Murder, she rode

the long version

"An adept horse trainer and former champion rider, Tink Elledge is a woman with a mission: to see her prized horse take home the victory at the prestigious Brandywine Three-Day Event. Tink is whip-smart, headstrong, and used to making her own way--so when an accident forces her onto the sidelines, giving the ride on what may be her last horse to a protege for the first time in her career, she struggles with the realization that her peak days as a horsewoman may be behind her. Then, before the event can begin, a truck accident kills a respected horseman. And when a young rider disappears, what began as a seemingly freak accident reveals sinister roots that lead directly to the tightly-knit equestrian community and that Tink, in her newfound and uneasy role as a spectator, can't help trying to uncover. During the three-day event, horses will perform with inspiring grace. Their riders will navigate treacherous obstacles. And Tink will unravel a plot that threatens the reputations--and lives--of the very men and women she hopes to defeat on the course. Holly Menino has spent a lifetime living with and writing about horses. She's the acclaimed author of three nonfiction books who has been praised by The Washington Post for her "literate and lively style." But it is her debut novel which showcases Holly's immense talent as a storyteller, introducing an irresistible new amateur sleuth in an engaging read"--