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Gail McCarthy Mystery #7
Hayburner: A Gail McCarthy Mystery
Nothing calls more urgently for a vet than a burning barn full of penned animals. Gail McCarthy has to push her way through the crowd around the Bishops’ barn, repeating, “I’m a veterinarian.” She’s doing triage in her head—which one is the most seriously hurt, which one can wait until later.
It’s later, when all that she can do for the animals and their owners has been done, that she begins to wonder how the fire started. It’s not unusual for improperly baled hay to cause a barn fire; if it’s baled too wet, the interior begins to get hotter and hotter, and the hay could catch fire.
But as one barn after another suffers a burn, what started as a suspicion becomes a the fires are being set. Why? By whom? The owners of the first barn to be burned could be responsible, but that implies insurance to be collected, and they were underinsured. A fellow vet, who insists horses always be kept outdoors rather than in barns, is open to suspicion because of his fanaticism. The junior vet in Gail’s practice is behaving very strangely while their boss is out of town.
Gail’s own life keeps her busy—a new tenant and very new lover, lessons in breaking her new colt, seeing twice as many ailing horses to cover for her boss’s absence. But the barn burnings continue and Gail cannot walk away from the task of finding and stopping whoever is behind them, even though it could land her in the same peril as her animal charges.
It’s later, when all that she can do for the animals and their owners has been done, that she begins to wonder how the fire started. It’s not unusual for improperly baled hay to cause a barn fire; if it’s baled too wet, the interior begins to get hotter and hotter, and the hay could catch fire.
But as one barn after another suffers a burn, what started as a suspicion becomes a the fires are being set. Why? By whom? The owners of the first barn to be burned could be responsible, but that implies insurance to be collected, and they were underinsured. A fellow vet, who insists horses always be kept outdoors rather than in barns, is open to suspicion because of his fanaticism. The junior vet in Gail’s practice is behaving very strangely while their boss is out of town.
Gail’s own life keeps her busy—a new tenant and very new lover, lessons in breaking her new colt, seeing twice as many ailing horses to cover for her boss’s absence. But the barn burnings continue and Gail cannot walk away from the task of finding and stopping whoever is behind them, even though it could land her in the same peril as her animal charges.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published February 14, 2003
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Laura Crum
12 books19 followersLaura 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.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 8, 2025
Wow! Barn fires and two men who want Gail's affections. Torn between two lovers she chose the one burning her desire - a viable choice considering the issues surrounding the other. Thanks to her friendly cop horse woman she gets to the bottom of the case -almost literally - while staying alive!
My only concern was the issues surrounding the two nasty vets who tried to make her life and career hell. Two horses are killed but no one takes responsibility for ownership - could it be they came from the dangerous horse farm? Maybe the next book will tell us!
My only concern was the issues surrounding the two nasty vets who tried to make her life and career hell. Two horses are killed but no one takes responsibility for ownership - could it be they came from the dangerous horse farm? Maybe the next book will tell us!
August 3, 2025
enjoyed this book!!
March 16, 2012
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.
I had searched out Crum because author Laurie King had posted that she enjoyed Crum's books, and considers Crum a good friend. I was surprised at the non-literary, simple "fun read" approach Crum takes to the California coast "horse world" she creates. It's a world where even the police detectives ride and own horses for recreation.
I would even call Hayburner more than a crime novel, it's a romance crime.
The descriptions of the physical landscape -- whether it's a panorama view, or a closeup of vet Gail McCarthy's home garden -- are vivid and evocative.
The mystery -- a series of arson fires of local horse barns -- gets into an interesting discussion of the typical arsonist's profile: a guy who didn't bond well with his mother. The mystery's logistics were beyond what I like when I read -- turns out there were five male characters as suspects, four of them with an arson history. Improbable.
What I liked least, however, was the abrupt way Crum shifted from depicting Clay Bishop (half brother of Bart Holt, who turns out to be the arsonist) as a viable romantic interest for vet Gail to an sudden, utter villain and cad. Yes, I could see Gail losing interest in Clay when she realized he had suspected his brother of the first arson all along. (Bart burned down his own barn for insurance, then lit up the other barns to create a diversion, a false trail for investigators).
But it was not credible to me that adrenalin-exhausted Gail -- after her night-time ride on a strange horse up a mountain in a rainstorm, fleeing for her life after Bart ambushed her -- would have the presence to first denounce Clay in a lengthy speech before hooking up with police, close friends, etc.
A bit disappointing -- such a nice locale and story with an ending that seemed clunky.
I had searched out Crum because author Laurie King had posted that she enjoyed Crum's books, and considers Crum a good friend. I was surprised at the non-literary, simple "fun read" approach Crum takes to the California coast "horse world" she creates. It's a world where even the police detectives ride and own horses for recreation.
I would even call Hayburner more than a crime novel, it's a romance crime.
The descriptions of the physical landscape -- whether it's a panorama view, or a closeup of vet Gail McCarthy's home garden -- are vivid and evocative.
The mystery -- a series of arson fires of local horse barns -- gets into an interesting discussion of the typical arsonist's profile: a guy who didn't bond well with his mother. The mystery's logistics were beyond what I like when I read -- turns out there were five male characters as suspects, four of them with an arson history. Improbable.
What I liked least, however, was the abrupt way Crum shifted from depicting Clay Bishop (half brother of Bart Holt, who turns out to be the arsonist) as a viable romantic interest for vet Gail to an sudden, utter villain and cad. Yes, I could see Gail losing interest in Clay when she realized he had suspected his brother of the first arson all along. (Bart burned down his own barn for insurance, then lit up the other barns to create a diversion, a false trail for investigators).
But it was not credible to me that adrenalin-exhausted Gail -- after her night-time ride on a strange horse up a mountain in a rainstorm, fleeing for her life after Bart ambushed her -- would have the presence to first denounce Clay in a lengthy speech before hooking up with police, close friends, etc.
A bit disappointing -- such a nice locale and story with an ending that seemed clunky.
March 25, 2012
It's been a while since I revisited this series. I had forgotten what a pleasure it is.
Gail, a horse vet in the Santa Cruz area, is called to a stable fire on a ranch that boards horses. And then another stable fire a week later, and another. Another vet is snapping up the horses suddenly without homes, and referring many them to his sister's free-range ranch. Each fire is attended by more than one neighbor with a history of arson. Gail stumbles on something the arsonist can't allow her to see, placing her in immediate danger. She would much rather be choosing between the two attractive men who are pursuing her.
Laura Crum's mysteries give the reader a personal connection with Gail and her daily rounds. Her California summer in sight of the sea feels like a vacation. A nice combination of adventure, animals, and clear air.
Gail, a horse vet in the Santa Cruz area, is called to a stable fire on a ranch that boards horses. And then another stable fire a week later, and another. Another vet is snapping up the horses suddenly without homes, and referring many them to his sister's free-range ranch. Each fire is attended by more than one neighbor with a history of arson. Gail stumbles on something the arsonist can't allow her to see, placing her in immediate danger. She would much rather be choosing between the two attractive men who are pursuing her.
Laura Crum's mysteries give the reader a personal connection with Gail and her daily rounds. Her California summer in sight of the sea feels like a vacation. A nice combination of adventure, animals, and clear air.
October 13, 2013
Another fun caper through the evolving world Dr. Gail McCarthy, DVM. Her love life is on the rise but a mysterious someone is burning horse barns in her neighborhood and there's hardly time for work, love, breaking a new colt, and solving mysteries! I continue to enjoy following Gail's journey but am not a fan of the quick wrap-up style ending that was also featured in a few of the earlier novels. Still I am already reading and enjoying the next book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews