THE GOLDEN FLEECE - Thomas Hardy meets Dick Francis in this tale of racing, gambling, drunkenness and debt when Billy, the heartbroken stable lad leaves Alvington Manor to become a racing jockey. Only to be thwarted when the husband of his past love turns up at the racetrack and embroils him with the dregs of society.

SYNOPSIS:

The Golden Fleece, fourth novel in the Heart of Stone Saga, begins with a vicious murder that later enmeshes the lives of those who live on the Alvington Estate in the unforgiving criminal underworld, leading to an innocent man being imprisoned. Basically, it is Billy’s story. Billy Riddick is the stable boy who was employed at Alvington Manor straight from the Poor House. When Lucy Warren, the love of his life from Home Farm, marries the arrogant Ashleigh Seymour, he is devastated and moves away to Wincanton. Billy finds work and a new home at Hatherleigh Farm, the original site of Wincanton Races. However, his nemesis, Ashleigh Seymour turns up at the racecourse and Billy inadvertently becomes embroiled in his unsavoury drinking and gambling lifestyle. Ashleigh’s wife, Lucy suffers from his mood swings and begins to regret her decision to marry him. When Ashleigh’s gambling debts threaten to bring about his downfall, Billy tries to help him, to his own detriment. Billy is then forced to go into hiding.

In the meantime, life at Alvington Manor, continues, with Aurora going to Finishing School and then travelling to Australia, via the newly opened Suez Canal, with her father, Lord Joshua Dryer. She is dazzled by the charm of the young men she meets there and is torn by the love of her childhood sweetheart, Luke.

The story involves various love interests, two murders, two weddings, two funerals, two births, race meetings, the voyage to Australia, a rail trip through France to Geneva, a gypsy caravan trip to Priddy Fayre, tragedies and heartache and the local traditions, celebrations and customs relating to that era.

THE GOLDEN FLEECE ( 4TH NOVEL IN THE HEART OF STONE SERIES ALSO ADAPTED AS A SCREENPLAY)