As the title suggests this crime story involves a horse trainer. Annie Carson is woken by her local sheriff asking her to come to the scene of a road crash, where a horse has been rescued from a trailer. The horse is unhurt but the stable staff driver was not so fortunate. REINING IN MURDER follows the fortunes of this bay Thoroughbred who belongs to the richest horse owner in town, Hilda Colbert from California. Annie thinks the Olympic Peninsula is a good place to keep horses but few neighbors are wealthy.

Settling in the bay, speaking to his contentious owner on the phone and asking a vet to remove a damaged tooth takes up most of Annie's day. Her own horses are mostly rescue animals, rewarding her with loyalty and great work. So it's some time later when she hears the autopsy results and really wonders what happened to cause the driver to swerve and crash. This turns out to have been no accident. Returning the horse to the hunter-jumper stable brings further menace to the fore.

As Annie lives alone, having preferred her animals to her husband, we see her interacting with police officers, a neighbor's little girl and the wealthy lady's staff. This helps us build up a picture of Annie's character, besides the care and attention she provides for her horses, donkey and sheep-herding dog Wolf. She also has a half-sister, Lavender, who comes to help Annie connect spiritually with her horses - something the capable horse trainer doesn't really need as she puts manners on an unruly Arabian colt. It's snowing when Lavender arrives, and she hasn't brought any warm clothes. On the good side, she makes a great casserole. Annie is more concerned about meeting a man who is a murder suspect. She doesn't think he's guilty, but can you be sure?

With plenty of horse care and danger, and the vexed question of the bay Thoroughbred's ownership, this murder mystery will be enjoyed by anyone who likes chewing hay and wearing riding boots. REINING IN MURDER is first in the 'Carson Stables' series by Leigh Hearon and the second is going to be called SADDLE UP FOR MURDER. Clearly this winning theme is set to continue and with well-developed characters, realistic animals and lovely landscapes, this is one series I'll be following with interest.