In Mrs. Sheila Malory's sixteenth outing, our amateur sleuth is involved with the horsy set. Her granddaughter, Alice, is taking riding lessons at the stables of Sheila's old friends, Jo and Charlie Hamilton. Jo was an accomplished stage actress until she gave it up to marry Charlie, who was an outstanding horseman until an accident left him with a permanent injury. Sheila and Rosemary have been best friends since their school days and now their granddaughters are becoming friends. Rosemary's granddaughter, Delia, is also taking riding lessons, but more advanced ones than beginner Alice.

Charlie's body is discovered early one morning in his office inside the stables. After a careful investigation, an accidental death verdict is rendered. Sheila thinks otherwise as she heard him in a violent argument with a client stabling a horse. Life does go on, however, until another death happens within the closely knitted horse community. Jo's brother-in-law dies of a heart attack. The next death is another accident at the Hamilton's riding school. Again, Sheila's "murder antennae" are quivering.

Hazel Holt's narrative is a slow, even-paced voice. There are many, many supporting characters, which I am sure followers of this series might possibly know. The question in everyone's mind is -- are the accidents actually accidents, and if there is foul play, why? Everyone will be surprised at the outcome.