I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Canter with a Killer by Amber Camp Series: A Horse Rescue Mystery #1
Published by Crooked Lane Books on October 11, 2022
Genres: Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Amateur Sleuth, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Cozy / General, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths
Pages: 304
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley
Perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Mollie Cox Bryan, Amber Camp’s debut novel will have you galloping through the pages, as a horse rescue owner races to find a killer and clear her name.
Mallory Martin left her marriage and her unfulfilling job to move back to her hometown of Hillspring, Arkansas, and start a horse rescue. It’s everything she’s been missing, with paddocks of happy horses and one very quirky donkey. But when her cantankerous neighbor and longtime critic, Albert Cunningham, is found murdered in his fancy show barn, Mallory becomes suspect number one. Since Sheriff Grady Sullivan is ignoring all good sense and focusing only on Mallory, she decides to take matters into her own hands.
Aided by her best friend, Lanie, and rescue volunteer Tanner, Mallory races headlong into the investigation in search of the real killer. But horses and murder aren’t the only thing on her mind when she meets Albert’s handsome son, Braydon. Sparks fly, and soon she’s got a new boyfriend. But there’s a case to be solved, and she redoubles her efforts to learn the truth.
The suspects mount quickly. There’s Albert’s girlfriend, Kathleen, who was on the farm when he was murdered; organic farmer Heather Rogers, who accused Albert of contaminating her creek; and Philip Atwood, who’d been trying for a right-of-way across Albert’s farm. None of the evidence is holding up though, and Mallory learns that she'll need to take the reins on this investigation if she's going to clear her own name.
Copaganda/police involvement: Sheriff Grady Sullivan, a Guy – suspects Mallory for mURDER
Supporting characters: Mallory’s college-age assistants, Lanie and Tanner
Narrator: Mallory Martin, former forensic nurse and now A MURDER SUSPECT and also a Horse Rescue Person
Main sleuth(s): Mallory Martin
What kind of animals are involved: Horses. Also a little spotted dog
Location: Hillspring, Arkansas
Sub-location: Hillspring, Horse Rescue
Recipes: No :<
Notes on the puns of the title: 2/10
Further Notes: No sex scenes, some swearing
Series #: A Horse Rescue Mystery 1
Mystery notes: Mallory was kind of a jerk to everyone while Sleuthing, and focused more on motives and was personally biased towards people she liked.
Magic?: No
Theme: Horses?
Overall, a solid 3-star mystery; plus for no copaganda, negatives for no recipes and also I am not super interested in horses.
No recipes.
Leave a Reply