RACE INTO MURDER

In Black’s mystery novel, a captivating horse sparks rivalries in the horse-racing world that have deadly consequences.

Natalie and Jeff Frazier have had some success as thoroughbred racehorse owners on their local California circuit. Natalie’s favorite horse, FraziersFury, or “Fury” for short, is their most exciting colt—one that has the potential to qualify for the coveted Million Dollar Derby. Other racing enthusiasts are interested in the horse, including Angie McCoy, a jockey who’s decided that Fury must be hers at any cost. Natalie resists the lucrative offers, unknowingly putting herself, her husband, and Fury’s dedicated handlers in danger. A series of unusual happenings occurs, including a break-in at the barn where Fury is kept, a kidnapping, and eventually, an unexpected murder. The Fury team find themselves drawn into the investigation, and members of their community reveal themselves as backstabbers and blackmailers. But who did the dirtiest of the dirty work—and how far will that person go to cover their tracks? Over the course of the novel, Black shows extensive expertise about racehorses and the world of those who love them, and her descriptions of Fury’s angulation and conditioning show the obsession with detail that drives thoroughbred enthusiasts. Among that group, Angie is the author’s most thrilling creation as someone who’s unafraid to use force to get what she wants, and she serves as an effective foil to the sweet-natured Natalie. However, when Angie is absent from the story, it turns into a more standard whodunit, and the book as a whole loses a great deal of momentum.

A crime tale with an engaging setting and some intriguing characters that loses ground in the final stretch.