MOONBLIND

Gail McCarthy Mystery #9

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

100 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2006

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

[Sheillagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of Gail McCarthy, an equine veterinarian, who is 7 mos. pregnant and taking a leave of absence from her job, when her cousin Jenny calls her to help her because one of her horses is in distress. Gail is dragged into Jenny's problems with her ex-husband and her lover's wife. Well-written and a quick read, exciting and riveting page turner.

[JoAnn Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby is due! Unfortunately, too many things go wrong before he comes along, such as the death of Gail's cousin - who may or not be murdered; she had a secret, and it could have killed her - or did she commit suicide? That question is not answered but the birth came two months later!

[Lisa Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyable lunch time read without a lot of substance, pass mark.

[Pr Latta · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for something in the realm of Dick Francis, Kit Ehrman, John Francome, or even Rita Mae Brown (humor is good!) but maybe I shouldn't have jumped into this series in the middle. I enjoy cozy mysteries, most things horsy, don't mind "easy reading" so I hope this title isn't representative of the series (I'm going to try one more): there was a lot more gestating than detecting. Gail McCarthy is 7 months pregnant and on sabbatical from her Santa Cruz, CA veterinary practice. Her cousin Jenny, with a long history on the race track and recently divorced, has just moved nearby and is running a lay-up facility. Something is scaring Jenny but she won’t tell Gail the whole story – and strange things start to happen. Torn between keeping her unborn baby safe and helping Jenny, Gail boldly comes through in the end.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot and setting are pretty good, but the characters are lame. Gail's cousin and husband are totally flat and undeveloped. On the other had, Gail spends LOTS of time on introspection. She is 7 months pregnant and she has given up every other phase of her life to sit around and act broody..stating that she is "in a vulnerable condition," and that she "is frail." I have news for you, Gail: pregnant women continue to ride their horses, do their jobs, weed their gardens and get on with the business of life. And these women love their unborn babies every bit as much as you do!

WHAT A WIMP!