CHASING CANS

Gail McCarthy Mystery #10

by Laura Crum

Are the nude spies lolling in the ancient Roman communal baths of Elizabethan England plotting the return of Mary Queen of Scots? She is said to be clamoring to return to these healing waters. Once again Susanna, Lady Appleton, encounters murder and treason, and only she can unravel the crimes in the intriguing year of 1575. Rosamund, Susanna's twelve-year-old foster daughter, is certain her French tutor has been murdered. Rosamund and her friends are quite they cut school, rebel against authority, and giggle over secrets. But can teenage mischief be construed as spying and treason? These are most significant matters to the Elizabethans, as the wrong religion, the wrong marriage, the wrong friends...may all be seditious.

Genres: Mystery

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

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

[JoAnn Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Once again, she stumbles into a crime but this time it's two attempted murders and 1 murder in the first degree. The death looked like a drugged up/drunk horsewoman falling off a horse unconscious, the first attempted murder looked like a drugged horse that bucked the rider; only the second looked like an attempted murder but that was because Gail came across it. The only problem was something mentioned in the beginning about a photo that was never mentioned again. Who was in the photo? The deceased trainer? Or the killer? Maybe it will be resolved later as there are two books left

[Sherry Wilson McEwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Gail McCarthy read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The descriptions of nature and horses ring true, and the mystery itself is solid. Laura Crum paints a nice portrait of family life and motherhood (although I would have liked less baby, more horses, but that may just be me). Her intelligent and sensitive observations raise this mystery to another level. Will definitely look for the others in the series, where she's actively a vet.

[Robert Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

++This short but superbly written mystery explores neighborly, professional and family relations as well as how we treat critters and the environment. Gail McCarthy is a horse/large animal vet that is semi retired to spend all of her time with her 2 year old son but she cannot avoid what is happening just next door to her property. With all the obvious villains, including the victims, it is difficult for her and her sheriff friend Detective Jeri Ward to find out what really happened.++

[Dianne Bahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book at our local library. It is the first of Laura Crum's books I've read, though I see she has numerous books in the Gail McCarthy series. I enjoyed the book, like the main character, Gail McCarthy, who is a 40 yr old first time Mother and in her first marriage. Also a vet though mostly retired to take care of her 13 month old son
Gail, learning that the pasture she was renting from a neighbor, will now be rented by her irritating neighbor, Lindee Stone, and Gail will have to find new quarters for her two horses, goes to Lindee Stone's place to give her a royal "what for!" Only to see Lindee fall off her horse and the horse falls on top of her. Many people had reason to hate Lindee Stone. Some thing doesn't sit right, with Gail, as she watched the horse rear up and Lindee fall off as Lindee was a seasoned rider and trainer of horses. When another person is gravely injured by another horse, Gail is determined to find out the reasons behind these incidents. I have to give her husband, Blue, credit. He's always willing to take care of his son, to allow Gail her time to investigate. This is a good read. I recommend it for any one who likes horses.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Gail McCarthy, equine vet mystery, and as always a pleasure. Gail is now more focused on being Mac's mom than a vet but events at her neighbor's training barn pull her into murder.

A fast read, one I didn't want to put down.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this one when I was weeding the Mystery section. I enjoyed it a lot. Not as much horse story as I might have liked. A good look at new motherhood and its conflicts. It was a good mystery. I would read more by Laura Crum.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only a bit in but I love it

[Cin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. Easy read