Moonblind

by Laura Crum

Overview

In this ninth book in the Gail McCarthy series about the Santa Cruz vet, Gail is pregnant and taking a leave of absence from her work as a horse vet. Despite her intention to rest and prepare for her baby, she is drawn into the odd situation surrounding her cousin Jenny, who claims she is being stalked. Jenny hints at nefarious dealings in her past as a racehorse trainer, and accidents seem to happen with astonishing frequency at her thoroughbred farm. As Jenny's only relative and friend, Gail wants to support her cousin, but can't sort out truth from fiction as she tries to discover who the stalker (and eventual killer) might be: Jenny's ex-husband, her former lover, his wife, or an unscrupulous player on the racetrack scene? As the accidents become more serious, Gail's concern becomes desperate and personal, leading her to a dark confrontation where she must use all her wits to survive. With much accurate detail about horses, this is a winning combination of a truly gripping story and a big life change for the popular protagonist.

Moonblind opens a reader's eyes ... Sometimes a mystery novel is more than simply Whodunit; in Laura Crum's latest, the "Why" of the act is equally compelling, and the story's "Where" becomes more of a character than merely its setting. -- Laurie R. King, author of Locked Rooms

Crum's writing is lyrical, her plotting is fresh, and her characters come to life on the page. I'll saddle up and ride along with Gail McCarthy any time. -- Laurien Berenson, author of Raining Cats and Dogs

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781564747099
Publisher:	Perseverance Press
Publication date:	10/01/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	447 KB

Table of Contents

Editorial Reviews

Santa Cruz horse veterinarian Gail McCarthy, seven months pregnant at the start of Crum's diverting ninth equestrian mystery (after 2004's Forged), doesn't let imminent motherhood slow her down. When Gail's racehorse-trainer cousin, Jenny, calls for help after finding her dog, Boomer, dead from poison, Gail gets on the case. Jenny, who believes someone is stalking her, has ended her long affair with fellow trainer Don Chase, but Don's wife is angry and Jenny's ex-husband, Charley Parker, is also unhappy. Gail later picks up on clues that both men were involved in fixed thoroughbred races and had shady dealings with bookies. Indeed, the dog turns out to be only the first murder victim in this credible look at the high-stakes world of horse breeding and training. (Sept.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Yes, it's true: Even people you've known and admired all your life can harbor ugly secrets. Seven months pregnant, newlywed veterinarian Gail McCarthy (Hayburner, 2003, etc.) is looking forward to the next stage in her life. Her cousin, Jenny Parker, is also embarking on a new adventure, but doesn't seem to be looking forward to it nearly as much. Divorced after 20 years and starting a Thoroughbred lay-up farm in Santa Cruz County, competent, no-nonsense Jenny tells Gail she's being stalked by someone who wants to make sure she keeps her mouth shut about a crooked racing scheme from which she, her ex-husband and her ex-lover all profited. Gail thinks Jenny's overreacting to rural chatter, but when Jenny's dog is poisoned and one of her horses goes mysteriously blind, Gail begins to take her seriously. Then Jenny herself is found dead, an apparent suicide, and Gail knows that her cousin's past has caught up with her. A good idea that never quite generates a suspenseful plot. As it is, Gail uses more energy gestating than investigating.

Kirkus Reviews