Death Reins in

This is a good murder Mystery. It is in a three book series. You Will need to Read Saddled With Trouble first, then Death Reins In second, then Tacked to Death. The three books kept me wanting more.

Michaela loves horses; her career is in horses. This wonderful horse mystery is set in Southern California, in a horse setting. The beautiful horses, pastures, landscapes, sunsets, waterfalls . . . The descriptive detail is just enough to make you "see" and "feel" the beauty, but not so much that it is too much. The characters and settings are so well developed that you feel you are really there, and it is so easy to just get into this book and not want to leave. This is a mystery, so there is murder and foul play. I will not say who or why, as to not ruin the book for those who have not read it yet. But I will say that Michaela is determined to solve the mystery. All the pieces are interesting as she finds them, and they all fall together. This book was very interesting and entertaining, and very well written. Even if a person is not interested in horses, they could still enjoy this book, because there is not too much horse detail and attention (just the right amount for those who do love horses); just the plot and adventures make the book a winner. I do love horses (but, of course, could never afford one), so getting into a "horse atmosphere" in this book is the next best thing.

Michaela Bancroft and her friend and colleague Audrey Pratt attend the Quarter Horse Races together. After the races they plan to look at some horses. Michaela is expanding her training business to include riding lessons. Unfortunately, Audrey is found strangled to death with a pair of reins after the race. The cops begin looking for her brother Bob who has been missing for a few days. They think he started drinking again and killed his sister. Michaela doesn't believe this. She's concerned there may be a connection between his disappearance and her death. As she begins to investigate, she finds many secrets and ends up in some sticky situations. Can she find out what happened to Bob and who killed Audrey without putting herself into jeopardy? Even though I'm not a horse person, I love this series. Michaela is such a fun character. All of the other characters enhance the series. I also like the California setting. The writer gives enough information about horses to interest the reader but not so much that only horse lovers would enjoy the series. The mystery is plotted out well with plenty of suspects and twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. I highly recommend this book and series.

The suspense is thrilling in this book. I love the main character, Michaela because she is a loyal friend, an animal lover and provider, and sweetly naive about her relationships with men. I started this book on the plane and could not put it down the whole flight. I am dying for the next one. I give it 5 stars for it's excellent story line and use of verbage. INTRIGUING!~