Going, Gone: A Gail McCarthy Mystery (Gail McCarthy Mysteries) by Laura Crum

Gail McCarthy Mystery #11

by Laura Crum

Mad, bad, and dangerous to know. Theater of the Absurd takes on a whole new meaning when former teacher and Byron scholar Grace Hollister is hired as a script doctor for a cable film production. Hollywood wants to film the book Grace wrote about her her past academic (and extracurricular) exploits on location in the Lake District. At first Grace revels in reflected Hollywood glamor and her reunion with boyfriend Peter Fox, antiques dealer and former jewel thief. However, although the film's budget seems boundless, almost no one in the cast or crew seems to have much experience making movies. It's almost comical...until history begins to repeat itself for real, and then it's curtains for more than one of the cast.

Genres: Mystery, Horses

Paperback

First published April 1, 2010

About the author

Laura Crum has spent over twenty years training and showing western cowhorses, and her mystery series, featuring equine veterinarian Gail McCarthy, reflects her knowledge and love of horses. The twelve book series is available both in print and as ebooks. Laura still owns horses and rides regularly. She lives in the hills near California's Monterey Bay with her husband and son and a large menagerie of horses, dogs, cats and chickens. She be emailed and visited at lauracrum.com and blogs at equestrianink blogspot.

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the horse aspect of these mysteries, but there is not much detection and they are becoming repetitive.

[JoAnn Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Bret and Lonny back for Tres amigos! Too bad Bret was arresting Lonny but good ole Gail saved the day - almost with her life! Five years after the last book, she is homeschooling her son so she can go on vacation whenever she likes (so she says) and is still in touch with her old flame. The confusion for me is Toby the horse - if he is the horse she took in the last book (5 years ago in the book universe) - how did he develop cancer and how did she all of a sudden know if it wasn't mentioned in the last book? I understand Roey as she was having issues in the last book but not Toby. It almost seems as though the author forgot names and added some with background; but then again Five years later, a horse could have died and been replaced with another horse who was ill then died. Otherwise a good book

[Beth Cato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer Program, and the algorithm undoubtedly chose me because I read many books that take place in my home region of Central California.[return][return]Gail McCarthy thinks she's going on a relaxing vacation with her husband and son. Leaving their home near Monterey, they drive across the San Joaquin Valley to the Sierra foothills to the ranch of her old friend and former boyfriend, Lonny. Upon arrival, things take a more sordid turn: Lonny is being arrested for the murder of his girlfriend and her brother. Instead of camping and swimming with her family, Gail sets out on an investigation to find out who really murdered the sales yard siblings, and she needs to move fast because the death toll is mounting.[return][return]Overall, I enjoyed this cozy horse mystery. It's obvious that the author knows horses and deeply loves the areas she writes about--which delights me since so few people write about the central part of the state. However, it's not a perfect book. It opens with a dream sequence that has little bearing on the story, and for some reason chapter 17 was in present tense when all the rest is in past. Those are the sort of niggling details a writer notices, especially after critiquing and editing much of the day. But you know what? Those are nitpicks. This was a fun book. It's under 200 pages and there's nothing deep about the mystery. You know the bad guy will get caught and Lonny will be freed, but it's an enjoyable ride up to that conclusion. Sometimes that's the sort of book you need to finish out the day.

[Marlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book won't actually be released until April 10. A huge thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for the ARC of the 11th in the Gail McCarthy mystery series. I must confess two things here:
1- I haven't read any of the earlier books in the series, and 2- I haven't been a devotee of horse mysteries since I was a pre-teen.

The story begins with retired veterinarian Gail McCarty going on a camping vacation with her husband, Blue and her son, Mac. They are planning to park their camper-truck on Gail's friend Lonny Peterson's property. When they finally get there, Lonny is nowhere to be seen until another of Gail's friends, Bret Boncatini, now a sheriff's deputy, swings by on the way to take Lonny to jail.

Lonny has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend and her brother. The evidence is purely circumstantial, though, and Lonny's friends are certain he's innocent. Gail, who knows him very, very well, sets out to prove his innocence.

Even to someone that knows nothing about the subjects, it's obvious that Crum has a vast knowledge and love of horses. The mystery in this book seems secondary to the horse story, and it made me a little nostalgic for The Black Stallion.

[S.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gail McCarthy is a former veterinarian who lives on a ranch in California. When she, her husband Blue and son Mac set off to visit a former boyfriend of hers who is boarding some of her horses, they discover that he has just been arrested for the murder of his fiancée and her brother. Gail can’t help but get involved, especially after another senseless murder takes place. The story has a wealth of information on the California scenery and horse history. There is some unknown back story to her husband who had spent several years in Australia. Gail doesn’t appear to know his entire background but since this is the first in this series I have read, perhaps the reader is given a hint in previous books. It’s a quick read at 186 pages and, like most cozies, is more character driven.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Laura's books merge real life with crime fiction--a visit to her stories is a visit to Santa Cruz County. (And disclosure: she's a good friend.)

[Rosilyne Borland · Rating 2 out of 5]

the horse and nature descriptions were the best part of this book, but overall too simple and fluffy