Audio: 11hrs 21m
Narrator: Katherine Parkinson
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Audio Nov 2023
Source: Purchased from Audible
First Sentence: Rupert Campbell-Black, despite being one of the most successful owner/trainers and one of the handsomest men in the world, was in the darkest of places.
Review Quote: 'A combination of drama, sex and good social comedy . . . unputdownable' Sunday Times
My Opinion:
Sadly as she is no longer with us this will be the last title from Jilly Cooper. I listened to this via Audible and unfortunately it was a disappointment. Actually as I don't even like football I probably should not have considered this one. Naively the title did not give away the main subject away to me, just the fact it was Book 11 the final volume of the Rutshire Chronicles, attracted me.
In 'Tackle' Rupert Campbell Black returns along with his wife Taggie who is recovering from breast cancer. Despite still having his racing stables he has now invested in a football club and without a real storyline it is really just a précis of the lives of the many unmemorable characters. To me a lot of it was boring due to the subject matter and the fact so many of the characters were just so annoying.
I have not read any of Jilly Cooper's novels for a very long time, though I have watched and enjoyed the TV adaptation of 'Rivals'. Maybe that is why I wanted to find out more about where the stories had taken the Campbell Blacks in this final volume. 'Tackle' certainly does not have the author's normal bubbly personality showing through in her written words as it did so much in the many books I have read of hers over the years.
Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:
Rupert Campbell-Black, undefeated race-horse owner and handsomest man in the world, is in the darkest of places. His adored wife, Taggie, is about to undergo chemotherapy, his beloved horse Love Rat has died, and now his daughter Bianca wants him to buy a languishing local football club - a sport Rupert knows nothing about - so she can return to Rutshire with her football star husband.
Rupert's first impressions of Searston Rovers are distinctly unfavourable. But swayed by Bianca and Taggie, soon Rupert has signed the deal. As Searston's new owner, he won't stand for anything less than victory in the Premier League, despite the odds being stacked against him. With help from the club's ravishing and adorable secretary, Tember West, Rupert sets out to mastermind Searston's rise to the top, starting with taking charge of the players - much to the fury of Searston's manager.
The rival football club and their corrupt dealings aren't going to make it easy for him either - and they have a history of foul play. Let the sabotage and scandal begin..
Book 11 of 11: Rutshire Chronicles
Author Profile
Courtesy of Goodreads
Dame Jilly Cooper - 1937 - 2025
Dame Jilly Cooper began her career as a cub reporter on a local paper in Brentford, covering everything from fetes to football. Her breakthrough came in 1969 when The Sunday Times colour magazine published a humorous piece about being a hopelessly undomesticated young wife. The success of that article led to a column in The Sunday Times newspaper, which she wrote for over 13 years, followed by a further five years at The Mail on Sunday.
Her first book, How to Stay Married, was published in 1969. Over the following decades she went on to write romantic novels, children’s books and non-fiction, but is probably best known for The Rutshire Chronicles - the chart topping series including Riders, Rivals, and Polo - as well as her most recent best seller, Tackle!
A full and interesting biography can be found on her Website
Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:
Goodreads Profile Jilly Cooper - Official Website. Amazon Profile