park bombing, 25 years ago.

Peter, as ex Household Calvary himself, I was expecting a rather dry, military topic, but I couldnt have been more mistaken!

The story is charming, whimsical, almost a fairy tale for adults! Based around a young teenage lad, Freddy, who can talk with horses, not in the way of an animal communicator, but literally. He is also able to see the little winged spirit horses, some of whom are the spirit form of the horses that died in the bombing. Freddy and his equine friends are on a mission to avert another disaster, which would also take place in London, should they not be able to prevent it.

OK, so the prose is hardly Proust, but the story is highly readable, moving and to be honest, I had a hard time restricting it to bedtime reading!! Story aside, there are a lot of interesting facts about the regiments and the horses too.

The first 200 copies are a limited edition, with all proceeds going to the Household Cavalry Casualty Fund. I was also invited to the HC to the book launch but was unable to attend, but it was lovely to get the invite anyway!

I can really recommend this book as a lovely light read, which you will not want to put down!!

Heather

[fizz]

Oooh thanks for that Heather.  I always like to put a few books on my Christmas list so that is a definate.

[Heather]

You will LOVE it, June!!

Heather

[Diane Smith]

Thanks Heather, I'm in need of a good book 

[shoveltrash]

i will keep a lookout for it here in the US! thanks for this Heather
(off to check Amazon....)

[Heather]

Peter is not going to sell via amazon he says, probably have to order it from the website, Trish. But you will enjoy it I am sure. It is nearly 500 pages, so a good read over Christmas!!
Heather

[shoveltrash]

what website would that be?  here?

[Heather]

Hi Trish,

 www.ledbythegrey.com - dozey me, thought I had put it in the first post!!

Heather

[Diane Smith]

I found it on amazon when I looked last night

[shoveltrash]

i found it on amazon here, but it says 'out of print/limited availability'
thanks for the link Heather!

[fizz]

Got this for Christmas and have just been away for a week so took it with me.

Couldn't put it down.  Loved it 

Thanks Heather.

[Heather]

I couldnt put it down either June, perfect horsey holiday read!!

Heather