In Colt Blood

Natalie Gold #3

by Jody Jaffe

"She's pure gold," raves The Philadelphia Inquirer about redheaded Carolina journalist and inspired snoop Natalie Gold--"spunky, quirky, and lots of fun." Now Nattie's mixing it up with a crazy passel of filthy rich Southerners, a horse-whispering beauty, and one grisly murder . . . In Colt Blood.

When Nattie's boss at the Charlotte Commercial Appeal orders her to find a local horse whisperer to interview, she knows just the yellow-haired New Age belle Sarah Jane Lowell, one of the gifted few who claims to have a psychic connection to horses. She not only talks to them, she hears what they answer. Unfortunately, before Nattie can set up a meeting, Sarah Jane vanishes along with her newfound Nattie's eccentric father.

Disturbingly, their sudden disappearance coincides with the brutal murder of Fuzzy McMahon, whose bludgeoned body was found at the very stable where Nattie was supposed to meet Sarah Jane. True, Fuzzy was less than popular, but who would stoop to such a bloody act of violence? Although suspicion has fallen on dark-horse candidate Sarah Jane, Nattie's splitting her money between two other blacksmith Bobby McMahon, Fuzzy's redneck of a husband, and his tiresome cousin, Jason Sukon, who can only gain by her death--specifically millions of dollars.

A sophisticated tale of reckless romance and irretrievable violence, In Cold Blood goes beyond murder to explore the mysteries of fear, love, lust, and hate. And as always, when it comes to the manners and morals of the New South, mystery author Jody Jaffe gets it right every time.

Genres: Mystery, Horses, Crime

309 pages, Hardcover

First published April 20, 1998

About the author

Jody Jaffe's newest equine mystery, "Commander Speaks," celebrates the bond between horse and human and also shines a light on predatory behavior in equine sports and horse abuse. She is also the author of the Nattie Gold mystery series, featured in People Magazine. As a feature writer for The Charlotte Observer she was on a team that won the Gold Medal Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. She lives in the Shenandoah Valley with her husband, John Muncie, and too many horses.

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another light reading, perfectly good mystery set in the show horse world. Weaves in horse whisperers, New Age oddities, Asheville, Pulitzers, blue ribbons, 'will they or won't they,' and murder with a .... well, I won't say. You'll have to find out for yourself.

A fun read and an interesting look into the lives of young people (mostly girls) in the show horse world.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#3 in Natty Gold series. Natty Gold is a newspaper reporter in Charlotte, NC - stuck reporting fashion, she wants to do features. Her avocation is show jumping with her mare Belle Starr. The series is populated by over the top characters (or perhaps horse people are really like that) including her New Age father.

Natalie Gold series - When Nattie Gold's boss at The Charlotte Commercial Appeal orders her to find a local horse whisperer to interview, she knows just the person: yellow-haired New Age belle Sarah Jane Lowell. Unfortunately, before Nattie can set up a meeting, Sarah Jane vanishes along with her newfound friend: Nattie's eccentric father. Suspiciously, their sudden disappearance coincides with the brutal murder of Fuzzy McMahon, whose bludgeoned body was found at the very stable where Nattie was supposed to meet Sarah Jane. Who would stoop to such a bloody act of violence?

[Pam]

01/28/08 rec via bookmooch

[Rebecca]

I wish Jody jaffe had written more books. These are some of the best.

[Cherry Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series starring a reporter who loves horses and is always stumbling across a murder. The horse version of Susan Conant or Virginia Lanier. Breezy, delightful, captivating.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book.
Horses and murders.
Natalie Gold, journalist.
Interviews horse whisperer.
Father depressed.
New Age.
Fundamentalist minister.