Chestnut Mare, Beware

Jody Jaffe's books are awesome and Chestnut Mare, Beware is one of the best. The story is a good one, fast paced, excellent dialoge, but what really does it for me is the accurate horse world descriptions. Very few writers get it all right, and Jaffe is one of them. Definitely a must read for any horse person!

Anyone who enjoys murder mysteries will enjoy this book. It is an added bonus if you are in the horse world because you can recognize parts ie. George Morris. The characters are well thought out, and the writing is comfortable. I recommend this book.

Chestnut Mare Beware is definately my favorite of the Nattie Gold mysteries. I love that it takes place in Middleburg and Upperville! I have been to these towns many times, always gazing longingly at the beautiful Virginia horse farms. Jaffe portrays every aspect of the horse world accurately, from the snooty rich people to the gay trainers. When I'm feeling discouraged at not being able to afford riding on the A-circuit, her books always make me laugh. Her books, especially Chestnut Mare Beware, are must-reads for horse people. I can't wait for Sins of the Sire, her next book.

The only thing wrong with any Jody Jaffe book is that there are not more of them. Natalie Gold is a real person, with wit, smarts, and real faults (hey, I'm terrified by oxers, too!). The horse show world portrayal is dead on, as are the sidelights -- Jack Russel Terrorists, indeed! So many novelists THINK they know about horses and horse people -- Jody Jaffe doesn't even have to think, because she DOES know. And the book titles are winners too -- get In Colt Blood on the shelves ASAP, please!

This book was well-written by someone who was at one time in the horse-jet set world. She combines fast-paced mystry and tounge-in-cheek humor. The character of Nattie Gold is down-to-earth, always trying to do the right thing and slay the dragons in the world. Her horsey-jet-set scenarios are real-life, in-depth and written by someone who has rode and shown in that high dollar dog-eat-dog world. This book is a must-read by all of us horse-lovers out there. Iv'e passed it on to all my barn-buddies and they loved it too - Missy Herr