Laura Crum

This is the 11th book in the Gail McCarthy series, but the first I've read. I was surprised that I hadn't heard about this series already. I'm sure that there was a lot of backstory that I was missing, but didn't feel disjointed reading this book out of order. Gail is a homeschooling mom, who used to be a large animal vet. She goes to visit a friend, who is arrested for murdering his girlfriend. Gail is convinced of his innocence, and investigates quietly. Although the vignettes on show more homeschooling and the mother/child relationship sometimes seemed to be overly sentimental, I enjoyed this book and will look for others in this series. show less

In a nutshell, Gail's family horse-camping trip runs headlong into a murder investigation. Her ex-boyfriend Lonny Peterson is the prime suspect in the death of his new girlfriend. Gail's childhood friend Bret Boncantini, now a local deputy, provides some helpful, hands-off, police advice, but fears for his job if he provides any overt assistance. If Gail doesn't help, Lonny may just find himself on the wrong side of a set of bars for a very long time.

I was really looking forward to reading show more the latest in Gail McCarthy's continuing adventures. Previous books have provided informative, suspenseful, and entertaining peeks into the horse industry through the eyes of an equine practitioner.

Everyone's entitled to an off book occasionally, and unfortunately, this one limps rather heavily when it comes to carrying through on the blurb's promised excitement. Going, Gone just doesn't stack up to the preceding volumes.

Maudlin, introspective, and jerky by turns, it trails from a stilted beginning through to an abrupt ending that reads a bit like a replay from an earlier book. This installment lacks the realistic grounding in medicine, animals and characters that I've come to expect. Or perhaps it has too much grounding in reality? There are gaps. Characters just aren't fully fleshed out, and too many of them aren't likable. Too many suspects, and the ending is jarringly abrupt. A bit more in the way of story would have gone a long way toward filling in some of what's lacking.

Positives? The critters, as always, are genuine, lovingly portrayed and presented. The riding vignettes, likewise. Gail's relationship with Blue and her son's reaction to all the death are realistic and convincing. Really, as a series of reminiscences, I'd have liked it better. Stringing a murder in there... not so much. Definitely NOT the place to start reading this series. show less

I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer Program, and the algorithm undoubtedly chose me because I read many books that take place in my home region of Central California.

Gail McCarthy thinks she's going on a relaxing vacation with her husband and son. Leaving their home near Monterey, they drive across the San Joaquin Valley to the Sierra foothills to the ranch of her old friend and former boyfriend, Lonny. Upon arrival, things take a more sordid turn: Lonny is being show more arrested for the murder of his girlfriend and her brother. Instead of camping and swimming with her family, Gail sets out on an investigation to find out who really murdered the sales yard siblings, and she needs to move fast because the death toll is mounting.

Overall, I enjoyed this cozy horse mystery. It's obvious that the author knows horses and deeply loves the areas she writes about--which delights me since so few people write about the central part of the state. However, it's not a perfect book. It opens with a dream sequence that has little bearing on the story, and for some reason chapter 17 was in present tense when all the rest is in past. Those are the sort of niggling details a writer notices, especially after critiquing and editing much of the day. But you know what? Those are nitpicks. This was a fun book. It's under 200 pages and there's nothing deep about the mystery. You know the bad guy will get caught and Lonny will be freed, but it's an enjoyable ride up to that conclusion. Sometimes that's the sort of book you need to finish out the day. show less

I liked this book alot. Laura Crum writes mysteries of a world that she is very familiar with. The world of horses and ranching and wide open spaces that fit in the small holes left by our more computerized world.Like some cozy mysteries, the mystery was only part of the theme as of course horses and the ranch communities were another part. The main character, a veternarian who is currently a stay at home mother must solve the murder of two cattle auction folks because the police believe show more that her friend was involved. The mystery was well thought out and the ending is well thought out. The author was also ruminating some on death and on more than just the world she lives in which makes it somewhat unlike alot of cozies. The read is quick and I enjoyed the book except some of the ruminations dragged the pace a bit. I would still read the book though just to see another cozy genre. I read Susan Wittig Albert, Alice Kimberly, Madelyn Alt and J. F. Engelert and Laura Crum's books will be another type of cozy that I will try to find in my local Barnes & Noble. show less