Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Canter with a Killer is the debut of the Horse Rescue Mystery series set in Hillspring, Arkansas and featuring Hillspring Horse Rescue owner and retired forensic nurse consultant, Mallory Martin. With ten horses and a donkey, her dog and two young volunteers, things are busy at the farm but Mallory needs to bring in more money to support the rescue so she decides to start offering riding lessons to members of the community.
Unfortunately, neighbor Albert Cunningham, owner of Cunningham Performance Horses which breeds champion quarter horses is not happy with Mallory. He feels her "eyesore" of a rescue is lowering his property value and calls to verbally harass her. The next morning Albert is found dead in his barn and despite their close friendship, Sheriff Grady Sullivan is forced to point the finger at Mal since Albert was holding her riding flyer and a farmhand had overheard the phone call between the two the previous day.
Determined to clear her name and save the rescue, Mal sets out to wrangle a killer alongside her ex-husband Ethan, local lawyer Andy Hannigan and her best friend Lanie. Plenty of suspects including other disgruntled neighbors, Philip Atwood and Heather Rogers and Albert's girlfriend, Kathleen raise flags but the police seem to be focused on Mal.
A fun afternoon read, a few strings are left hanging at the conclusion including a developing romance, so I anticipate further adventures with Mallory and her friends. I just hope we get to interact more with the horses (and Biscuit, the donkey) and learn a little more about the rescue employees.
Unfortunately, neighbor Albert Cunningham, owner of Cunningham Performance Horses which breeds champion quarter horses is not happy with Mallory. He feels her "eyesore" of a rescue is lowering his property value and calls to verbally harass her. The next morning Albert is found dead in his barn and despite their close friendship, Sheriff Grady Sullivan is forced to point the finger at Mal since Albert was holding her riding flyer and a farmhand had overheard the phone call between the two the previous day.
Determined to clear her name and save the rescue, Mal sets out to wrangle a killer alongside her ex-husband Ethan, local lawyer Andy Hannigan and her best friend Lanie. Plenty of suspects including other disgruntled neighbors, Philip Atwood and Heather Rogers and Albert's girlfriend, Kathleen raise flags but the police seem to be focused on Mal.
A fun afternoon read, a few strings are left hanging at the conclusion including a developing romance, so I anticipate further adventures with Mallory and her friends. I just hope we get to interact more with the horses (and Biscuit, the donkey) and learn a little more about the rescue employees.
