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Galway Homicide: Hays & Lyons #4
Murder at the Pony Show
The discovery of a man’s body puts a damper on the annual Connemara Pony Show. DI Maureen Lyons investigates a difficult case of foul play.
The show is under way, but the gaiety is brought to an abrupt halt with the discovery of a dead man in a horsebox. Whilst the teenaged owner of the horse runs off in fright, detectives are quickly dispatched to investigate what is soon established as murder.
Given the suspicious activity of the organisers, and the peculiar occupation of the victim, the Irish police have a conundrum on their hands. Several motives begin to emerge, but when they are compounded by a kidnapping and evidence of dodgy dealings, it is far from an open and shut case.
Set in the beautiful surroundings of the west coast of Ireland, MURDER AT THE PONY SHOW is a cosy police procedural the whole family can enjoy. Follow Maureen Lyons as she tracks down the killer among the colourful characters of the Galway region, and further afield in Dublin.
If you like crime fiction full of twists where you have to guess the identity of the killer, this book is for you. It is a standalone, but can also be enjoyed as part of the series featuring detectives Maureen Lyons and Mick Hays.
The full list of books, in order of publication, is:
1. MURDER ON THE BOG ROAD
2. MURDER AT THE OLD COTTAGE
3. MURDER ON THE WEST COAST
4. MURDER AT THE PONY SHOW
All of these books are available FREE on Kindle Unlimited, and the first three, as the current book will soon be, are also available in paperback.
The show is under way, but the gaiety is brought to an abrupt halt with the discovery of a dead man in a horsebox. Whilst the teenaged owner of the horse runs off in fright, detectives are quickly dispatched to investigate what is soon established as murder.
Given the suspicious activity of the organisers, and the peculiar occupation of the victim, the Irish police have a conundrum on their hands. Several motives begin to emerge, but when they are compounded by a kidnapping and evidence of dodgy dealings, it is far from an open and shut case.
Set in the beautiful surroundings of the west coast of Ireland, MURDER AT THE PONY SHOW is a cosy police procedural the whole family can enjoy. Follow Maureen Lyons as she tracks down the killer among the colourful characters of the Galway region, and further afield in Dublin.
If you like crime fiction full of twists where you have to guess the identity of the killer, this book is for you. It is a standalone, but can also be enjoyed as part of the series featuring detectives Maureen Lyons and Mick Hays.
The full list of books, in order of publication, is:
1. MURDER ON THE BOG ROAD
2. MURDER AT THE OLD COTTAGE
3. MURDER ON THE WEST COAST
4. MURDER AT THE PONY SHOW
All of these books are available FREE on Kindle Unlimited, and the first three, as the current book will soon be, are also available in paperback.
199 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2018
906 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
David Pearson
33 books119 followersOne of Ireland's most prolific crime writers, David has a total of 24 books published to date across four separate series.
The Galway Homicides - set in and around Clifden on the Wild Atlantic Way
The Dublin Homicides - a grittier set of 6 stories set in the capital of Ireland
The Wexford Homicides - introducing DI Vikki Kirkby
The Mayo Murders - a new series set in and around Westport in County Mayo featuring DI Martin O'Shea and DS Deirdre Maguire.
The Galway Homicides - set in and around Clifden on the Wild Atlantic Way
The Dublin Homicides - a grittier set of 6 stories set in the capital of Ireland
The Wexford Homicides - introducing DI Vikki Kirkby
The Mayo Murders - a new series set in and around Westport in County Mayo featuring DI Martin O'Shea and DS Deirdre Maguire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 20, 2020
3.5 stars
It's not brilliant, but it makes nice, distractive reading.
It's not brilliant, but it makes nice, distractive reading.
February 1, 2021
Murder at the Pony Show is book four in the Galway Homicide: Hays & Lyons series by David Pearson. One day at the annual Connemara Pony Show, a young girl found a dead man in her horsebox. At first, they through the young girl's horse kick the man in the head. Inspector Maureen Lyons caught the case. However, on arrival at the showground Inspector Maureen Lyons, the young man was murdered, and the horse owner is missing. The reader's of Murder at the Pony Show will continue to follow Inspector Maureen Lyons investigations to determine what happens.
Murder at the Pony Show is a fantastic addition to this excellent series by David Pearson. The way David Pearson portrayed his character ensures that I engage with this book's plot and allows me to laugh in the way they interact with each other throughout this book. Murder at the Pony Show is well written and researched by David Pearson. I like David Pearson description of the settings of Murder at the Pony Show.
The reader's of Murder at the Pony Show will learn about living on the west coast of Ireland. The reader's of Murder at the Pony Show will also learn about the consequences of fraud in the UK and Ireland's horse breeding industry.
I recommend this book.
Murder at the Pony Show is a fantastic addition to this excellent series by David Pearson. The way David Pearson portrayed his character ensures that I engage with this book's plot and allows me to laugh in the way they interact with each other throughout this book. Murder at the Pony Show is well written and researched by David Pearson. I like David Pearson description of the settings of Murder at the Pony Show.
The reader's of Murder at the Pony Show will learn about living on the west coast of Ireland. The reader's of Murder at the Pony Show will also learn about the consequences of fraud in the UK and Ireland's horse breeding industry.
I recommend this book.
April 18, 2025
A quick read to pass the time!
Some amusing lack of research relating to equestrianism and reads more like a text book at times but nevertheless an easy reading, inoffensive book with some character development from previous books in the series.
Some amusing lack of research relating to equestrianism and reads more like a text book at times but nevertheless an easy reading, inoffensive book with some character development from previous books in the series.
July 27, 2019
Good story. If you read this book, you have to really concentrate as it switches from locale to locale, which consequently adds new people in the new locales. I did find it very entertaining and would most certainly would have given it 5 stars if I did not feel that justice was far from served.
It certainly did not put the Irish Garda in a very good light, showing that their hands are tied by an unscrupulous superior who orders that investigations be stopped in order to cover the covert acts of his friends, threatening a transfer to what we would call Timbukto if his orders are not followed. Inspector Plunkett should be dismissed from the Garda for his actions as he is not fit to hold the position he presently holds and has disgraced the Garda. How can the officers continue to thrive if their efforts are thwarted by such a man. I am afraid I cannot read a book that angers me, as I read for enjoyment, not moral frustration.
Additionally, the illegal transfer of horses was passed over, the vet got away with covering up the death of the animals, Nicola got cheated out of the insurance, etc. etc. etc. All in all, a terrible ending to what started out as a good and interesting read, until, as I said, the ending. Killed it all in my opinion.
If this is the type of scenario that will be found in future books, I think I will pass.
It certainly did not put the Irish Garda in a very good light, showing that their hands are tied by an unscrupulous superior who orders that investigations be stopped in order to cover the covert acts of his friends, threatening a transfer to what we would call Timbukto if his orders are not followed. Inspector Plunkett should be dismissed from the Garda for his actions as he is not fit to hold the position he presently holds and has disgraced the Garda. How can the officers continue to thrive if their efforts are thwarted by such a man. I am afraid I cannot read a book that angers me, as I read for enjoyment, not moral frustration.
Additionally, the illegal transfer of horses was passed over, the vet got away with covering up the death of the animals, Nicola got cheated out of the insurance, etc. etc. etc. All in all, a terrible ending to what started out as a good and interesting read, until, as I said, the ending. Killed it all in my opinion.
If this is the type of scenario that will be found in future books, I think I will pass.
February 8, 2023
Jennie Gillespie and her Connemara pony, Lady, are all set to compete in the dressage event at the pony show when Jennie discovers the blood-soaked body of a man at the rear of Lady’s stall. Senior Inspector Mick Hays is away at a conference in England, so his partner, Inspector Maureen Lyons, is leading the investigation. As Jennie prepares a bucket of nuts with Guinness to calm her pony, she is terrified of what will happen if they accuse Lady of causing the man’s death. The investigators have no time to lose before the pony show closes and the crowds of visitors disperse. A readable mystery in a very attractive setting.
November 30, 2025
If this were my first book by this author, I'd probably be giving it 2 stars, but it's so much better than the first two in the series that it feels mean giving it the same rating! (I haven't read #3)
Pearson is still inclined to pad his story with unnecessary detail. For example, when Hays is driving from Dunstable to Brixworth, we don't really need to be told that "he could have used the M1...but took the A5 instead." And we DEFINITELY don't need to know that "He drove to Old Stratford, then onto the A508 through Yardley Gobion and Stoke Bruerne, skirting Northampton on the A45 and then on to the A43 past Moulton and Holcot into Brixworth." But these digressions now tend to only take up a paragraph or two, instead of the several pages they occupied in his previous novels.
His characters are becoming slightly less one-dimensional too. I still wouldn't describe them as well-rounded, but they are definite improvements on the cardboard cut-outs of books 1 and 2. Both previous books had strong plot ideas that were weakly executed. In this novel, Pearson makes much more of an effort to develop the plot, giving us four or five potential murderers, and the investigation is much less rushed and perfunctory.
I felt that the kidnapping sub plot was poorly worked out. I really couldn't believe that any sane and sensible 15-year-old would be so stupid as to
The other major weakness for me was the behaviour of the lead female character. Lyons spends all her time panicking over whether or not Hays finds other women attractive and starting rows like a temperamental teenager. Please can someone write a female police character that actually acts her age?!
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3. I'm not going to rush to find any more of this author's work. While there is some improvement, it's happening way too slowly for me to be keen on reading any more.
Pearson is still inclined to pad his story with unnecessary detail. For example, when Hays is driving from Dunstable to Brixworth, we don't really need to be told that "he could have used the M1...but took the A5 instead." And we DEFINITELY don't need to know that "He drove to Old Stratford, then onto the A508 through Yardley Gobion and Stoke Bruerne, skirting Northampton on the A45 and then on to the A43 past Moulton and Holcot into Brixworth." But these digressions now tend to only take up a paragraph or two, instead of the several pages they occupied in his previous novels.
His characters are becoming slightly less one-dimensional too. I still wouldn't describe them as well-rounded, but they are definite improvements on the cardboard cut-outs of books 1 and 2. Both previous books had strong plot ideas that were weakly executed. In this novel, Pearson makes much more of an effort to develop the plot, giving us four or five potential murderers, and the investigation is much less rushed and perfunctory.
I felt that the kidnapping sub plot was poorly worked out. I really couldn't believe that any sane and sensible 15-year-old would be so stupid as to
The other major weakness for me was the behaviour of the lead female character. Lyons spends all her time panicking over whether or not Hays finds other women attractive and starting rows like a temperamental teenager. Please can someone write a female police character that actually acts her age?!
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3. I'm not going to rush to find any more of this author's work. While there is some improvement, it's happening way too slowly for me to be keen on reading any more.
September 16, 2018
A good read. Let's you know how police in another country deal with crime.But in every country cutting back on the amount of police is the common fault.
When governments cut back on their police force, they have no idea the pressures they put on each and everyman out on the community. These pressures are felt from Ireland to the USA to Australia. Yet the hierarchy disregard the problems overall. This story shows that understaffing is a problem all over the world
A good story with our favourite detectives on the ball.
When governments cut back on their police force, they have no idea the pressures they put on each and everyman out on the community. These pressures are felt from Ireland to the USA to Australia. Yet the hierarchy disregard the problems overall. This story shows that understaffing is a problem all over the world
A good story with our favourite detectives on the ball.
November 7, 2019
I really enjoy novels set in Ireland. This was an interesting mystery but the flatness of the female characters stopped it being a 5* read. The relationship between the police detectives seemed a little meh, as though either one could take it or leave it. The lack of passion left it feeling quite one dimensional. The investigative process was thorough and I didn't spot the murderer until the reveal.
September 2, 2018
Ok Quick read !
More of the same,sort of folksey cosy stuff,all heavily explained.A simple plot,quite believeable. I do though get a bit fed up with the ease with the minor villains seem to be caught by cops in the act of just moving from one place to another. For a famous cross border smuggling race the boys don’t seem to know much !!
More of the same,sort of folksey cosy stuff,all heavily explained.A simple plot,quite believeable. I do though get a bit fed up with the ease with the minor villains seem to be caught by cops in the act of just moving from one place to another. For a famous cross border smuggling race the boys don’t seem to know much !!
August 5, 2019
Absolutely superb!
What a pleasure to read this book!
The plot was well woven and kept the surprise right up to the end.
The characters were endearing and gave a real insight into modern day policing - the good and the bad.
The writing style was superb and the grammar was absolutely perfect. What a joy!
What a pleasure to read this book!
The plot was well woven and kept the surprise right up to the end.
The characters were endearing and gave a real insight into modern day policing - the good and the bad.
The writing style was superb and the grammar was absolutely perfect. What a joy!
Read
September 3, 2019Easy reading murder mystery
The west of Ireland is beautifully written about . This story starts with a murder at a pony show . Finding the whys and who done it takes a while and other story lines, slightly related , pop up. DI Lyons is a mess making mountains out of molehills about her relationship with SI Hays.
The west of Ireland is beautifully written about . This story starts with a murder at a pony show . Finding the whys and who done it takes a while and other story lines, slightly related , pop up. DI Lyons is a mess making mountains out of molehills about her relationship with SI Hays.
April 4, 2023
Good to a Point
Did this book end as if the author could not be bothered to finish? Would it be so terrible to have written another chapter or two instead of just ending with a sort of here they all are today? I really don't care for the instant wrap-up. It's too bad, because it was good up to the last chapter.
Did this book end as if the author could not be bothered to finish? Would it be so terrible to have written another chapter or two instead of just ending with a sort of here they all are today? I really don't care for the instant wrap-up. It's too bad, because it was good up to the last chapter.
August 23, 2018
This latest in series was a good read. I like the pacing and style. Characters are interesting and well developed. Plot lines are always intriguing and not easily discerned until late in the book. Can’t wait for the next release.
August 31, 2018
A good police procedural mystery set in the west of Ireland around Galway Bay. I enjoyed it, although I only gave it four stars because I found that the writing of dialogue was very stilted, which was annoying and took me out of the story.
September 16, 2018
Compu!sive reading, hard to put down . Good characters in it but not entirely
convincing in places. Overall a good yarn , set in Ireland with local interest and beautiful countryside portrayed very well.
convincing in places. Overall a good yarn , set in Ireland with local interest and beautiful countryside portrayed very well.
January 16, 2019
Finally finished a great series
This series of novels we're great, kept interest to the last page and we're informative with regards to the Irish police Guards that are similar to the UK
This series of novels we're great, kept interest to the last page and we're informative with regards to the Irish police Guards that are similar to the UK
May 7, 2020
A dead man at a pony show is a great way to start this entertaining book. A real sense of Connemara comes through, giving a solid background for the action. Lots of twists and turns and a good start to a new series.
September 3, 2021
A Good read
An interesting and intriguing murder mystery set in Ireland. Characters were skilfully crafted and their interactions enriched the suspense. Ireland is renown for their quality horses and this book has it's roots in that world.
An interesting and intriguing murder mystery set in Ireland. Characters were skilfully crafted and their interactions enriched the suspense. Ireland is renown for their quality horses and this book has it's roots in that world.
January 6, 2022
Fourth entry in this excellent series. Partners SDI Mick Hays and DI Maureen Lyons once again team up to solve a strange unique murder. All four novels in this series have been five star reads. This is a must read in a must read series. Check it out.
January 25, 2022
Good plot, but
The curmudgeon in me is noticing an increase in my major dislikes and tarnishing the sparkling clean read. However still clean enough but my curmudgeon radar is up
Plus Lyon’s character is getting a bit to snooty for my taste
The curmudgeon in me is noticing an increase in my major dislikes and tarnishing the sparkling clean read. However still clean enough but my curmudgeon radar is up
Plus Lyon’s character is getting a bit to snooty for my taste
July 13, 2022
Book was a entertaining
Would have enjoyed this book if not distracted by careless typos….
Tullamore confused with Templemore
Lyons Club confused with Lions Club
Characters are interesting and the plot was a good one.
Would have enjoyed this book if not distracted by careless typos….
Tullamore confused with Templemore
Lyons Club confused with Lions Club
Characters are interesting and the plot was a good one.
June 6, 2023
Another fine police procedural set in Ireland. Detectives Lyons and Hays continue to work and solve puzzling murder cases while trying or forge a strong personal relationship. I particularly enjoy Mr, Pearson's writings on the Irish country backgrounds.
July 28, 2023
Good story
In addition to a mystery, this series also delivers a glimpse of western Ireland. The characters are interesting, if just a touch two dimensional at times. In terms if the mystery, there's usually more than one thing going on, which is probably fairly realistic.
In addition to a mystery, this series also delivers a glimpse of western Ireland. The characters are interesting, if just a touch two dimensional at times. In terms if the mystery, there's usually more than one thing going on, which is probably fairly realistic.
August 15, 2018
A really 👍 good read, when is the next book coming out.
I really enjoyed this book and hope there will be more in this series. Well writen a Very ☺ good plot a surprise at the end.
I really enjoyed this book and hope there will be more in this series. Well writen a Very ☺ good plot a surprise at the end.
September 6, 2018
Great Story
Another great story in the Irish murder mystery series. Full of great characters and plenty of twists and turns with a well thought out ending.
Another great story in the Irish murder mystery series. Full of great characters and plenty of twists and turns with a well thought out ending.
September 11, 2018
Murder at the pony show
An easy read but witch completely tying up loose ends. A final summary of all the characters didn't quite covera
An easy read but witch completely tying up loose ends. A final summary of all the characters didn't quite covera
August 9, 2019
Quick and enjoyable
Part murder mystery, part Irish travelogue, I could picture Ireland while puzzling over the whodunit. Reading this was an afternoon well spent.
Part murder mystery, part Irish travelogue, I could picture Ireland while puzzling over the whodunit. Reading this was an afternoon well spent.
November 13, 2019
This story seemed a bit of a disappointment because of how short it was. I loved the girl and her pony.
July 24, 2020
Good story well told.
September 21, 2020
DI Maureen Lyons and her team investigate when a body is discovered at the Connemara Pony Show in County Galway.
The story was okay but I didn't really find any of the characters that likeable.
The story was okay but I didn't really find any of the characters that likeable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews