Interesting take on amateur sleuths.

What a surprise! I was expecting Chocolate Covered Murder, & here it is Onion Covered instead. Thanks, Dog-Book-Lover. I've read some of the Hemlock Falls series & enjoyed them, so I look forward to reading this later series from Claudia Bishop.

On their farm nestled in upstate Summersville, New York, veterinarian Austin McKenzie and his wife, Madeline, keep themselves busy looking after a variety of ailing farm animals and pets in poor health. But while they may be able to mend creatures great and small, they have yet to find a cure for murder...

Austin has never been a fan of high-society horseplay. So when he's invited to be the veterinary delegate to the Earlsdown Three-Day Event, he bluntly refuses. Madeline, however, reminds him how much they could use the money - and how much she would love to take the trip with him. But trouble rears up before they even leave town when one of Austin's fellow vets is killed by a sniper - and no one has a clue as to why. Now, as they jump into the high-stakes world of equestrian competition, Austin and Madeline must try to rein in a killer...

This was an easy, fun read.The characters were entertaining. There didn't seem much logic to Austin's solution, but who cares? I enjoyed it. Some of the animal passages are lovely: Linc's protection of Blackie & Juno's subsequent care for the pup; the birth of Sunny's foal; Andrew & Pony; the care for the suffering of a very ill mare - very sympathetically told. I would read another in this series if it came my way.

Swapped with Lubiette for Chocolate Covered Murder.

Safe with me, thank you !

What an unusual crime novel featuring a veterinarian tracking a murderer in the horse people community ! A very enjoyable read.

To the winner or decoy of the Tea and mystery sweepstake - round 29.
Congratulations !

What a lovely surprise! Thanks for the book and tea, Lubiette. Just what I'll need on those cold winter afternoons! :))

Well, there sure is a lot of eating in cozy mysteries (even if this one was a little overly meat-oriented for me)! And I definitely learned a lot about horses and horse dentistry (and also googled some terms). The first thing that struck me was the portrayal of female characters through the eyes of a male protagonist - written by a female writer. And even though it was all a bit, let's say old-fashioned, I enjoyed the chapter in which Madeline takes over the narration. And Austin's humour was a bit weird: he's constantly comparing people to horses!
All in all I'd say, the crimes were definitely not in the foreground for most of the time, or that's what it felt like. Maybe it's just that I don't know much about the horse community, or about shareholding companies, but the animal scenes were definitely among my favourite parts of the book. (Apart from the cases of and references to animal cruelty).

I love how this book has been travelling around the globe in seriously big hops. Here's another hop, this time to Finland, as a wishlist tag. Enjoy! :)

Wow! I didn't even know that a vet themed cozy mystery series existed! Thanks guys! Thank you anathema-device also for those cute labels, they are always welcome.

Finally all my promised tags have been completed and sent out and I can pick whichever book happens to tickle my fancy.
I'm still reading, but I have to comment while I still remember what I wanted to comment on. I have no idea if horse race organizers in Finland (we only have trotters, among which galloping is considered a mortal sin) have some sort of qualification requirements for those vets who want to work on those big venues, but at least those smaller events where money does not play a part have no requirements for the vets. Horse carriage races can be great fun but all horses need to be examined before and during the races. If they limp before the race or their pulse does not slow down during a small break during the marathon, they can't continue. My work-mate hadn't got any diplomas on that field, but she merely lived next door to the mansion which had brought to Finland the art of racing with carriage horses. Whenever they organized those races they thought it so convenient to call her in the last minute and expect she would take the Friday off work (they are also three day events) and spend the weekend vetting as well for a ridiculously small fee. For a few years she did this, but then I told her she can't be off Fridays and asked had she thought what would happen if a nasty accident would occur, something which would need proper vetting as she didn't have any equine medicine stock (we are a small animal practice). By that time she had also got fed up for being taken for granted and told her neighbours that she has promised to be elsewhere. Then she of course could not stay at home...

A bit over half-way through. I'm glad I'm in small animal practice! These horse people aren't very likable. It's been suggested sometimes that money prizes should be given in dog shows as well (I think they do that in the US and perhaps at Cruft's), but it has luckily always been overruled. As long as they get ribbons and rosettes the competition does not get bloody. As soon as money enters the picture we've got animal welfare issues. Think of dog races; 20 000 not-good-enough greyhounds are abandoned YEARLY in Ireland.

Good plotting! I recommended the book to my vet by saying "Wanna read a good mystery? They shoot all the vets..."

The vet didn't dare to read this...
I am going to surprise somebody, who also likes good plotting and wants to read series in their true and proper order. Here is the first of a new (2006) series.
I would not mind reading what followed this.

Thank you!!!! Delightful surprise, I am running short of cozy mysteries, so this was very welcomed indeed!

Nice mystery, I enjoyed the stuff about the horses and dogs, but the plot itself wasn't that interesting. Still, I would read more of the series if possible!

Teetä ja dekkari-arvonnan voittajalle! Enjoy!

Luckily I wasn't the real winner! :) Thanks Chania!