Somewhere between James Herriot and Dick Francis territories, Laura Crum brings her love of horses and mysteries to flesh out veterinarian and amateur sleuth Gail McCarthy. Cutter is set in the cutthroat world of California cowhorse competition, a world the author knows well-she grew up in Santa Cruz horse territory and competes regularly in cutting and team roping events.
Mystery News gives Cutter a "thumbs
up!" and Kirkus congratulates its "appealing offbeat" setting.
So saddle up to your favorite reading chair with this charming and compelling
mystery.
Veterinarian Gail McCarthy thought cutting horse trainer Casey Brooks was being paranoid with his accusations of poisoned horses and attempts on his life. But when misses an appointment and his blue roan mare returns riderless, Gail goes out looking for him and finds his dead body at the bottom of a gully. Though the sheriff calls it an accident, Gail knows Casey was too good a rider to be thrown.
Spurred on by the memory of her hardheaded, wild-hearted friend, Gail searches for the truth and finds no shortage of suspects among hostile girl friends, hostile horse owners and legendary rivals. But as she moves through this world of power, passion and greed, the young vet also finds herself falling headlong into violence that began with killing horses and could mean the end of her....
"Reminiscent of Dick Francis's beloved racing mysteries, Laura Crum's
Cutter
is a debut as remarkably self-assured as its heroine."
Southwestern Horseman
"The plot races nicely to a satisfying finish."
Publishers Weekly
"This novel will keep horse lovers of all riding styles hooked from
start to finish."
California Horse Review
"For those who like whodunits and horses, Crum knows the equine industry
and it shows."
Western Horseman
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