A London-based computer analyst works hard to resolve a possible criminal hacking allegation. Izzy Paterson is originally from Edinburgh, but when she graduated, all the jobs were in London. Now she earns enough to keep her horse Leo at a nearby stables and practise dressage. THE SECRET SANTA MYSTERY gets under way with a coded message from Izzy’s office Secret Santa. With potentially anyone in the office a crook, the only people she can really trust are her horse-riding friends.

I love this unusual cosy mystery, which blends the earthiness of equestrian sport with the geeky camaraderie of tech support. The characterization throughout is out of this world and well representative of the many minorities in the big city. We also get to travel around some of the city with our amateur sleuth, not just namecheck a few streets. Another factor I enjoyed is the flavoursome foods – and recipes are at the back. Izzy’s a vegetarian by the way.

If you need further encouragement, I understand and approve of all the computer security techniques cited, and I particularly recommend paying attention to how much information is posted about people on social media. Roz Marshall the author, tells us she is a geek and horse lover and she has written this novella as an intro to her ‘Highland Horse Whisperer’ amateur sleuth series. While I’m sorry Izzy may be leaving London after THE SECRET SANTA MYSTERY I’ll certainly hope to follow her exploits in Scotland.