Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Trotting into Trouble is the second installment in the Horse Rescue Mystery series set in Hillspring, Arkansas and featuring Hillspring Horse Rescue owner and retired forensic nurse consultant, Mallory Martin. Things have calmed down at the ranch since her neighbor was murdered (Canter with a Killer) and Mallory and her two assistants, Tanner and Ashley have settled into a routine rescuing and rehabilitating horses and giving riding lessons.
Sheriff Grady Sullivan reaches out to Mal to come and rescue a severely emaciated mare that was being kept by owners of a meth lab. As they work to settle the new arrival, Mal and Tanner struggle with the mares bout of colic. A couple of days later Grady reaches out again to say that there is a horse running loose in the Deadwood Lake Wildlife Management area and there are concerns that something has happened to it's rider. Mal and Tanner are able to locate the horse but each time they get close to a capture he runs away. Mal pursues the horse through the woods and it seems that he leads her to his owner. The partially buried body belongs to Douglas Griggs, Mal's high school math teacher and mentor, and retired basketball coach. It's hunting season so all signs point to an accident, especially when a drunk man stumbles out of the woods.
Mal ends up taking in the horse because Coach Griggs widow blames the horse for his death. Mal isn't convinced the shooting was an accident and quickly finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation with the killer setting his sight on her. Vandalism at the rescue and to her truck, have her boyfriend Andy Harrigan and the Sheriff warning her to mind her own business.
A fun, afternoon read that will tug at your heartstrings. A delightful cast of humans and animals (I want my very own Biscuit). I can't wait to see what develops next for Mal, her family, friends and animals.
Sheriff Grady Sullivan reaches out to Mal to come and rescue a severely emaciated mare that was being kept by owners of a meth lab. As they work to settle the new arrival, Mal and Tanner struggle with the mares bout of colic. A couple of days later Grady reaches out again to say that there is a horse running loose in the Deadwood Lake Wildlife Management area and there are concerns that something has happened to it's rider. Mal and Tanner are able to locate the horse but each time they get close to a capture he runs away. Mal pursues the horse through the woods and it seems that he leads her to his owner. The partially buried body belongs to Douglas Griggs, Mal's high school math teacher and mentor, and retired basketball coach. It's hunting season so all signs point to an accident, especially when a drunk man stumbles out of the woods.
Mal ends up taking in the horse because Coach Griggs widow blames the horse for his death. Mal isn't convinced the shooting was an accident and quickly finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation with the killer setting his sight on her. Vandalism at the rescue and to her truck, have her boyfriend Andy Harrigan and the Sheriff warning her to mind her own business.
A fun, afternoon read that will tug at your heartstrings. A delightful cast of humans and animals (I want my very own Biscuit). I can't wait to see what develops next for Mal, her family, friends and animals.
