Saddle Tramps

by Carole T. Beers

Meet ex-reporter Pepper Kane, a tough yet lively Southern Oregon horsewoman. She must track down the killer of a prize show horse as the killer closes in on her. While busy sleuthing, she tries to save her tack store The Best Little Horsehouse in Oregon, win at a do-or-die California horse show with her buddies from Brassbottom Barn, and reach a decision about her longtime yet elusive lover, Lakota tribal policeman, Sonny Chief.

Genres: Animals

294 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2016

About the author

Born to descendants of Oregon Trail pioneers, I have long been fascinated with horses, writing and The American West -- old and new. I sold romance stories and Western articles in college. After earning a B.A. In Journalism at University of Washington, I wrote 7,000 stories for The Seattle Times in 32 years, covering hard news as well as the arts and celebrities such as John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn. Along the way I mentored American Indian children, danced and sang at powwows, taught writing at private schools, flew airplanes and competed on a women's shooting team. I also showed Paints and Quarter Horses, winning national and regional honors. I still ride my horse Brad at least five days a week! I also write daily at the hilltop home I share with my husband, three dogs, a cat and a parakeet named Peekaboo in Oregon's fabled Rogue River Valley.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The “classic country” dialogue in this light mystery made me smile on more than one occasion. The cast of colorful characters at the Brassbottom Barn from Tulip with “Store Bought tits” and Va-va-voluptuos Victoria’s botox enriched lips”, Flaming Freddie the hairdressing jockey to the strong, but silent Dakota Chief are fodder for a great sitcom. Protagonist, Pepper Kane, an amateur sleuth who owns the best little Horse House in Oregon is a champion western rider with a penchant for pie. I found the excessive talk about food got in the way of the story for me. It was distracting to me to have to stop and learn about each meal Pepper ate during her investigation of the murder of a prize stallion. However, the foodie ‘talk could be good sitcom material. I would have liked more character development on the part of the Chief. He was the most intriguing character and I think he could have played a much stronger role in the story. Still, this is a fun, easy read that is often laugh out loud funny.

[Clive Rosengren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Step into the highly competitive world of show horses with Pepper Kane and her fellow Brassbottom Barn pals in Carole Beers' riveting read SADDLE TRAMPS. Set in Oregon's Rogue River Valley, the book starts with the killing of a prize show horse. Pepper calls into play her one-time reporter's nose for investigation to find the killer. Along the way, romance, intrigue and a wonderful array of colorful characters make for an entertaining and highly satisfying story. SADDLE TRAMPS is a winner!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Saddle Tramp” earns 5/5 Horse Blankets!

Carole T. Beers has been an exciting story that grabs you right off with the murder of a show horse, and the excitement and danger doesn't slow down from there. Introducing the new Pepper Kane series and addressing all the background and character connections, like in most first books, didn't overwhelm the mystery, and romance and humor were sprinkled throughout. Totally engaging!

"Disclosure: I received an ARC. My review is voluntary, and my comments and insights are honest."

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This mystery has everything--interesting characters, an intriguing setting, an interesting backdrop, (horse shows) and a complex plot. The main character's relationships with Tulip, Sonnie, and Freddie add a lot of richness.

[Faith · Rating 2 out of 5]

***edited review

ok, to be fair...I finished the book late into the night and wrote the review immediately...not wise for me to do.

The prologue immediately pulled me in, getting the horse's perspective on what was about to take place with him. I wanted to save him. Unfortunately, not many of the remaining characters pulled me in, though. I did not know "who did it" for awhile which is a plus. That alone kept me reading it. The writing was good, which is another plus. I realize this was not supposed to be a "serious" suspense, given the characters, and I feel like several of them were exaggerated. I did have giggles throughout, some eye-rolling but stayed with the story, (more pluses) so I had to up my rating to 2 stars, even 2.5. I felt it was would have been great for a YA crowd (which I do read a lot of YA ), if some of the material had been edited or even omitted. I'm debating between 2 and 3 stars because of that alone. Anyway...it was a quick, easy and a somewhat fun read but I will not be pursuing more from the same author.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sassy and classy, this mystery is set into motion by the sudden death of a prized show horse -- who would kill this valuable animal, and why? Pepper Kane, horsewoman and amateur sleuth, wants to find out, and her search launches a volley of fast-moving events, some of them downright dangerous. There's romance, friendship, horse-show lore, and a lot of action (both sleuthing and amatory) along the way. Beers, a respected Northwest writer who was the long-running dance critic for The Seattle Times, has loads of writing experience, and it shows in her descriptive detail and her ear for a story line. It's also fun to encounter a midlife heroine who proves there's plenty of life after the ingenue days are over.

[Carole T. Beers · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fun to write, and exciting and entertaining to re-read, as it flies off store shelves and online book sites. I like my heroine Pepper Kane so much, with her sleuthing, horsing around, wisecracks and courage, that I am now planning her next adventure on the modern West Mystery Trail!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a page turning engaging read this was! As a former reporter I can relate to Pepper. I wish I was a cowgirl! If you love horses and mystery, add this one to your list and get reading. I just might read it again.

[Michael Niemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pepper Kane, ex-reporter and horse lover, is the newest sleuth on the scene. Tackling the death of a highly prized show horse, Pepper finds that getting ready for an important horse show, keeping her horse tack store in the black and finding a killer is a tough job. But she's the right woman for that job. Smart and sassy, she stops at nothing to get to find the culprit. Along the way we learn about the world of competitive horse shows where friends turn into enemies, and winning means everything. A sure winner from Carol Beers.

[Emmett J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who cares about a dead horse?

Well, I didn't think I would at first. Then Carole Beers pulled me into a world of horse shows with her vivid characters Pepper and Tulip, I continually wait for the next shoe to fall and when it did, I was relieved. Strangely enough, one of the best mysteries I've read where no humans got killed. Carole Beers breathes life in the way of horses that is truly fascinating. I wouldn't normally read a story like this but I'm sure glad I didn't miss it.

[Tisha Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personality and Wit

Carole T. Beers presents a witty, winsome, and wonderful novel full of charm and personality. My favorite line is "Oh, Lady," he said. "What you do." Readers and horse people alike will fall in love with Pepper and Tulip, as well as horses who actually have their own personality and characterization, something I don't see in horse books. So, it's five stars for this book!!

[Doranne Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saddle Tramps is a fun horse murder mystery. Carole Beers keeps her readers moving at a quick trot, as she introduces us to a variety of characters, and suspects, and as she add details about the Rogue River area, the world of horse showing, and tantalizing tidbits needed for solving the murder. I am looking forward to reading Carole's next novel.

[C. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could not finish. Soooooooooo much gossip and different story lines, that this became an absolute tedious chore to read, and I totally lost all interest, so gave up! OMG... So much crap going on, and so many characters,that I almost forgot what the story was supposed to be about!

Even though I paid for it, I couldn't force myself to finish it! I will be deleting it from my Kindle!

[Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable summer read. Only 3 stars since the editing of this book was spotty. Since the author lives in our area, I enjoyed feeling like I knew her. Gold Hill is local town and it was fun to read fiction taking place in this region. Learned a bit more about horse showing. Characters were well developed and dialogue was good. Story moved forward and never dragged.

[Louise Hathaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this cozy mystery. The characters are delightful and the mystery interesting. It's the first mystery I've read where the dead body is a horse. It was a nice introduction into the world of those who love and show horses. My cousins are also horse lovers and my cousin's wife performs in gymkhanas often (she's in her sixties).

[Cindy Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a bunch of older folks

I loved that it was a horse book with my age group. Toss in a sassy slooth sticking her nose in.. Wasn't a big fan of the Sharif. He was a tool.. The drama in a show barn is something you can't even try to understand if you haven't ever been there.

[Carly Kade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun equine mystery that had me guessing until the end. Nice debut from Beers.

[Ginny Rodenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read with a good mystery. I would read more from this author. I like reading about older women and their romances.

[Anna Weber]

Interesting writing style

Loved the variety of characters...
The mystery, of course...
And the author"s knowledge.
Enjoyed the descriptive passages...
And a rather surprising ending

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving Pepper Kane!

Great to know there are heroes for the young olds in life! Pepper shows great strength and grit in her activities OMG life and love.

[Sharon Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Pepper Kane, who's as spicy as her name: smart, witty, and curious as a cat. With her "bulldog pushiness" and the encouragement of her Brassbottom Barn Buddies and her sometimes lover, Sonny Chief, Pepper tracks down the person who killed the show horse Dark Vader. Carole T. Beers' debut novel is crisply written and briskly paced. A great read for anyone who knows or wants to learn about the world of horse competitions, where friends sometimes turn out to be enemies and enemies to be friends.

[Jenn Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author weaves suspense, horses in danger and an "innocent-looking and handsome as hell" Lakota tribal policeman into the life of Pepper Kane. Oh, and there's a stolen rhinestone-studded saddle to add to the drama. Carole T. Beers gets her cowboy on as well as her writer's hat on in this story of friendship and competition horse shows. There are suspects galore who will stop at nothing to get what they want, and one of them is evil enough to kill a horse.