Fire at the Track: A Harness Racing Mystery

by M.J. Evans

Twenty-eight horses. One deadly fire. A racetrack hiding secrets.

When a late night blaze destroys Barn 7 at Liberty Racetrack, killing twenty-eight prized Standardbred horses, authorities rule it arson. In a sport driven by money, rivalry, and reputation, suspicion spreads fast.

Insurance investigator Callie Oaks knows the fire wasn’t random. A half-million-dollar policy. Crushing debt. Fractured marriages. Gambling ties. And too many people with something to lose.

Raised in the harness racing world, Callie goes undercover at the track, posing as an exercise driver to investigate the suspicious insurance claims. As she digs into the tight-knit backstretch community, she uncovers secrets worth killing for.

Someone set the fire.
Someone profited.
And when Callie gets too close to the truth, she becomes the next target.

Perfect for readers who love:

Horse racing mysteries

Arson investigations

Small-town crime fiction

Female amateur sleuth / insurance investigator thrillers

Suspense with authentic equestrian detail

Fire at the Track is a fast-paced mystery thriller packed with insider racing drama, financial deception, and high-stakes suspense.

At Liberty Racetrack, everyone has a secret.
And one of them is a killer.

Genres: Romance

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2026

About the author

I am a graduate of Oregon State University. Upon graduation, I spent five years teaching at the middle school and high school levels. My writing, at that time, was limited to curriculum. That was not fun.

While raising my children, I coached their Odyssey of the Mind and Destination Imagination teams for seventeen years. I helped them write their own stories for the competitions. During this time, I also wrote two parent handbooks for the Salem, Oregon School district on sex education.

Over twenty years ago, I was able to combine my passion for horses with my love of writing. I researched and wrote two equestrian trail guide books for the Denver area. By “research” I mean that I spent every Friday riding my horse on a new trail, be it on the plains or in the mountains. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it! The result of that work was the publication of Riding Colorado-Day Trips from Denver with Your Horse, and Riding Colorado II. Both books continue to sell very well in the Denver to Colorado Springs area and have made my horse famous.

I was able to combine my love of horses with my love of fantasy in my first Trilogy. The Mist Trilogy, comprised of Behind the Mist, Mists of Darkness and the Rising Mist received a gold medal from the Mom's Choice Awards. My next fantasy, an allegory of the Revolutionary War, but with Trolls and Leprechauns, won first place in the Purple Dragonfly Awards for fantasy. I took a brief (2 year) break from writing fantasy to complete a contemporary, coming of age novel titled "In the Heart of a Mustang." This YA novel won first place in the Literary Classics Awards for Young Adult fiction and second place in the Nautilus Awards and the Reader's Favorite awards in the same category.

On October 1, 2016, I released the first book of my new fantasy series "The Stone of Mercy: Book 1 of the Centaur Chronicles."

I have now expanded my writing interests to include Historical Fiction: "PINTO! Based Upon the True Story of the Longest Horseback Ride in History," and "The Sand Pounder - Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII."
I have also had fun working with illustrators on five picture books: "PERCY - The Racehorse Who Didn't Like to Run," and "The Skullington Family Series."

I describe myself as a “Mozart” type of writer as opposed to a “Beethoven” writer. When I sit down to write, the words just flow and I don’t have to go back and do a lot of revisions until the first draft (the foundation) is done. Then I can go back and correct and embellish all I want.
My newest venture (2026) is an Adult Mystery series set in the world of Harness racing! It's fun to try new things.

Reviews

[Zoe · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Fast-paced mystery - very easygoing read. Probably good for a holiday book. The story follows an undercover investigator looking into a suspicious barn fire. Full of hidden motives and authentic horse-world details for anyone who follows that stuff :)
Quite short chapters so the pacing is tight (which I'm a fan of!), though a few of the plot twists feel a bit predictable. Still, it’s a good read!

[Avid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fire at the Track was actually my first horse-centered mystery, and I was surprised by how intriguing I found the world of harness racing. M.J. Evans does a good job of bringing you into that world while still keeping the mystery and the characters at the center of the story. The fire itself is heartbreaking, especially knowing that 28 horses died, and that loss gives the investigation real emotional weight. I also thought the financial side of the story was especially interesting. There are characters dealing with debt, struggling businesses, insurance money, and other pressures, and Evans does a good job of showing how financial desperation can give people very real motives for doing something terrible.

I liked Callie as the main character, especially because her background with horses gives her a believable reason to be involved in the investigation and to understand the people at the track. There are enough different people with secrets and possible motives that I kept wondering who might actually have been responsible for the fire. What I enjoyed most was that the horses weren’t just scenery for the mystery. Their deaths affect the people around them, and you really feel how devastating the fire was to the entire racing community. It was an interesting combination of mystery, horses, financial motives, and an arson investigation, and definitely something different from what I normally read.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire at the Track was such a entertaining mystery. I whizzed through it! The short, bite-sized chapters kept the pacing tight, while the investigation surrounding the racetrack fire had plenty of suspects and motives to keep me guessing. I especially loved the harness-racing setting. Evans clearly knows and loves horses, and that affection comes through beautifully without being inaccessible to newcomers. I'll be on the lookout for more from this author!

[Bailey Hartfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book by M.J Evan’s and she has yet to miss! “Fire at the Track- A Harness Racing Mystery” is an exciting, keep you on your toes type mystery with raw emotions and a satisfying ending. Very well written and the investigation plot is carefully crafted. There’s a few sensitive heart moments so be ready with your tissues

[Cindy Grenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

I loved the book! It was entertaining and informative. I don't know much about harness racing and it was fun to see the workings of it up close. The story was exciting and I read it in one day I was enjoying it so much!

[Juliet Madsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire at the Track is the kind of mystery that grabs you by the heart before you even realize it’s happening. The barn fire scene is written with such clarity and emotion that I felt myself right there in the smoke and chaos, grieving the loss and desperate for answers.

The dialogue feels natural, the pacing is tight, and the scenes are so vividly drawn that I could picture them just by closing my eyes. I found myself racing through chapters, constantly guessing who might be responsible and second‑guessing every theory I came up with.

As someone who grew up around horses, this book hit a special place for me. It’s a beautiful tribute to the world of harness racing - the grit, the heart, the community. It’s a story full of tension, authenticity, and heart, and I absolutely loved it.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down!

This was an absolutely fantastic book! I couldn't put it down! Mystery, suspense, and great characters. I highly recommend it.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book well worth reading.

I loved the way this book kept you wanting to read more. The short chapters keep me from putting the book down. The murder mystery was riveting, the characters were easy to get to know. I recommend this book to all who enjoy a myo

[Karen (BaronessBookTrove) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fire at the Track by M.J. Evans takes place at a horse racing arena and stables. I adore books with horses in them.

Will Callie uncover who set the fire and why?

Callie Oaks
Callie Oaks works as an insurance investigator who was only picked to handle this case because of her background in this specific racing, which is needed for the case. She is a great investigator, but anyone could tell that her true love is being with horses. I do wonder why she stopped being around them, especially since she grew up around horses. Callie is a fantastic character that I think I would be friends with if I were to ever meet her, but I'm not entirely sure.

The Mystery
Callie Oaks gets called in by her firm to investigate this arson case. Her boss wants to know what happened before they start doling out money to the people who were insured with them for the loss of their horses. I dislike horses or any animal getting hurt, and I think what happened is justified for the loss of innocent creatures. Ms. Evans did keep me guessing on certain things, but I caught on to other things she was hinting at for the mystery.

Four Stars
My rating for Fire at the Track by M.J. Evans is four stars. I like this story, and I figured out what ended up happening before Callie did. Mostly it was guesswork, but I never actually figured out the why until it was all laid out. I can't wait to see what will happen in the next mystery and if Callie will make a reappearance. Or if we will have a new sleuth.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Fire at the Track by M.J. Evans.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire at the Track by M.J. Evans is a harness racing mystery built around a barn fire that kills twenty-eight horses and shakes the Liberty Racetrack community to its core. The book opens with the thrill of the sport, especially the rise of Eat My Dust, then quickly turns that excitement into grief, suspicion, and an insurance investigation. At its center is Callie Oaks, an investigator with real horse-world experience, who goes undercover at the track to find out whether the fire was an accident, negligence, or something far more deliberate.

What makes the book work best is how strongly it understands the emotional world of horse people. The horses aren’t background decoration. They’re the reason everyone is there, and the reason the crime feels personal. The line “They were like family” captures the heart of the story in a simple way, because the loss in Barn 7 isn’t treated as just property damage. It’s a wound shared by owners, trainers, grooms, drivers, and even the night watchman who can’t forgive himself for saving only one horse.

Callie is an appealing lead because she’s capable without feeling slick or distant. Her undercover identity, Haylie Norr, gives the story a nice layer of tension, especially as she gets pulled back into the rhythm of barn life and into training the filly Sunny. The mystery moves through insurance fraud, gambling debts, grief, jealousy, and cover-ups, but it stays grounded in everyday racetrack details: feedings, stall assignments, vet records, training routines, and the politics of a tight community where everyone knows everyone else’s business.

The book also has a warm secondary thread in Callie’s connection with reporter Paul Coffman. Their relationship doesn’t take over the mystery, but it gives the story a softer place to land after some heavy material. By the end, when the investigation has exposed Tommy Valdez and Frank Morrison, and the track begins repairing both its safety systems and its sense of trust, the final stretch with Callie, Sunny, and Paul feels earned. The closing idea that survivors “get back in the sulky, gather the lines, and race toward whatever finish line waited ahead” fits the book’s steady, hopeful view of recovery.

Fire at the Track is a sincere, horse-centered mystery with a strong sense of place and a lot of affection for the harness racing world. It’s part crime story, part community drama, and part comeback story. The best parts are the ones where the book lets readers feel the barn, the track, the grief, and the bond between people and horses. It’s a conversational, accessible read for mystery fans, especially readers who like animals, racetrack settings, and stories where justice matters because the victims mattered.

[Nora S · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I enjoyed most about Fire at the Track is that the mystery is closely tied to the world it takes place in. The harness-racing setting never feels like a decorative backdrop. The horses, the racing community, the insurance angle, and the relationships around the track all contribute to the investigation and gradually make the story feel more layered.
The fire gives the book an immediate sense of urgency, but what kept me interested was the question of who stood to gain from it and why. As Callie digs deeper, suspicion seems to spread rather than settle, and the story does a good job of making the reader reconsider people and motives along the way. Her connection to the racing world also gives her investigation a credibility that works particularly well.
There is a darker emotional thread running underneath the mystery because of what happened to the horses, and that gives the story more weight than a straightforward whodunit. I also liked the contrast between the tension surrounding the investigation and Callie's quieter moments with Sunny.
Overall, this is an engaging mystery for anyone who enjoys crime stories built around a distinctive setting. The combination of arson, financial motives, racing culture, and a determined investigator makes this feel like more than a standard small-town mystery.

[Vijay Kerji · Rating 5 out of 5]

M J Evans has written a good mystery in Fire At The Tracks, and it held my attention throughout.

It is a whodunit with a few suspects, and the author keeps the reader guessing about the murderer. Everyone has a motive, with suspicious activity attached to them, during the barn fire.

The author combines the details of the horses and the racing well in the story. In fact, the main character finally leaves her original profession and becomes a horse lover in the end, which is quite interesting.

The main character, Callie, does her job well in investigating who is behind the act of setting the barn on fire. She takes the help of the other characters to ultimately achieve her objectives.

The characters in the story are well developed and are three-dimensional. The readers can connect with them and feel emotional about them in the story.

The plot moves at a steady pace without any boring events in it, and the writing style is lucid and professional. The author has inflicted the emotions through a proper combination of dialogues, characters' actions, and subtext associated with it well.

I recommend this story to all the mystery whodunit lovers who like to enjoy a weekend read over a couple of cups of coffee.

[Ellie Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire at the Track is the first book I've read by M.J.Evans and I hope to read more of her works. This was a really slick polished mystery that I recommend for anyone, especially horse lovers. It was very clear that many of the characters, including the FMC, really loved horses. And everything horse related was so well written and detailed so that even those unfamiliar with sulky racing could understand. Unfortunately that's pretty much all I felt I 'knew' about the FMC - her love of horses. Other than that she felt a bit 2D - I didn't know much about her quirks or flaws and I think that would have helped me get to know her better so I cared more for her. But she was obviously a nice character and I loved the pacing and the plot and the bitesized chapters. Whizzed through this one. (P.S. I was endlessly confused about whether Sarah Ferguson was the same as the ex member of the British royal family? It felt odd for her to crop up but her name was always used with both names which had me thinking it must be her...was a bit confused about that but it didn't distract from the gripping story)

[Emirhan Korkmaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire at the Track begins with a genuinely upsetting crime, but M.J. Evans handles the tragedy with restraint and quickly turns the story toward the investigation. Callie is a capable, believable lead, and her background in harness racing gives her a natural reason to move through the track community without feeling like an outsider dropped into the plot. I knew very little about Standardbred racing before reading this, so I especially enjoyed the details about training, driving, and daily life behind the scenes. The information is worked into the story smoothly and rarely feels like a lesson.

The mystery gives Callie several plausible suspects, along with enough financial and personal motives to keep the investigation interesting. I did have an early suspicion about where the story might be going, but there were still enough complications and smaller revelations to hold my attention. Overall, this is an engaging mystery with a distinctive setting, a sympathetic protagonist, and enough equestrian detail to appeal to horse enthusiasts without excluding readers who are completely new to the sport.

[Evelyn Sardet · Rating 4 out of 5]

When 28 horses are killed in a barn fire, that is a suspected arson attack, insurance investigator Callie Oaks is brought in to investigate. A local woman was killed during the fire. Coincidence, or murder? As Callie has a background with harness racing, she goes undercover to determine if insurance fraud could be the motive. Along for the ride is an intrepid reporter named Paul who is covering the story. This story reminded me of a mystery novel I read a few years ago called 'To the Hilt'. I can't remember the author, but he specialised in writing mysteries about the horse racing world. It's clear the author has similar expertise with horses. There's deep affection and knowledge in this for all aspects of their care and breeding, and this whole world that someone like me knows nothing about. In terms of pace, it's brisk, though I think it took a little too long for Callie to be introduced. The romance was okay, but it was the mystery that was the real meat. Overall, a solid book, almost a cozy mystery.

[Cyrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure a mystery about harness racing would pull me in, but the opening with twenty-eight horses dying in that fire just hit me right in the chest. And the author didn't let up Eat My Dust's rise, then the sudden grief of the whole barn, it all felt so raw and real. What I loved most was how authentic the horse world felt; it's clearly written by someone who knows that track life inside out, from the feed schedules to that poor night watchman who carries the guilt of saving just one horse. The scene where Callie goes undercover as "Haylie Norr" and starts training the filly Sunny while secretly digging into insurance fraud and gambling debts had me completely locked in. It's not a high-speed thriller, but a slow, emotional burn that made me care about every single character, human and horse alike. Honestly, a really satisfying read.

[Kelly Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fire at the Track: A Harness Racing Mystery” by M.J. Evans follows the investigation of a harrowing case of arson in which a stable of 28 standardbred racing pacers are killed in a fire set in the middle of the night. The cover depicts a woman and horse in silhouette next to the burnt remnants of a structure with a barn in the background. The story is aCallie works for the insurance company whose policies cover the prized horses. Because of Callie’s past experience as a horsewoman who raced pacers, her boss chooses her to go undercover at the track to determine who could have committed this dastardly crime. Callie develops several possible suspects and works with a local newspaper reporter, who is covering the story. This is a taut and well-researched story with an engaging plot that combines a mystery with a bit of sweet romance. I enjoyed the book very much.

[Aubrey Cleeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mystery of the arson pulled me in with such force I was compelled to discover the secrets this book holds. The event which is the catalyst for this book was written with such power and force I found it difficult to stomach and yet impossible to stop reading. The fallout, as you can imagine, is riddled with doubt and suspicion from many parties and I enjoyed how Callie came to unpick the mystery and follow the trail. The horses and the racing culture does not stray far from the authors thoughts and I found myself learning more about horse care and harness racing than I have before. The story gets heavy and dark in its subject matter and I found Callie’s connection to Sunny a welcome break on occasion.

[Antonella Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire at the Track features an exciting style, with natural dialogue and a fast pace.
It contains a pedagogical message that extols resilience and strength in dealing with grief. This emerges from the final metaphor of "getting back on the sulky and taking the reins"; its function is to symbolize the courage to move forward after a tragedy. Another key figure of speech is the simile "They were like a family": it serves to humanize horses, elevating them from mere property to true affections to amplify the sense of loss.
I would recommend this read to mystery fans, animal lovers and anyone who appreciates stories of strong solidarity and community rebirth.

[Alice Antley · Rating 5 out of 5]

HORSES AND MYSTERY

M.J. Evans has done it again! If you love horses AND a good mystery, then I highly recommend FIRE AT THE TRACK! I’ve been reading and watching mysteries for decades and it has been easy for me to quickly guess “who dunnit.” But not with this captivating story! I had a very difficult time putting this book down. I look forward to reading ALL of this author’s books.

[readit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Fire at the Track. The harness racing setting makes the mystery feel fresh, and the details about the horses and track life add a lot without slowing things down. Callie is easy to root for, and her undercover investigation kept me interested from start to finish. The fire is heartbreaking and gives the story real weight. A few heavier moments felt a little drawn out, but overall it’s a solid, entertaining mystery.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun mystery around the racetrack

​I dont usually read horse books, but this was a really fun, quick mystery. The arson setup right at the start got me hooked, and Callie going undercover as a driver was great. You can tell the author actually knows how racetracks work behind the scenes. It kept me guessing who set the fire until near the end. Definitly an easy, entertaining read.

[אסתר כהן · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clinical pacing inside a hostile closed circle

The narrative thrives on authentic procedural legwork rather than flashy theatrics. By grounding the investigation in financial friction and the quiet hostility of an insular world, the tension builds with steady, mechanical discipline. The prose stays lean, the escalation feels earned, and the momentum never falters. A remarkably focused, satisfyingly sharp mystery.

[Bruce Sembar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice little book. Gave a lot of information on harness racing and the people who work and train horses. The story surrounding the fire and subsequent cover-up attempt added to the mystery. The romance between the investigator and the reporter was minimised so it didn't bog down the narrative. Highly recommended.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love spending time and that race track and go pretty regularly. So when i saw this book I was so excited and it didnt disappoint. I loved the story, the characters, the setting. Agatha Christie couldn't have done a better job at writinf this mystery. I recommend it if you want a great read that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a suspenseful and interesting story!! I grew up reading horse racing mysteries like all the Dick Frances novels and this one fit right into that genre. I loved that it was set in a Standardbred stables and so much was focused on the horses. I'll admit the beginning was hard to read when it came to the fire but it was tastefully done and showed respect to the horses.

I loved getting to know Sunny and follow along with her early training. It was neat to get such a clear look at life on the backside of the track and all the care the horses needed. It was written in such a way that an experienced horse person can enjoy it while a non-horse person can also enjoy the story without getting overwhelmed by horse facts.

I enjoyed the light romance that was mixed it. It allowed the book to not get to heavy from the main suspense and mystery plot. Callie was a great character and I really liked her connection with the horses.

This was an engaging and thrilling story! I was hooked from the first page and couldn't put it down. The writing was descriptive and did a beautiful job of bringing the story to life. I would definitely recommend it!!

[Brittany Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Mystery

A really fun horse mystery. I loved all the details about harness racing that made it feel like I was not only following a bunch of clues, but also learning about the sport.

[S.M. Dapelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing about harness racing, and came out the other side genuinely wanting to go see a race in person. MJ Evans does a wonderful job weaving the world of standardbred racing pacers into a taut, well-crafted mystery that educates as much as it entertains. The scenes are descriptive and vividly brought to life, and the writing itself is polished and professional throughout.

The story follows Callie, an insurance investigator with a horsewoman's past, who goes undercover to find out who set a stable fire that killed 28 prized horses. The plot moves at a steady pace, the suspects are well developed, and everyone has a motive that keeps you guessing. The characters feel three-dimensional and emotionally engaging, and there is even a thread of sweet romance woven in to balance the tension.

A small note: some of the dialogue felt slightly stilted in places, but it never detracted from the overall experience. And while I did piece together the mystery before the final reveal, that is more a testament to my years of watching Castle than any weakness in the storytelling.

If you love horses, mysteries, or simply great regional storytelling, this one is absolutely worth your time.

[Peter G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping harness racing mystery! When arson kills 28 Standardbreds at Liberty Racetrack, insurance investigator Callie Oaks goes undercover as an exercise driver. Authentic equestrian detail, tight suspense, and a page-turning plot make this a must-read. Highly recommended!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

I could not but this book down. Suspense and mystery that grabs you from the start. I will have to look for other books by this author.