What do you think?
Rate this book
Blackmail in the Bluegrass
“From the acclaimed author of Blood in the Bluegrass comes another heart-pounding mystery set in the high-stakes world of Kentucky horse racing. Murder, hidden secrets, and threats against cherished horses unfold against a family’s relentless devotion—to one another, to their Thoroughbreds, and to the courage it takes to begin again. Authentic, haunting, and impossible to put down, this is Kentucky Bluegrass country at its most dangerous and most human, a story as fierce and enduring as the land that inspires it.”
–Will Bishop, CFO, Claiborne Farm.
In a world where bloodlines determine fortunes, Harper Hill discovers that some secrets are worth killing for—and that the greatest danger often comes from those closest to home.
When her old friend, Jake Harrington, asks Harper to help investigate strange accidents plaguing his Thoroughbred farm, she discovers a pattern of "mishaps" that seem anything but accidental. Prized stallions are mysteriously injured, a promising racehorse drops dead on the training track, and Eden Hill’s veterinarian barely survives a violent crash on a stormy night.
As Harper digs deeper into her friend’s farm operations, she uncovers connections to a two-year-old unsolved murder—and realizes that someone is willing to kill to keep their secrets buried. The investigation takes a terrifying turn when shots ring out at a local rodeo, putting Harper, her sister Riley, and their young friend Davis directly in the line of fire.
With her detective husband JD reopening the cold case, Harper finds herself caught between loyalty to old friends and the growing evidence that someone she trusts may be behind it all. When she discovers a plan to murder one of the farm's most valuable stallions, Harper must choose between her own safety and protecting the horses and people she loves.
The fourth thrilling installment in the beloved Bluegrass horse racing mystery series, where family bonds run as deep as the corruption that threatens to destroy them.
In a world where bloodlines determine fortunes, Harper Hill discovers that some secrets are worth killing for—and that the greatest danger often comes from those closest to home.
When her old friend, Jake Harrington, asks Harper to help investigate strange accidents plaguing his Thoroughbred farm, she discovers a pattern of "mishaps" that seem anything but accidental. Prized stallions are mysteriously injured, a promising racehorse drops dead on the training track, and Eden Hill’s veterinarian barely survives a violent crash on a stormy night.
As Harper digs deeper into her friend’s farm operations, she uncovers connections to a two-year-old unsolved murder—and realizes that someone is willing to kill to keep their secrets buried. The investigation takes a terrifying turn when shots ring out at a local rodeo, putting Harper, her sister Riley, and their young friend Davis directly in the line of fire.
With her detective husband JD reopening the cold case, Harper finds herself caught between loyalty to old friends and the growing evidence that someone she trusts may be behind it all. When she discovers a plan to murder one of the farm's most valuable stallions, Harper must choose between her own safety and protecting the horses and people she loves.
The fourth thrilling installment in the beloved Bluegrass horse racing mystery series, where family bonds run as deep as the corruption that threatens to destroy them.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 6, 2026
13 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Slachman
11 books10 followersVirginia Slachman spent many years as an award-winning poet and college professor before launching into a career as a novelist and writing coach. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, she traveled to Los Angeles and then Aspen following college to discover life outside her staid Midwest roots. Poetry led to Ph.D. studies at the University of Cincinnati and a long, successful career in the college classroom teaching literature and writing.
Virginia worked for years with Thoroughbred racehorses just off the track. Her love of murder mysteries, research, and horses combine in her latest 5-star Amazon rated novel, Blood in the Bluegrass, first in her mystery series featuring amateur sleuth Harper Hill and JD Cole, her long-ago lover who is suddenly back on the scene. The novel weaves together a behind-the-scenes look at breeding and racing Thoroughbreds in Kentucky Bluegrass Country with a race against time, as Harper must discover the real reason behind her sister’s death, find out who’s been killing her racehorses, and save her family stud farm--all before the culprit comes for her, too. "Action packed from the get-go and filled with unique characters, the book is hard to put down as it races headlong at full speed to the finish line" says
Barry Irwin, Founder & CEO of the international racing syndicate, Team Valor International.
Virginia worked for years with Thoroughbred racehorses just off the track. Her love of murder mysteries, research, and horses combine in her latest 5-star Amazon rated novel, Blood in the Bluegrass, first in her mystery series featuring amateur sleuth Harper Hill and JD Cole, her long-ago lover who is suddenly back on the scene. The novel weaves together a behind-the-scenes look at breeding and racing Thoroughbreds in Kentucky Bluegrass Country with a race against time, as Harper must discover the real reason behind her sister’s death, find out who’s been killing her racehorses, and save her family stud farm--all before the culprit comes for her, too. "Action packed from the get-go and filled with unique characters, the book is hard to put down as it races headlong at full speed to the finish line" says
Barry Irwin, Founder & CEO of the international racing syndicate, Team Valor International.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 13, 2026
Thrilling!
Harper and JD are a wonderful team. This book kept me interested from page one! In addition to the story, Virginia captures the essence of the beauty of the bluegrass that is in our blood. Thank you, Virginia, patiently awaiting book five.
Harper and JD are a wonderful team. This book kept me interested from page one! In addition to the story, Virginia captures the essence of the beauty of the bluegrass that is in our blood. Thank you, Virginia, patiently awaiting book five.
Displaying 1 of 1 review