ARC Review: Trotting Into Trouble by Amber Camp

Trotting Into Trouble
Author: Amber Camp
Series: A Horse Rescue Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (November 14, 2023)

Description: An investigation goes from an easy trot to a full-on gallop into danger in the second Horse Rescue mystery, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Mollie Cox Bryan.

It’s business as usual when horse rescue owner Mallory Martin gets a call from Sheriff Grady Sullivan that a loose horse has been found in a popular hunting area. While trying to catch the horse, Mallory stumbles upon the body of his unfortunate rider, Hillspring’s star basketball coach, Douglas Griggs. All signs point to a tragic hunting accident.

Despite her better instincts, Mallory finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation when the coach’s widow begs her to look into the case. Mrs. Griggs believes the sheriff is ignoring any evidence that doesn’t point to an accident.

But Mallory’s troubles are only beginning. As she juggles a blossoming romance, tensions with her best friend Lanie, and responsibilities at the rescue, she discovers that Coach Griggs’s enemies had ample motive to murder him. And now, Mallory may be in the killer’s sights.

My Thoughts: Mallory Martin, who runs a horse rescue, is called by her friend Sheriff Grady Sullivan when a loose horse in a hunting area needs to be captured. While trying to entice the horse to come to her, Mallory stumbles onto a body - the rider of the horse. Even though she is concentrating on the horse, she recognizes the victim as basketball Coach Douglass Griggs. He was her favorite teacher when she was a student. 

At first it looks like Grigg's death was an unfortunate hunting accident, but things aren't adding up at a closer look. Someone removed his orange vest and attempted to obscure his body by covering it with leaves. And the more she looks the more it seems that someone really wanted him dead. 

When Mallory gets the horse back to her rescue, she discovers that Griggs has added an encrypted flash drive to the horse's gear. Mallory also gets herself kicked in the calf by the horse and finds herself limping through the rest of the story. 

Mallory's curiosity has her investigating the death despite the sheriff's disapproval. Her obsession with the case threatens her relationship with her best friend and her new romantic partner whom she has not yet introduced to her daughter. It also places her right in the sights of the killer who wants Mallory out of the way. 

This was an entertaining story. I liked the characters and especially liked the animal characters from the difficult horse she names Jet to her latest rescue that she names Ruby. I liked her dog Banjo and terrible Timmy the Yorkie was a great character too. And who couldn't fall in love with Biscuit the resident donkey. The human characters were equally memorable. 

Favorite Quote:

He followed me onto the porch, where our arrival was announced by the sharp yapping of a tiny dog. I could barely hear Mrs. Grigg's shushing the ferocious beast over its steady staccato barking. When she opened the door, a Yorkie that weighed maybe four pounds came bursting out with the bravado befitting a tiny dog. It continued to bark until Tanner snatched it up and started telling it how vicious and scary it was and how terrified he was of such a guard dog. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.