About the author
Nigel Robinson wrote four books in the Luke Cannon Showjumping Mysteries series. There is a Nigel Robinson who wrote extensively for Target Books: principally novelisations of children’s sci-fi series such as Dr Who and The Tomorrow People. Whether the two are the same I have not been able to find out: if anyone can confirm one way or the other I would be very grateful.
The Luke Cannon series is aimed at teenagers. Luke is in his late teens, and runs a small show jumping yard with the help of his friends and grooms, Jake, and Kim. Luke was able to buy the yard after the tragic death of his parents. He is a gifted show jumper but life tends to involve dramatic mysteries. The books are rather underwhelming: although they don’t follow most of the pony book conventions, the mysteries themselves are predictable.
Finding the books
All the books are easy to find in both paperback and hardback, and none are expensive.
Series
Luke Cannon Showjumping Mysteries
The Piebald Princess
The Chestnut Chase
The Black Mare of Devil’s Hill
Decision Day for the Dapple Grey
Bibliography
The Piebald Princess
Macdonald Young Books, 1996 (laminated boards), 137 pp.
Macdonald Young Books, 1996, pb.
“Luke Cannon decides to investigate when his friend Princess Katrin disappears suddenly – but he soon discovers he has problems close to home. Why should a mysterious stranger want to sleep rough in his horse’s stable? And who’s been meddling with the feed rations? Bit by bit, Luke manages to unravel a closely kept secret….”
The Chestnut Chase
Macdonald Young Books, 1996 (laminated boards), 119 pp.
Macdonald Young Books, 1996, pb.
“Luke Cannon stumbles across a horse-stealing network. At first there seems no link between the animals that go missing – some are ordinary riding ponies, and some are worth millions. A high-speed car chase and an unexpected confrontation amongst the deserts of New Mexico provide Luke with answers – and the toughest of his assignments to date.”
The Black Mare of Devil’s Hill
Macdonald Young Books, 1996 (laminated boards), 115 pp.
Macdonald Young Books, 1996, pb.
“Someone – or something – is determined to disrupt the biggest new showjumping event in the country. Could it be that the spirit of a dead horse haunts the show ground? Or could there be a more earthly explanation?Luke Cannon, along with his grooms Jake and Kim, plot a trap to find out the truth.”
Decision Day for the Dapple Grey
Macdonald Young Books, 1996 (laminated boards), 115 pp.
Macdonald Young Books, 1996, pb.
“Luke’s best friend Matt is Olympic material – so what is behind his latest string of defeats? Luke Cannon’s groom Kim has seen the horse and rider perform at home, and she knows they are winners. She resolves to find a solution to the mystery- but she unwittingly finds herself in the spotlight in more ways than one….”
