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Pony Confidential
In this one-of-a-kind mystery with heart and humor, a hilariously grumpy pony must save the only human he’s ever loved after discovering she stands accused of a murder he knows she didn’t commit.
Pony has been passed from owner to owner for longer than he can remember. Fed up, he busts out and goes on a cross-country mission to reunite with the only little girl he ever loved, Penny, who he was separated from and hasn’t seen in years.
Penny, now an adult, is living an ordinary life when she gets a knock on her door and finds herself in handcuffs, accused of murder and whisked back to the place she grew up. Her only comfort when the past comes back to haunt her are the memories of her precious, rebellious pony.
Hearing of Penny’s fate, Pony knows that Penny is no murderer. So, as smart and devious as he is cute, the pony must use his hard-won knowledge of human weakness and cruelty to try to clear Penny’s name and find the real killer.
This acutely observant feel-good mystery reveals the humanity of animals and beastliness of humans in a rollicking escapade of epic proportions.
Pony has been passed from owner to owner for longer than he can remember. Fed up, he busts out and goes on a cross-country mission to reunite with the only little girl he ever loved, Penny, who he was separated from and hasn’t seen in years.
Penny, now an adult, is living an ordinary life when she gets a knock on her door and finds herself in handcuffs, accused of murder and whisked back to the place she grew up. Her only comfort when the past comes back to haunt her are the memories of her precious, rebellious pony.
Hearing of Penny’s fate, Pony knows that Penny is no murderer. So, as smart and devious as he is cute, the pony must use his hard-won knowledge of human weakness and cruelty to try to clear Penny’s name and find the real killer.
This acutely observant feel-good mystery reveals the humanity of animals and beastliness of humans in a rollicking escapade of epic proportions.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 2024
647 people are currently reading
26113 people want to read
About the author
Christina Lynch
5 books277 followersChristina Lynch is the author of Pony Confidential, a comic mystery (Berkley, 2024). She's also the author of The Italian Party and Sally Brady's Italian Adventure (St. Martin's, 2018 and 2023), and she's the co-author of two novels under the pen name Magnus Flyte: City of Dark Magic and City of Lost Dreams (Penguin, 2012 and 2013) .
Christina lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada with two dogs, three horses and two ponies, and teaches at a community college in central California. She is happy to answer your questions about Italy, writing, horses and ponies, or how to keep your dog off the sofa (answer: don't even try).
Christina lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada with two dogs, three horses and two ponies, and teaches at a community college in central California. She is happy to answer your questions about Italy, writing, horses and ponies, or how to keep your dog off the sofa (answer: don't even try).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,370 reviews
June 30, 2025
This story is heartwarming without being cheesy and is great for anyone who needs characters, with baggage, winning.
Someone described this as Homeward Bound combined with a police procedural, and I couldn't agree more. The legal stuff isn't super accurate, but also animals don't really bet at horse tracks, so you know, just be prepared to suspend your need for realism for a bit.
I listened to this audiobook in one day, pausing it only so I could explain a variety of plot points to my dogs who should also be able to aid in my criminal defense if I ever need because of how much Law and Order we've watched.
Someone described this as Homeward Bound combined with a police procedural, and I couldn't agree more. The legal stuff isn't super accurate, but also animals don't really bet at horse tracks, so you know, just be prepared to suspend your need for realism for a bit.
I listened to this audiobook in one day, pausing it only so I could explain a variety of plot points to my dogs who should also be able to aid in my criminal defense if I ever need because of how much Law and Order we've watched.
November 6, 2025
In a Nutshell: A book about a pony out for revenge, first against Penny and then on behalf of Penny. Quite funny and entertaining, as long as you don’t question the proceedings too much. A bit too preachy (though the points it makes are valid). Somewhat longwinded. Supposedly a ‘horsey’-retelling of the Odyssey, which I learnt only on reading the author’s note. Recommended to those who read after throwing aside their thinking caps.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
PSA: The blurb is very misleading. Unlike what it suggests, this book isn’t about a horse who learns that his beloved ex-owner has been accused of murder and sets out to find the killer. What I have written above is a more appropriate representation. So if you are looking for a story of an equine detective, you will get it but not in the way you think. Pony is looking for Penny for his own selfish reasons, and not for the “real killer” to clear Penny’s name.
Bookish Yays:
🐴 The very first paragraph in the “Pony” narration introducing himself. Hilarious!
🐴 Pony. Most ponies in fiction are sweet and caring and loveable. Pony is the contrary! He is boastful, irritable, aggressive, and rude. Of course, his fury feels somewhat justified considering how humans have treated him. I did know that this would be an emotional POV, but didn't expect fury and revenge to be the dominant sentiments. 😅
🐴 Pony’s POV has several animal characters, almost all of whom are interesting. Every animal's voice - dog, horse, goat, sparrow, butterfly,… - sounds authentic to their personality (as guesstimated by us humans.)
🐴 Quite a few funny scenes and dialogues in Pony’s perspective, partly thanks to his mildly egocentric attitude.
🐴 Several disturbing facts about animal abuse. Not a happy Yay, but a deserved one as the book is informative in this regard.
🐴 Many good pieces of wisdom coming as advice to Pony by the other animals, especially a wise philosophical cat. These are quite insightful, and relevant even to humans.
🐴 The way the two perspectives intersect. Cleverly done!
Bookish Okays:
🎠 The blurb makes this feel like a detective mystery. However, the dominant tone is more like a general drama. The murder itself isn't given priority as the focus is more on Penny and Pony. Even the identity of the murder victim doesn’t come out till the second quarter.
🎠 Penny’s character development. I liked her character, not because how she was sketched but despite it. Her behaviour is not written in a sensible way. Like, it is weird how she thinks more about a pony from her childhood than about her own family while she is in jail. It felt like the book was trying to forcefully establish a connection. But her few attributes that we do get to see make us want to root for her even when her personality is confusing.
🎠 The fact-dumping. The book has quite a few facts related to environmental damage, animal abuse (especially horses & ponies), legal and penal system issues, and so on. While all the facts are definitely true and justified, the result is that the book sounds too preachy.
🎠 There are several logical loopholes in the book, mainly in Pony’s POV, especially in one in-between scene where he doesn’t recognise Penny. Then again, how much logic can one expect in a book where a pony is holding the reins of the narrative? Suspension of disbelief greatly required!
🎠 While it is amusing to read Pony’s perspective, it is definitely farfetched. He has some improbable knowledge of topics such as guerrilla warfare and the statute of limitations and uses words like ‘gaslighting’ and ‘charlatan’. The same applies to the awareness demonstrated by the other animals. But as we have already opted for suspension of disbelief, we can just take these in our stride and consider them creative license.
🎠 This is supposedly a retelling of Homer’s Odyssey, with Pony being Odysseus. I didn’t even realise this as I have not read (and don’t intend to read) the classic. So the mention of this point in the author’s note took me by surprise. It’s a creative and ambitious idea, but also with the inherent downfall - it feels as longwinded as the Odyssey. Pony’s perspective drags a lot in between as he seems to go on one misadventure after another without taking the story ahead.
🎠 The ending, though satisfactory, left me with mixed feelings. Given the larger-than-life nature of the story, I expected a bit more dramatic finish. But some key scenes don’t happen on the page.
Bookish Nays:
🏇🏻 Penny’s POV is surprisingly monotonous. For a major chunk of the first half, her perspective is devoid of any interaction from her family, which is strange given her circumstances. We don’t even see much of her experience in or feelings about prison. The writing is quite flat in this regard.
🏇🏻 The few child characters in the book always sound too mature for their age in their dialogues.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 11 hrs 29 min, is narrated by Erin Moon (voicing Penny) and Blair Young (voicing Pony). Moon is good, but Penny’s perspective is devoid of much drama despite the potential, so she doesn’t really get a chance to *perform* in the true sense of the word. Young, on the other hand, has a cantankerous and melodramatic pony as his character, so he neighs his way to perfection. I absolutely enjoyed his performance, especially the way he voiced the goat by incorporating bleats into the dialogues. There is one chapter where Pony and Penny share the stage. Here, both the narrators come together, voicing their respective characters in turn. I appreciated this so much. It was a great way of seeing (ahem… ‘hearing’) Pony and Penny interact.
Overall, while the book turned out to be somewhat different from what was promised in the blurb, it was still entertaining enough. Penny’s POV was a tad disappointing at how shallow it felt, but Pony’s chapters, even with their heavyhanded social commentary, made the book fun.
Despite the pony perspective, this is not for children due to kid-inappropriate language and disturbing scenes. Officially, this is adult fiction, but it might work well for young adults too.
Recommended to those who can read without overthinking and enjoy animal narrators. Better to treat this novel as a light entertainer with some tense moments instead of as a murder mystery.
3.75 stars.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Thirty-seven-year-old Californian teacher Penny is taken aback when she is suddenly arrested for a murder committed twenty-five years before in Ithaca, New York. Imprisoned with no access to her family and no money for a personal lawyer, all Penny can do is think about better times, especially the days when she had her beloved pony with her.
Ever since the girl he loved sold him without second thought, Pony has only one thing on his mind: revenge. He keeps going from owner to owner because of his aggressive I-don’t-care attitude, but his yearning for vengeance doesn’t change. His only hope as he moves across places is to find that evil Penny who destroyed his faith in humans.
The story comes to us in the alternate perspectives of Penny and Pony, written mostly in third person for Penny and in first person for Pony.
PSA: The blurb is very misleading. Unlike what it suggests, this book isn’t about a horse who learns that his beloved ex-owner has been accused of murder and sets out to find the killer. What I have written above is a more appropriate representation. So if you are looking for a story of an equine detective, you will get it but not in the way you think. Pony is looking for Penny for his own selfish reasons, and not for the “real killer” to clear Penny’s name.
Bookish Yays:
🐴 The very first paragraph in the “Pony” narration introducing himself. Hilarious!
🐴 Pony. Most ponies in fiction are sweet and caring and loveable. Pony is the contrary! He is boastful, irritable, aggressive, and rude. Of course, his fury feels somewhat justified considering how humans have treated him. I did know that this would be an emotional POV, but didn't expect fury and revenge to be the dominant sentiments. 😅
🐴 Pony’s POV has several animal characters, almost all of whom are interesting. Every animal's voice - dog, horse, goat, sparrow, butterfly,… - sounds authentic to their personality (as guesstimated by us humans.)
🐴 Quite a few funny scenes and dialogues in Pony’s perspective, partly thanks to his mildly egocentric attitude.
🐴 Several disturbing facts about animal abuse. Not a happy Yay, but a deserved one as the book is informative in this regard.
🐴 Many good pieces of wisdom coming as advice to Pony by the other animals, especially a wise philosophical cat. These are quite insightful, and relevant even to humans.
🐴 The way the two perspectives intersect. Cleverly done!
Bookish Okays:
🎠 The blurb makes this feel like a detective mystery. However, the dominant tone is more like a general drama. The murder itself isn't given priority as the focus is more on Penny and Pony. Even the identity of the murder victim doesn’t come out till the second quarter.
🎠 Penny’s character development. I liked her character, not because how she was sketched but despite it. Her behaviour is not written in a sensible way. Like, it is weird how she thinks more about a pony from her childhood than about her own family while she is in jail. It felt like the book was trying to forcefully establish a connection. But her few attributes that we do get to see make us want to root for her even when her personality is confusing.
🎠 The fact-dumping. The book has quite a few facts related to environmental damage, animal abuse (especially horses & ponies), legal and penal system issues, and so on. While all the facts are definitely true and justified, the result is that the book sounds too preachy.
🎠 There are several logical loopholes in the book, mainly in Pony’s POV, especially in one in-between scene where he doesn’t recognise Penny. Then again, how much logic can one expect in a book where a pony is holding the reins of the narrative? Suspension of disbelief greatly required!
🎠 While it is amusing to read Pony’s perspective, it is definitely farfetched. He has some improbable knowledge of topics such as guerrilla warfare and the statute of limitations and uses words like ‘gaslighting’ and ‘charlatan’. The same applies to the awareness demonstrated by the other animals. But as we have already opted for suspension of disbelief, we can just take these in our stride and consider them creative license.
🎠 This is supposedly a retelling of Homer’s Odyssey, with Pony being Odysseus. I didn’t even realise this as I have not read (and don’t intend to read) the classic. So the mention of this point in the author’s note took me by surprise. It’s a creative and ambitious idea, but also with the inherent downfall - it feels as longwinded as the Odyssey. Pony’s perspective drags a lot in between as he seems to go on one misadventure after another without taking the story ahead.
🎠 The ending, though satisfactory, left me with mixed feelings. Given the larger-than-life nature of the story, I expected a bit more dramatic finish. But some key scenes don’t happen on the page.
Bookish Nays:
🏇🏻 Penny’s POV is surprisingly monotonous. For a major chunk of the first half, her perspective is devoid of any interaction from her family, which is strange given her circumstances. We don’t even see much of her experience in or feelings about prison. The writing is quite flat in this regard.
🏇🏻 The few child characters in the book always sound too mature for their age in their dialogues.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 11 hrs 29 min, is narrated by Erin Moon (voicing Penny) and Blair Young (voicing Pony). Moon is good, but Penny’s perspective is devoid of much drama despite the potential, so she doesn’t really get a chance to *perform* in the true sense of the word. Young, on the other hand, has a cantankerous and melodramatic pony as his character, so he neighs his way to perfection. I absolutely enjoyed his performance, especially the way he voiced the goat by incorporating bleats into the dialogues. There is one chapter where Pony and Penny share the stage. Here, both the narrators come together, voicing their respective characters in turn. I appreciated this so much. It was a great way of seeing (ahem… ‘hearing’) Pony and Penny interact.
Overall, while the book turned out to be somewhat different from what was promised in the blurb, it was still entertaining enough. Penny’s POV was a tad disappointing at how shallow it felt, but Pony’s chapters, even with their heavyhanded social commentary, made the book fun.
Despite the pony perspective, this is not for children due to kid-inappropriate language and disturbing scenes. Officially, this is adult fiction, but it might work well for young adults too.
Recommended to those who can read without overthinking and enjoy animal narrators. Better to treat this novel as a light entertainer with some tense moments instead of as a murder mystery.
3.75 stars.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
July 23, 2024
***NO SPOILERS***
Meet Pony. Once owned and beloved by Penny, Pony got sold without warning when Penny was twelve. More than two decades later he’s still bitter about it and one day runs away to find Penny and confront her. Christina Lynch’s Pony Confidential is a cute, funny, and sometimes wry murder mystery told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of this likable pony and the equally likable Penny.
In Pony’s chapters readers go on a harrowing cross-country adventure as he’s guided by educated guesses, his acute sense of smell, and other animal characters. Lynch threw in many creative obstacles and repeatedly put Pony in jeopardy as he finds himself taken to a racetrack, a horse show, an island of wild horses à la Assateague Island, and a ramshackle petting zoo, among other colorful places. The transience of the story is a large part of its appeal. In each setting Pony meets new endearing animal personalities before encountering the latest obstacle on his journey. The horseshoe in the cover design isn’t just because the book has a pony character—Pony is apparently the luckiest animal on the planet. He’s rescued or escapes every predicament and forges on, as happily as ever. But Pony Confidential is about a pony solving a murder, so readers should have suspended disbelief from page one.
In Penny’s chapters readers see her getting arrested and languishing in jail as she awaits trial for allegedly murdering a man when she was a child. Her efforts to get exonerated are their own journey, and although unlike Pony she spends most of her time in one place, her storyline is somehow just as engaging as his. Two villains are one-dimensional but well described as people to be feared. Pony Confidential is imaginative and unpredictable, heavy on amusing moments as its mystery moves steadily toward a surprising whodunnit-reveal.
Although Lynch’s book is cute, it avoids cutesiness thanks to its tone of occasional cynicism from Pony and plentiful sarcastic asides from a pessimistic goat friend. In Penny’s chapters this fluff book loses a little fluff as Lynch highlighted some of what’s unfair about the criminal-justice system. She used Pony’s chapters to (nongraphically) highlight animal mistreatment. Nevertheless, Lynch kept heavy observations minimal to ensure her light read stayed light, and here her definition of “light” means a winning combination of whimsy, charming animals, ridiculousness, and a dash of tang to prevent it all from becoming saccharine. Lynch created something strongly heartwarming and easy to like, even by readers who normally prefer deep, serious mysteries.
NOTE: I received this as an Advance Reader Copy from BookBrowse in May 2024.
Meet Pony. Once owned and beloved by Penny, Pony got sold without warning when Penny was twelve. More than two decades later he’s still bitter about it and one day runs away to find Penny and confront her. Christina Lynch’s Pony Confidential is a cute, funny, and sometimes wry murder mystery told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of this likable pony and the equally likable Penny.
In Pony’s chapters readers go on a harrowing cross-country adventure as he’s guided by educated guesses, his acute sense of smell, and other animal characters. Lynch threw in many creative obstacles and repeatedly put Pony in jeopardy as he finds himself taken to a racetrack, a horse show, an island of wild horses à la Assateague Island, and a ramshackle petting zoo, among other colorful places. The transience of the story is a large part of its appeal. In each setting Pony meets new endearing animal personalities before encountering the latest obstacle on his journey. The horseshoe in the cover design isn’t just because the book has a pony character—Pony is apparently the luckiest animal on the planet. He’s rescued or escapes every predicament and forges on, as happily as ever. But Pony Confidential is about a pony solving a murder, so readers should have suspended disbelief from page one.
In Penny’s chapters readers see her getting arrested and languishing in jail as she awaits trial for allegedly murdering a man when she was a child. Her efforts to get exonerated are their own journey, and although unlike Pony she spends most of her time in one place, her storyline is somehow just as engaging as his. Two villains are one-dimensional but well described as people to be feared. Pony Confidential is imaginative and unpredictable, heavy on amusing moments as its mystery moves steadily toward a surprising whodunnit-reveal.
Although Lynch’s book is cute, it avoids cutesiness thanks to its tone of occasional cynicism from Pony and plentiful sarcastic asides from a pessimistic goat friend. In Penny’s chapters this fluff book loses a little fluff as Lynch highlighted some of what’s unfair about the criminal-justice system. She used Pony’s chapters to (nongraphically) highlight animal mistreatment. Nevertheless, Lynch kept heavy observations minimal to ensure her light read stayed light, and here her definition of “light” means a winning combination of whimsy, charming animals, ridiculousness, and a dash of tang to prevent it all from becoming saccharine. Lynch created something strongly heartwarming and easy to like, even by readers who normally prefer deep, serious mysteries.
NOTE: I received this as an Advance Reader Copy from BookBrowse in May 2024.
May 28, 2024
My favorite genre is adult books with animals as the protagonist, followed by mystery. This should have been an easy one for me to love, but sadly here we are. The biggest problem for me was it felt like the book didn't know what it wanted to be. the first 60% is mostly our belligerent pony narrator having endless adventures in his quest to find his person. It was like Benji on steroids. Pony crisscrossed the USA 6 times, if not more! Pony has a great voice, but the first person doomed it with telling and more telling and no showing. Our second lead is Penny...Penny reads like YA, nothing in her voice feels natural and her "mystery" doesn't really jump start until 60% through our tale. Pony needed to pick a lane, and have a heavier editing hand to tighten up the story, make it head in a single direction and amp up the endearing characters while shrinking the not so well drawn folks...of which...there are about 6 billion folks in this book.
November 21, 2024
As seen on www.mysteryandsuspense.com
Author Christina Lynch has managed to craft an engaging, entertaining mystery novel with a pony as the protagonist. Yes, a four-legged, adorable, rideable pony. Although he goes by many names depending on who owns him at the time, he is identified to readers as “Pony,” and his quest to find his previous owner during her darkest time is both fun and heartwarming.
Penny can’t remember a time when she was happier than when she was spending time with her beloved Pony. Even though it’s been twenty-five years, her times with Pony were some of the best of her life. Now, she is a teacher, a mother, and a wife, living a moderately satisfying and very normal existence—until the day a police officer shows up at her door and arrests her for the murder of a man who died over twenty-five years ago. Now, Penny is in jail, and the only thing getting her through the hard times is the memory of her beloved Pony. Pony himself is trying to find a home where he was as happy as he was with Penny. Finally deciding to seek out the only owner he ever truly loved, he sets off on a nationwide journey to reconnect with the only family he has, just at the time when she needs him the most.
Pony Confidential is a quirky and boundary-defying mystery unlike anything in the genre. Part Homeward Bound and part Toy Story, yet with a murder mystery component and a plot geared toward adults, Lynch has written a story that will attract horse lovers across the globe.
The story is narrated by both Penny and Pony, in alternating chapters. Pony is sarcastic, bitter (and a biter!), and has managed to turn on anyone who ever shows him affection, leaving him isolated and lonely. Penny is struggling to raise a daughter with mental health challenges while navigating the possibility of a separation from her husband. Both Penny and Pony’s stories run parallel to each other, as they both find themselves in situations beyond their control, often in confined spaces, wanting nothing more than to be reunited with each other.
Not to be outdone, the mystery component is full of unexpected twists and turns. There is plenty of potential in the characters that Lynch scatters throughout the plot, but the ending took me by complete surprise in a delightfully unexpected way.
Pony Confidential was a novel I did not expect to enjoy as much as I did. Lynch’s writing flows, her plot is intriguing, and her characters—especially Pony—are sassy and lovable. Horse lovers, mystery lovers, or anyone looking for a delightfully unusual read should check out Christina Lynch’s Pony Confidential.
Author Christina Lynch has managed to craft an engaging, entertaining mystery novel with a pony as the protagonist. Yes, a four-legged, adorable, rideable pony. Although he goes by many names depending on who owns him at the time, he is identified to readers as “Pony,” and his quest to find his previous owner during her darkest time is both fun and heartwarming.
Penny can’t remember a time when she was happier than when she was spending time with her beloved Pony. Even though it’s been twenty-five years, her times with Pony were some of the best of her life. Now, she is a teacher, a mother, and a wife, living a moderately satisfying and very normal existence—until the day a police officer shows up at her door and arrests her for the murder of a man who died over twenty-five years ago. Now, Penny is in jail, and the only thing getting her through the hard times is the memory of her beloved Pony. Pony himself is trying to find a home where he was as happy as he was with Penny. Finally deciding to seek out the only owner he ever truly loved, he sets off on a nationwide journey to reconnect with the only family he has, just at the time when she needs him the most.
Pony Confidential is a quirky and boundary-defying mystery unlike anything in the genre. Part Homeward Bound and part Toy Story, yet with a murder mystery component and a plot geared toward adults, Lynch has written a story that will attract horse lovers across the globe.
The story is narrated by both Penny and Pony, in alternating chapters. Pony is sarcastic, bitter (and a biter!), and has managed to turn on anyone who ever shows him affection, leaving him isolated and lonely. Penny is struggling to raise a daughter with mental health challenges while navigating the possibility of a separation from her husband. Both Penny and Pony’s stories run parallel to each other, as they both find themselves in situations beyond their control, often in confined spaces, wanting nothing more than to be reunited with each other.
Not to be outdone, the mystery component is full of unexpected twists and turns. There is plenty of potential in the characters that Lynch scatters throughout the plot, but the ending took me by complete surprise in a delightfully unexpected way.
Pony Confidential was a novel I did not expect to enjoy as much as I did. Lynch’s writing flows, her plot is intriguing, and her characters—especially Pony—are sassy and lovable. Horse lovers, mystery lovers, or anyone looking for a delightfully unusual read should check out Christina Lynch’s Pony Confidential.
April 8, 2024
I received an ARC for review through NetGalley.
I was intrigued by the premise... but ultimately I wasn't sure who the target audience for this book was supposed to be. I thought it was going to be a kind of tongue in cheek, humorous murder mystery, but so much of it reads very earnestly like literary for animal lovers. Even as a horse girl myself, I think it was missing a classic mystery structure that might've helped hold the overall story up in the long run. I felt the pacing was a little off and the writing voice was occasionally juvenile. The Pony's POV chapters felt cheeky but somewhat hardboiled; I think it might have worked even better if that was the full POV for the whole storyline. Ultimately this one just did not work as well for me as I hoped it would but I applaud the concept and the attempt at genre-bending.
I was intrigued by the premise... but ultimately I wasn't sure who the target audience for this book was supposed to be. I thought it was going to be a kind of tongue in cheek, humorous murder mystery, but so much of it reads very earnestly like literary for animal lovers. Even as a horse girl myself, I think it was missing a classic mystery structure that might've helped hold the overall story up in the long run. I felt the pacing was a little off and the writing voice was occasionally juvenile. The Pony's POV chapters felt cheeky but somewhat hardboiled; I think it might have worked even better if that was the full POV for the whole storyline. Ultimately this one just did not work as well for me as I hoped it would but I applaud the concept and the attempt at genre-bending.
February 1, 2025
[2.5 Stars]
A pony who saves the day? Sign me up!
This novel is told in two perspectives, Pony and Penny. Pony goes to the ends of earth and back again (multiple times which got a little old) to save his one true love, Penny. Penny & Pony were inseparable, until Penny moved to the city and Pony was sold. Until 25 years later, Pony races to try to save Penny who is on trial for murder.
I really enjoyed the antics of Pony and all the animal perspectives that we get, but the "adventuring" was over the top, and all the different owners of Pony (while I appreciated the message, it just could've been edited down a bit to hit harder). I really enjoyed the ending and how everything wrapped up, and the tension at the end had me racing to the turn the pages. Overall, I think the first half could've been edited down and written a little tighter to keep the reader interested.
Overall, I was a little disappointed in the execution of this book, the premise was amazing but the story itself fell a little flat for this reader.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
A pony who saves the day? Sign me up!
This novel is told in two perspectives, Pony and Penny. Pony goes to the ends of earth and back again (multiple times which got a little old) to save his one true love, Penny. Penny & Pony were inseparable, until Penny moved to the city and Pony was sold. Until 25 years later, Pony races to try to save Penny who is on trial for murder.
I really enjoyed the antics of Pony and all the animal perspectives that we get, but the "adventuring" was over the top, and all the different owners of Pony (while I appreciated the message, it just could've been edited down a bit to hit harder). I really enjoyed the ending and how everything wrapped up, and the tension at the end had me racing to the turn the pages. Overall, I think the first half could've been edited down and written a little tighter to keep the reader interested.
Overall, I was a little disappointed in the execution of this book, the premise was amazing but the story itself fell a little flat for this reader.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
March 18, 2025
This novel is perfect—perfectly, wildly yet believably imaginative because from the first words, written alternately by a small pony with huge attitude and Penny, the human love of his life, it is the most natural thing in the world to believe everything and have any disbelief so willingly suspended that it never once intrudes.
This novel is everything I wanted and needed for escape. It is funny, moving, deeply ethical and concerned with how we humans treat the beings around us, as well as the planet. But the ethics come through with such humor and invention that I found myself sighing with relief: "Yes, yes, thank you for making this so obvious."
The novel is charming and suspenseful, beautifully, finely written—from language to form.
This novel is called a mystery but that is a box it instantly transcends. Simply put, it is a terrific novel that will sweep away anyone who has ever loved an animal friend. And maybe even some people who have not had that pleasure.
This novel is one I would recommend to everybody. It is commercial but off-the-charts original. It is light, but deeply serious. And it is perfectly constructed.
And if you need a complete escape from the roiling world around us, while still feeling concern for what is at the foundations of our mess—greed, selfishness, and intolerance or fear of anyone or thing we label "other"—this is a book you MUST read.
This novel is everything I wanted and needed for escape. It is funny, moving, deeply ethical and concerned with how we humans treat the beings around us, as well as the planet. But the ethics come through with such humor and invention that I found myself sighing with relief: "Yes, yes, thank you for making this so obvious."
The novel is charming and suspenseful, beautifully, finely written—from language to form.
This novel is called a mystery but that is a box it instantly transcends. Simply put, it is a terrific novel that will sweep away anyone who has ever loved an animal friend. And maybe even some people who have not had that pleasure.
This novel is one I would recommend to everybody. It is commercial but off-the-charts original. It is light, but deeply serious. And it is perfectly constructed.
And if you need a complete escape from the roiling world around us, while still feeling concern for what is at the foundations of our mess—greed, selfishness, and intolerance or fear of anyone or thing we label "other"—this is a book you MUST read.
September 16, 2025
PONY CONFIDENTIAL by Christina Lynch is an endearing read that galloped into my heart, earning a blue ribbon with four stars, as well as a prominent place on my “favorites” shelf!
MY TEASE…
Most memorable events between a rider and their pony happen in the horse ring, in a barn, on trails in the woods, in a meadow with wildflowers, cantering along the beach, or crossing a glistening river on bareback. And the memories are almost always glorious!
Not for Penny. Not for her pony.
Twenty-five years ago, when Penny was 12 and riding in the woods on her pony, one stabled at a modest farm in New York, she was joined by a dreamy boy named Alex, expertly riding his flashy pony from an upscale horse farm. It had all the makings of a whimsical day.
Until…until hours after, a man was found dead in those very woods, bludgeoned with a rock. Penny was discovered nearby, alone and unconscious on the ground. No one else was in sight, including her pony.
Suspicions against Penny were the size of a draft horse, so of course, her parents immediately sold the pony and whisked their daughter across the country to California to start over.
Time lapses after that, but neither Penny nor her pony ever fully recover. How could they? The unknowns and misunderstandings were never resolved and they fester.
Getting arrested a quarter-of-a-century later, charged with the murder of the man in the woods, was typical bad luck for Penny.
Ironically, her aging pony may be her only advocate. He’s determined to find her, if only he can make it safely across the country, in time for her trial.
THOUGHTS…
Pony is so endearing, so clever and witty! His “voice” is amazing! I also enjoyed the countless animals he encounters on his journey. I just loved that pony. Kudos to the author for giving readers a character who’s not easily forgotten!
The mystery…who killed horseman Frank in the woods…brilliantly drives the story forward, weaving together Penny and Pony’s mutual longing for a reunion.
Because this read landed on my favorites shelf, I hesitated to deduct a star at all, but I did so because I wanted to explain some of my frustrations and give future readers a heads-up to lessen their potential confusion, specifically about the timelines of the narrators.
For example, the odd chapters are narrated by Penny; the evens, by Pony. In Chapter 54 (hardcover page 245), I discovered that their storylines were not happening in parallel time!!! Ugh! There was actually a five year difference until the timelines merged at the climax. What in the world?!
I went back to the beginning of the book to see if I could figure out how I missed this staggered timeline (which I was definitely guilty of).
On page 2, Penny is arrested in present time, 25 years after the murder in the woods.
On page 9, Pony is in his present time, 15 years after the murder. And on page 18, I learn that Pony’s timeline jumped to 20 years after the murder. Nevertheless, the timelines between him and Penny remain 5 years apart until the climax, which does explain some confusing inconsistencies I noted along the way.
Even though I missed this 5 year difference for most of the book, I can’t understand why it was necessary in the first place. When I got confused, I was pulled out of the story to figure out what in the heck was going on with timing. Moreover, it just felt like this story should be happening in parallel time and frankly, I couldn’t identify any benefits associated with the difference.
As well, why have Penny and Pony separated by 3,000 miles? Maybe a state apart, but the whole expanse of the country? No doubt I’d follow this pony anywhere, but it’s asking a GINORMOUS suspension of disbelief to accept that Pony could actually traverse the U.S. (even with some rides, including an unrealistic ride in a car’s hatchback). All this in modern times, going from California to New York, no less!!!
Regardless, Pony solidly snagged my heartstrings!!! And the writing was also exceptional!!!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 4
Main Character’s likability (Penny): 4.5
Main Character’s likeability (Pony): 5++
Development of supporting character(s): 5
Settings/Atmosphere: 4
Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 5
Clarity of Timelines for Main Characters: 2.5
Believability (in the context of the story): 2
Satisfying ending: 5 (Though not realistic.)
Tension of the story: 4
Stirs the heart (friendship): 5++ (Yeah, I cried!)
Did I guess who-done-it before the reveal? Yes
OVERALL…
PONY CONFIDENTIAL is simply brilliant at developing a beloved character—a pony—that readers won’t soon forget. I highly recommend this book and have placed it on my favorites shelf!
MY TEASE…
Most memorable events between a rider and their pony happen in the horse ring, in a barn, on trails in the woods, in a meadow with wildflowers, cantering along the beach, or crossing a glistening river on bareback. And the memories are almost always glorious!
Not for Penny. Not for her pony.
Twenty-five years ago, when Penny was 12 and riding in the woods on her pony, one stabled at a modest farm in New York, she was joined by a dreamy boy named Alex, expertly riding his flashy pony from an upscale horse farm. It had all the makings of a whimsical day.
Until…until hours after, a man was found dead in those very woods, bludgeoned with a rock. Penny was discovered nearby, alone and unconscious on the ground. No one else was in sight, including her pony.
Suspicions against Penny were the size of a draft horse, so of course, her parents immediately sold the pony and whisked their daughter across the country to California to start over.
Time lapses after that, but neither Penny nor her pony ever fully recover. How could they? The unknowns and misunderstandings were never resolved and they fester.
Getting arrested a quarter-of-a-century later, charged with the murder of the man in the woods, was typical bad luck for Penny.
Ironically, her aging pony may be her only advocate. He’s determined to find her, if only he can make it safely across the country, in time for her trial.
THOUGHTS…
Pony is so endearing, so clever and witty! His “voice” is amazing! I also enjoyed the countless animals he encounters on his journey. I just loved that pony. Kudos to the author for giving readers a character who’s not easily forgotten!
The mystery…who killed horseman Frank in the woods…brilliantly drives the story forward, weaving together Penny and Pony’s mutual longing for a reunion.
Because this read landed on my favorites shelf, I hesitated to deduct a star at all, but I did so because I wanted to explain some of my frustrations and give future readers a heads-up to lessen their potential confusion, specifically about the timelines of the narrators.
For example, the odd chapters are narrated by Penny; the evens, by Pony. In Chapter 54 (hardcover page 245), I discovered that their storylines were not happening in parallel time!!! Ugh! There was actually a five year difference until the timelines merged at the climax. What in the world?!
I went back to the beginning of the book to see if I could figure out how I missed this staggered timeline (which I was definitely guilty of).
On page 2, Penny is arrested in present time, 25 years after the murder in the woods.
On page 9, Pony is in his present time, 15 years after the murder. And on page 18, I learn that Pony’s timeline jumped to 20 years after the murder. Nevertheless, the timelines between him and Penny remain 5 years apart until the climax, which does explain some confusing inconsistencies I noted along the way.
Even though I missed this 5 year difference for most of the book, I can’t understand why it was necessary in the first place. When I got confused, I was pulled out of the story to figure out what in the heck was going on with timing. Moreover, it just felt like this story should be happening in parallel time and frankly, I couldn’t identify any benefits associated with the difference.
As well, why have Penny and Pony separated by 3,000 miles? Maybe a state apart, but the whole expanse of the country? No doubt I’d follow this pony anywhere, but it’s asking a GINORMOUS suspension of disbelief to accept that Pony could actually traverse the U.S. (even with some rides, including an unrealistic ride in a car’s hatchback). All this in modern times, going from California to New York, no less!!!
Regardless, Pony solidly snagged my heartstrings!!! And the writing was also exceptional!!!
QUICKFIRE RATINGS from 1 (ugh) to 5 (woo-hoo)…
Plot (the story): 4
Main Character’s likability (Penny): 4.5
Main Character’s likeability (Pony): 5++
Development of supporting character(s): 5
Settings/Atmosphere: 4
Pacing (how fast did I turn the pages): 5
Clarity of Timelines for Main Characters: 2.5
Believability (in the context of the story): 2
Satisfying ending: 5 (Though not realistic.)
Tension of the story: 4
Stirs the heart (friendship): 5++ (Yeah, I cried!)
Did I guess who-done-it before the reveal? Yes
OVERALL…
PONY CONFIDENTIAL is simply brilliant at developing a beloved character—a pony—that readers won’t soon forget. I highly recommend this book and have placed it on my favorites shelf!
November 29, 2024
Christina Lynch's Pony Confidential is a masterfully crafted tale that defies easy categorization. Part mystery, part fantasy, and part social commentary, this novel weaves together multiple perspectives to create something truly unique in contemporary fiction. Through the eyes of a grumpy but endearing pony, Lynch explores themes of justice, loyalty, and the complex bonds between humans and animals.
The Plot: A Tale of Two Species
At its heart, the story follows two parallel journeys. Penny Marcus, a third-grade teacher, finds herself arrested for a twenty-five-year-old murder she didn't commit. Meanwhile, her childhood pony - simply called "Pony" - embarks on an epic cross-country adventure to find and help her. The narrative alternates between their perspectives, creating a rich tapestry of human and equine experiences.
Distinctive Voice and Style
The Pony's Perspective
One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in Lynch's ability to create a compelling and believable voice for Pony. His observations about human nature are both hilarious and poignant:
"These humans and Their phones! They may as well live in separate cages."
The pony's sardonic wit and grudging affection for select humans make him an unforgettable narrator. His journey from bitter cynic to reluctant hero feels authentic and earned.
The Human Elements
The human storyline, centered around Penny's trial and her relationships with daughter Tella and husband Laus, provides emotional depth. Lynch skillfully portrays the strain that false accusations put on family bonds, while exploring themes of mental health, personal growth, and redemption.
Strengths and Notable Aspects
- Unique narrative perspective
- Skillful balance of humor and serious themes
- Rich cast of animal characters
- Well-researched legal proceedings
- Deep understanding of equine behavior and psychology
Areas for Improvement
While the novel excels in many areas, there are some aspects that could be stronger:
- The pacing occasionally slows during the legal scenes
- Some secondary human characters feel underdeveloped
- The resolution might seem too neat for some readers
- A few plot coincidences stretch credibility
Animal Characters: A Memorable Ensemble
Beyond Pony, Lynch creates a memorable cast of animal characters:
- Circe the cynical goat
- Caya the loyal hound
- Dr. Rat the philosophical rodent
- The wise but cryptic owl
Each brings their own perspective on the human world, creating a rich tapestry of animal consciousness that never feels forced or cutesy.
Themes and Social Commentary
Justice and Power
Lynch explores how power structures affect both humans and animals, drawing subtle parallels between the criminal justice system and humanity's treatment of animals. The novel raises questions about voice, agency, and who gets to tell their story.
Mental Health and Understanding
Through Tella's character arc, Lynch sensitively portrays neurodivergence and the importance of accepting different ways of being. The mother-daughter relationship evolves beautifully as both characters learn to embrace their authentic selves.
Technical Execution
Lynch's prose is clear and engaging, with moments of genuine poetry, especially in descriptions of the natural world. The parallel narratives are well-balanced, though some readers might find the switches between perspectives initially challenging.
Closing Thoughts
Christina Lynch has created something special with Pony Confidential - a novel that manages to be both entertaining and thought-provoking. While it may challenge some readers' expectations, those willing to embrace its unique approach will find themselves richly rewarded.
The book's greatest achievement is making readers question their assumptions about both human and animal nature while telling a compelling story. It's a reminder that sometimes the most profound truths come from unexpected sources - even a grumpy pony with a taste for revenge and carrots.
Ultimately, Pony Confidential is more than just a mystery or a talking animal story - it's a meditation on justice, love, and the bonds that connect all living beings. In today's increasingly divided world, its message of understanding across species lines feels particularly relevant and necessary.
The Plot: A Tale of Two Species
At its heart, the story follows two parallel journeys. Penny Marcus, a third-grade teacher, finds herself arrested for a twenty-five-year-old murder she didn't commit. Meanwhile, her childhood pony - simply called "Pony" - embarks on an epic cross-country adventure to find and help her. The narrative alternates between their perspectives, creating a rich tapestry of human and equine experiences.
Distinctive Voice and Style
The Pony's Perspective
One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in Lynch's ability to create a compelling and believable voice for Pony. His observations about human nature are both hilarious and poignant:
"These humans and Their phones! They may as well live in separate cages."
The pony's sardonic wit and grudging affection for select humans make him an unforgettable narrator. His journey from bitter cynic to reluctant hero feels authentic and earned.
The Human Elements
The human storyline, centered around Penny's trial and her relationships with daughter Tella and husband Laus, provides emotional depth. Lynch skillfully portrays the strain that false accusations put on family bonds, while exploring themes of mental health, personal growth, and redemption.
Strengths and Notable Aspects
- Unique narrative perspective
- Skillful balance of humor and serious themes
- Rich cast of animal characters
- Well-researched legal proceedings
- Deep understanding of equine behavior and psychology
Areas for Improvement
While the novel excels in many areas, there are some aspects that could be stronger:
- The pacing occasionally slows during the legal scenes
- Some secondary human characters feel underdeveloped
- The resolution might seem too neat for some readers
- A few plot coincidences stretch credibility
Animal Characters: A Memorable Ensemble
Beyond Pony, Lynch creates a memorable cast of animal characters:
- Circe the cynical goat
- Caya the loyal hound
- Dr. Rat the philosophical rodent
- The wise but cryptic owl
Each brings their own perspective on the human world, creating a rich tapestry of animal consciousness that never feels forced or cutesy.
Themes and Social Commentary
Justice and Power
Lynch explores how power structures affect both humans and animals, drawing subtle parallels between the criminal justice system and humanity's treatment of animals. The novel raises questions about voice, agency, and who gets to tell their story.
Mental Health and Understanding
Through Tella's character arc, Lynch sensitively portrays neurodivergence and the importance of accepting different ways of being. The mother-daughter relationship evolves beautifully as both characters learn to embrace their authentic selves.
Technical Execution
Lynch's prose is clear and engaging, with moments of genuine poetry, especially in descriptions of the natural world. The parallel narratives are well-balanced, though some readers might find the switches between perspectives initially challenging.
Closing Thoughts
Christina Lynch has created something special with Pony Confidential - a novel that manages to be both entertaining and thought-provoking. While it may challenge some readers' expectations, those willing to embrace its unique approach will find themselves richly rewarded.
The book's greatest achievement is making readers question their assumptions about both human and animal nature while telling a compelling story. It's a reminder that sometimes the most profound truths come from unexpected sources - even a grumpy pony with a taste for revenge and carrots.
Ultimately, Pony Confidential is more than just a mystery or a talking animal story - it's a meditation on justice, love, and the bonds that connect all living beings. In today's increasingly divided world, its message of understanding across species lines feels particularly relevant and necessary.
July 29, 2025
To be honest, I kind of though in my heart of hearts that this book wouldn't be worth the $27 I paid for it, and like many cozy mysteries, would turn out not be very well written and have a predictable, churned-out plot. Very happy to report that I was wrong. This isn't even a cozy mystery, despite what the premise and the cover might lead you to believe. What this actually is . . . I don't even know how to explain.
We have two main characters, Pony (who has no name), who was separated from his person when she was a child, and Penny (Penelope), his person, who has just been arrested for a murder committed twenty-five years before, when she was twelve years old. Gradually and out of order, we learn about their relationship to each other, what happened that night, and what has become of Pony since he was sold. The plot of the book kicks off with the arrest, but also, when Pony makes the decision to actively try and find Penny again, which starts him on a journey across and back across the country, which will take him years.
This, by the way, is a stealth retelling of The Odyssey, which I had no idea going in! It wasn't in the marketing or the blurb, and only 61 people out of 1,121 reviews on Goodreads seem to have clocked it (I did a search). But honestly, I'm glad I didn't know going in! (Sorry, uh, for ruining that for y'all? Whoops.)
I'm not giving this five stars, because I did think that the pony odyssey part of this book went on a bit too long, and it interfered with my otherwise pure enjoyment. I would have cut 25-50 pages and it would have been perfect. (As much as I love Pony, it was too much.) Also, it's good to go in not expecting a full-on detective Pony. He is much more focused on finding Penny than acquitting her of murder charges, and any solving of mysteries he does is a byproduct of that.
Still, I had so much fun with this book. I definitely recommend it.
[4.5 stars]
We have two main characters, Pony (who has no name), who was separated from his person when she was a child, and Penny (Penelope), his person, who has just been arrested for a murder committed twenty-five years before, when she was twelve years old. Gradually and out of order, we learn about their relationship to each other, what happened that night, and what has become of Pony since he was sold. The plot of the book kicks off with the arrest, but also, when Pony makes the decision to actively try and find Penny again, which starts him on a journey across and back across the country, which will take him years.
This, by the way, is a stealth retelling of The Odyssey, which I had no idea going in! It wasn't in the marketing or the blurb, and only 61 people out of 1,121 reviews on Goodreads seem to have clocked it (I did a search). But honestly, I'm glad I didn't know going in! (Sorry, uh, for ruining that for y'all? Whoops.)
I'm not giving this five stars, because I did think that the pony odyssey part of this book went on a bit too long, and it interfered with my otherwise pure enjoyment. I would have cut 25-50 pages and it would have been perfect. (As much as I love Pony, it was too much.) Also, it's good to go in not expecting a full-on detective Pony. He is much more focused on finding Penny than acquitting her of murder charges, and any solving of mysteries he does is a byproduct of that.
Still, I had so much fun with this book. I definitely recommend it.
[4.5 stars]
November 5, 2024
It's a rare book that comes along and has me laughing from start to finish but also has a great deal of emotional depth and insight into human/animal nature. This latest from Christina Lynch is told from the perspective of a pony and his first owner/friend, Penny.
They bond deeply in Penny's childhood only to be torn apart by a horrific incident that changes both their lives forever and has Penny being sent to jail twenty years later on a murder charge. I truly cannot recommend this book enough, it has a sarcastic, grumpy animal protagonist who can talk to other animals and some humans and feels an obligation to help save Penny even though he though she had abandoned him.
Travelling across the country multiple times, using his unparalleled ingenuity and with the help of many other animal friends, Pony overcomes impossible odds to help save Penny and her daughter both from fates worse than death. If you enjoy animal-human friendships and stories full of wit and heart you will not want to miss this AMAZING book!!
HIGHLY recommended for fans of stories like Charlotte's Web, Black Beauty or Remarkably beautiful creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.
Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. This will definitely go down as one of my absolute favorite books of 2024!!
They bond deeply in Penny's childhood only to be torn apart by a horrific incident that changes both their lives forever and has Penny being sent to jail twenty years later on a murder charge. I truly cannot recommend this book enough, it has a sarcastic, grumpy animal protagonist who can talk to other animals and some humans and feels an obligation to help save Penny even though he though she had abandoned him.
Travelling across the country multiple times, using his unparalleled ingenuity and with the help of many other animal friends, Pony overcomes impossible odds to help save Penny and her daughter both from fates worse than death. If you enjoy animal-human friendships and stories full of wit and heart you will not want to miss this AMAZING book!!
HIGHLY recommended for fans of stories like Charlotte's Web, Black Beauty or Remarkably beautiful creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.
Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. This will definitely go down as one of my absolute favorite books of 2024!!
April 3, 2024
I don't think I can do better than the publisher in describing this wonderful novel:
"In this one-of-a-kind mystery with heart and humor, a hilariously grumpy pony must save the only human he’s ever loved after discovering she stands accused of a murder he knows she didn’t commit."
It's been 20 years since the pony was abandoned by his beloved girl Penny. Bitter years knowing that every new owner is going to be just that little bit worse, that human betrayal is inevitable. But when he discovers the truth about why Penny abandoned him, it's Pony to the rescue!
Pony is an escape artist, greedy and stubborn and shaggy enough to double for a bear on Ring camera -- which is to say a typical pony. Penny grew up to be a beleaguered kindergarten teacher, mom to a difficult child and wife to an estranged husband who wakes to a nightmare: she's in handcuffs, heading to prison to await trial for a murder that happened when she was 12.
The story is a real delight: Pony is grumpy-wonderful, his emotional trauma perfect excuse for such pony-esque behavior as stepping on party-goers toes and bucking randomly at horse shows. When Pony takes to the road, asking birds for directions, hitching a ride as a race-horse companion animal, avoiding densely populated areas and following his nose, it's madcap but not entirely implausible.
In one scene, Pony makes his way into an apartment buildings' freight elevator, which opens on a floor where a child spots him and announces that there's a pony in the elevator to her unbelieving parents -- and later, after learning that he has just missed finding Penny and hearing some hard truths about his behavior from an owl ("you've been mean and selfish. Transactional."), Pony exits the elevator to the world-weary surprise of a furniture mover who comments, "Rich people and their weird pets."
The story progresses with alternating narration: Penny behind bars, thinking about her failings and about the only time she was genuinely happy (as a girl with a pony, naturally), and Pony on the move. It works surprisingly well to get the sprawling plot out and sorted, with the murder at the center of the story revealed layer by layer of twist and surprise.
Genuinely moving (oh the scene in the kill car! and the goodbyes in the stable! tissues please!) and laugh-out-loud funny, this book was a delight from start to finish. The story has hints of Black Beauty, The Little Prince and The Art of Racing in the Rain, but Pony has a unique and charming storytelling voice. I will be demanding that my horsey friends (and horsey-adjacent readers) read this one.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishers for the eARC in exchange for my unbridled opinion.
"In this one-of-a-kind mystery with heart and humor, a hilariously grumpy pony must save the only human he’s ever loved after discovering she stands accused of a murder he knows she didn’t commit."
It's been 20 years since the pony was abandoned by his beloved girl Penny. Bitter years knowing that every new owner is going to be just that little bit worse, that human betrayal is inevitable. But when he discovers the truth about why Penny abandoned him, it's Pony to the rescue!
Pony is an escape artist, greedy and stubborn and shaggy enough to double for a bear on Ring camera -- which is to say a typical pony. Penny grew up to be a beleaguered kindergarten teacher, mom to a difficult child and wife to an estranged husband who wakes to a nightmare: she's in handcuffs, heading to prison to await trial for a murder that happened when she was 12.
The story is a real delight: Pony is grumpy-wonderful, his emotional trauma perfect excuse for such pony-esque behavior as stepping on party-goers toes and bucking randomly at horse shows. When Pony takes to the road, asking birds for directions, hitching a ride as a race-horse companion animal, avoiding densely populated areas and following his nose, it's madcap but not entirely implausible.
In one scene, Pony makes his way into an apartment buildings' freight elevator, which opens on a floor where a child spots him and announces that there's a pony in the elevator to her unbelieving parents -- and later, after learning that he has just missed finding Penny and hearing some hard truths about his behavior from an owl ("you've been mean and selfish. Transactional."), Pony exits the elevator to the world-weary surprise of a furniture mover who comments, "Rich people and their weird pets."
The story progresses with alternating narration: Penny behind bars, thinking about her failings and about the only time she was genuinely happy (as a girl with a pony, naturally), and Pony on the move. It works surprisingly well to get the sprawling plot out and sorted, with the murder at the center of the story revealed layer by layer of twist and surprise.
Genuinely moving (oh the scene in the kill car! and the goodbyes in the stable! tissues please!) and laugh-out-loud funny, this book was a delight from start to finish. The story has hints of Black Beauty, The Little Prince and The Art of Racing in the Rain, but Pony has a unique and charming storytelling voice. I will be demanding that my horsey friends (and horsey-adjacent readers) read this one.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishers for the eARC in exchange for my unbridled opinion.
November 20, 2024
If you loved Remarkably Bright Creatures with an octopus narrator, you will love Pony Confidential with a Pony narrator.
Teacher and mom Penny is shocked to be arrested and extradited to Ithaca from California for a murder she supposedly committed 25 years ago when she was only 12 years old. The only one who can clear her name is her elderly Pony, who hasn't seen her since then. Her marriage is strained as her daughter has high anxiety and needs to go away to boarding school. She would do anything to help her daughter but can't believe the situation she has found herself in. Sharing a jail cell with Dawn, who murdered her husband in order to protect her children, Penny has plenty of time to reflect on her life and how she has come into this terrible dilemma. She is stuck in prison until the time she goes to trial, with a child lawyer named Lisa and character witnesses who keep ending up dead.
This is a multi POV story- not only do we get to hear Penny's inner dialogue, but Pony's as well. Pony crosses the country multiple times and shares his journey with companions as a goat, a rat and a dog. The dialogue they share is pure and heartwarming. This book creates a sense of joy, wonder, and relationship. What does it mean to love unconditionally?
I would shelve this as a "cozy mystery" and also quite heartwarming. It is my favorite mystery of 2024 and in my top ten books out of 600 books I have read this year. A debut novel from a fresh new voice in fiction, Pony Confidential made me laugh and cry. It was exactly what I needed to help me through a very dark time in my life.
Teacher and mom Penny is shocked to be arrested and extradited to Ithaca from California for a murder she supposedly committed 25 years ago when she was only 12 years old. The only one who can clear her name is her elderly Pony, who hasn't seen her since then. Her marriage is strained as her daughter has high anxiety and needs to go away to boarding school. She would do anything to help her daughter but can't believe the situation she has found herself in. Sharing a jail cell with Dawn, who murdered her husband in order to protect her children, Penny has plenty of time to reflect on her life and how she has come into this terrible dilemma. She is stuck in prison until the time she goes to trial, with a child lawyer named Lisa and character witnesses who keep ending up dead.
This is a multi POV story- not only do we get to hear Penny's inner dialogue, but Pony's as well. Pony crosses the country multiple times and shares his journey with companions as a goat, a rat and a dog. The dialogue they share is pure and heartwarming. This book creates a sense of joy, wonder, and relationship. What does it mean to love unconditionally?
I would shelve this as a "cozy mystery" and also quite heartwarming. It is my favorite mystery of 2024 and in my top ten books out of 600 books I have read this year. A debut novel from a fresh new voice in fiction, Pony Confidential made me laugh and cry. It was exactly what I needed to help me through a very dark time in my life.
January 5, 2025
This book is ludicrous and I love it with my entire being.
Embittered Pony has spent years nursing a grudge against Penny, the girl he absolutely loved and who had him sold without even saying good-bye. But the event that tore them apart happened very differently than Pony had ever guessed, and now Penny is an adult, arrested on murder charges arising from a death on that long-ago night. As Pony relies on wit, charm, and a broadening network of animal friends (FYI don't piss off sparrows) to find out what happened on that night and track down Penny, Penny trudges through the ridiculous US legal system and tries to figure out what really happened, too.
Some people will hate this book because it is unquestionably far-fetched and not grounded in reality. Well, reality is overrated. I adored this thing, and I found it so suspenseful that it was hard to put down.
Embittered Pony has spent years nursing a grudge against Penny, the girl he absolutely loved and who had him sold without even saying good-bye. But the event that tore them apart happened very differently than Pony had ever guessed, and now Penny is an adult, arrested on murder charges arising from a death on that long-ago night. As Pony relies on wit, charm, and a broadening network of animal friends (FYI don't piss off sparrows) to find out what happened on that night and track down Penny, Penny trudges through the ridiculous US legal system and tries to figure out what really happened, too.
Some people will hate this book because it is unquestionably far-fetched and not grounded in reality. Well, reality is overrated. I adored this thing, and I found it so suspenseful that it was hard to put down.
November 5, 2024
This pulled on my heartstrings much more than expected. Stronger in the adventure/roadtrip pony chapters than the murder mystery centered ones. A quirky little odyssey that made me miss my childhood pets gut-wrenchingly bad. 3.75 stars.
Read
November 23, 2025DNF. I do not rate books I do not finish.
This was not what I was expecting and it did not keep me engaged or entertained.
This was not what I was expecting and it did not keep me engaged or entertained.
May 29, 2024
I give this book an A-
Think Homeward Bound meets a Crime Procedural.
This book is so much more than you think it's going to be, peppered in-between the farfetched high jinx are heartwarming and thoughtful moments.
Thank you netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC
Think Homeward Bound meets a Crime Procedural.
This book is so much more than you think it's going to be, peppered in-between the farfetched high jinx are heartwarming and thoughtful moments.
Thank you netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC
April 29, 2025
This book angered and annoyed me but I also loved it. Animals are everything.
December 12, 2024
This book immediately reminded me of Anna Sewell's “Black Beauty”, as the eponymous character narrates his increasingly harrowing life before finally finding peace and safety many years later.
In this case, the equine narrator is a pony who harbours intense anger toward the twelve-year-old girl who loved him then abandoned him. He's cultivated a bad attitude because of his anger, biting humans and generally being a menace. Consequently, our narrator has been passed from owner to owner, each time Pony is a little more angry, a little more determined to find that girl, Penny, and let her know that he's mad and hurt.
Meanwhile, Penny grew up, and never got over the loss of her parents selling her pony, whom she loved unreservedly. She has never felt as happy since, or as transported, as when she was with her even then grumpy pony.
Penny is a grade school teacher, is married with a teenaged daughter who has suffered from being too intensely sensitive to everything around her, driving Penny around the bend, and sometimes causing her to wish she did not have to deal with Tella. Penny drops Tella off at a camp for kids with a variety of mental health issues, and is later arrested by police for a murder that occurred when Penny was twelve, and lived across the country.
Penny discovers just how much injustice is part of the justice system, as she ends up in jail, accused of killing someone on a day she was riding her pony with a boy she was trying to impress. Penny cannot fully remember what occurred that day, and her public defender's intern doesn't hold out much hope of Penny of getting out of jail any time soon.
When Pony discovers that his understanding of what really happened the day that separated him from Penny (Pony has many conversations with a rat, horse, goat, dog, etc.) Pony is contrite. And he decides to reunite with Penny and apologize.
Pony then begins an epic journey travelling the country in search of Penny, again receiving much needed help from other animals, starting from where he last saw her, and in the process, begins to unravel the true events years ago that led to a man's death. Pony also discovers kindness and empathy within himself, making friends with those who help him.
While Pony's journey changes him profoundly while travelling back and froth across the country, Penny stays in one place, and discovers just how much she loves her small family. Her case does not look good, but it's Pony's efforts, putting details together, that save her.
This book should not have worked. A pony as a main character, whose first person narration is full of grumpiness, anger, and a transactional approach to others, should have either been too cute or too hard to swallow. Instead, despite the dangers and cruelty he encounters at each destination, there is friendship, and lessons offered by various other lovable animals, with a growing understanding that his behaviour has been less than exemplary.
Penny's third person perspective chapters are equally compelling, as her belief in how the world works is blown apart by her experiences in the justice system. We see enough of the baddies in this story to understand that they're self-absorbed, and lacking empathy, and that without some sort of miraculous intervention (i.e., Pony), Penny's chances are slim of ever going home.
The concept could have become a cute, silly story, but author Christina Lynch instead has crafted something incredibly affecting. Even with scenes of animal mistreatment and abuse, and the problems in the justice system, this is an incredibly hopeful story, full of love, humour, and friendship. And tasty carrots.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.
In this case, the equine narrator is a pony who harbours intense anger toward the twelve-year-old girl who loved him then abandoned him. He's cultivated a bad attitude because of his anger, biting humans and generally being a menace. Consequently, our narrator has been passed from owner to owner, each time Pony is a little more angry, a little more determined to find that girl, Penny, and let her know that he's mad and hurt.
Meanwhile, Penny grew up, and never got over the loss of her parents selling her pony, whom she loved unreservedly. She has never felt as happy since, or as transported, as when she was with her even then grumpy pony.
Penny is a grade school teacher, is married with a teenaged daughter who has suffered from being too intensely sensitive to everything around her, driving Penny around the bend, and sometimes causing her to wish she did not have to deal with Tella. Penny drops Tella off at a camp for kids with a variety of mental health issues, and is later arrested by police for a murder that occurred when Penny was twelve, and lived across the country.
Penny discovers just how much injustice is part of the justice system, as she ends up in jail, accused of killing someone on a day she was riding her pony with a boy she was trying to impress. Penny cannot fully remember what occurred that day, and her public defender's intern doesn't hold out much hope of Penny of getting out of jail any time soon.
When Pony discovers that his understanding of what really happened the day that separated him from Penny (Pony has many conversations with a rat, horse, goat, dog, etc.) Pony is contrite. And he decides to reunite with Penny and apologize.
Pony then begins an epic journey travelling the country in search of Penny, again receiving much needed help from other animals, starting from where he last saw her, and in the process, begins to unravel the true events years ago that led to a man's death. Pony also discovers kindness and empathy within himself, making friends with those who help him.
While Pony's journey changes him profoundly while travelling back and froth across the country, Penny stays in one place, and discovers just how much she loves her small family. Her case does not look good, but it's Pony's efforts, putting details together, that save her.
This book should not have worked. A pony as a main character, whose first person narration is full of grumpiness, anger, and a transactional approach to others, should have either been too cute or too hard to swallow. Instead, despite the dangers and cruelty he encounters at each destination, there is friendship, and lessons offered by various other lovable animals, with a growing understanding that his behaviour has been less than exemplary.
Penny's third person perspective chapters are equally compelling, as her belief in how the world works is blown apart by her experiences in the justice system. We see enough of the baddies in this story to understand that they're self-absorbed, and lacking empathy, and that without some sort of miraculous intervention (i.e., Pony), Penny's chances are slim of ever going home.
The concept could have become a cute, silly story, but author Christina Lynch instead has crafted something incredibly affecting. Even with scenes of animal mistreatment and abuse, and the problems in the justice system, this is an incredibly hopeful story, full of love, humour, and friendship. And tasty carrots.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.
December 10, 2024
It’s probably because I’m not a horse girl but I never got behind the premise and found the whole thing ridiculous. I can’t imagine being in prison and pining for a pony I had when I was 12. I’m not saying it can’t be true, I’m just saying I don’t understand it. I also had a hard time following the time jumps and was relieved when it was over.
November 27, 2024
A delightful romp of a whodunnit
November 14, 2024
I received this kindle edition as part of a giveaway and I was pleasantly surprised. Charming book about a pony determined to save his previous owner/best friend from a murder charge. Part adventure and part mystery. Alternates between Penny and the Pony’s POV to build on the intrigue and suspense. The book hits on the relationship between humans and animals, both positive and negative. It also features themes of self-acceptance, exploration of mental health and most surprisingly, it touches on some of the pitfalls of the justice system for those who are low income. A seemingly lighthearted book but very thoughtful.
August 1, 2025
I absolutely adored this story and didn't want it to end. This healed my pony loving heart 💓 I think my YA reading kiddo would love this as well.
January 31, 2025
This was a fun and easy read but didn't totally work for me. I really enjoyed the chapters narrated by the pony - he reminded me a lot of Marcellus from Remarkably Bright Creatures. It also felt very Homeward Bound, as the pony treks back and forth across America (and Canada) to get back to Penny and help solve her case. I thought all of the animal characters were fun to read, and I loved how they all came together and helped the pony along his journey. The detective work was entertaining, and I liked how the various skillsets and characteristics of the different animals were utilized to solve the mystery.
Penny's chapters were kind of a dud, though I did enjoy her as a character. I found the legal side of things genuinely confusing and unrealistic (not a lawyer but it seemed a little far fetched that Penny would be charged 25 years later for a death that happened when she was 12...). The humans are pretty underdeveloped - the only mildly interesting character is Penny's extremely anxious daughter Tella - and there really aren't that many of them, especially considering how rich and varied the animal characters are. The musings on the judicial system weren't particularly novel and the author pretty much hit you over the head with how unfair it is, but I guess it's never a bad thing to remind people!
Finally, the timeline of this book really bothered me - I didn't like that the two timelines were not happening simultaneously, and that this really isn't figured out until about ~75% in. Definitely not my favorite animal novel, but I did think this was entertaining enough, and it did speak to me as a former horse girl.
Penny's chapters were kind of a dud, though I did enjoy her as a character. I found the legal side of things genuinely confusing and unrealistic (not a lawyer but it seemed a little far fetched that Penny would be charged 25 years later for a death that happened when she was 12...). The humans are pretty underdeveloped - the only mildly interesting character is Penny's extremely anxious daughter Tella - and there really aren't that many of them, especially considering how rich and varied the animal characters are. The musings on the judicial system weren't particularly novel and the author pretty much hit you over the head with how unfair it is, but I guess it's never a bad thing to remind people!
Finally, the timeline of this book really bothered me - I didn't like that the two timelines were not happening simultaneously, and that this really isn't figured out until about ~75% in. Definitely not my favorite animal novel, but I did think this was entertaining enough, and it did speak to me as a former horse girl.
January 19, 2025
4.5 stars rounding up because it's 1:30 in the morning and I had to read the whole thing in one sitting. There were funny parts and poignant parts and ridiculous parts and it ended well and honestly I loved it.
December 7, 2024
The author noted that 𝗣𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 is a book about a pony written for adults. And it certainly did make me laugh and reminded me of my own childhood horse mania! After I exhausted my Breyer horse collection, my parents actually bought me a horse named Molly, who I doted on until I went away to college and she was sold.
Pony is the grumpy animal narrator of this story. Many years earlier, he adored his human, a 12-year-old girl named Penny. She suddenly vanished from his life, leaving him heartbroken and resentful. Pony is determined to track down Penny and amend the mistake he took too long to acknowledge. He embarks on a long, cross-country search that spans several years.
Meanwhile, Penny faces a serious charge of murder, and her upcoming trial appears hopeless. Can Pony help to clear her name?
This book is an almost-cozy murder mystery entwined with a lovely story about the emotional lives of animals. You will need to suspend disbelief for this book but if you loved 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 or even the movie 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱, I think you’ll love this story, too.
This is a funny and heartwarming story that is perfect for reading during the holidays. I loved the audiobook featuring wonderful dual narration for Pony and Penny.
“𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴.”
Pony is the grumpy animal narrator of this story. Many years earlier, he adored his human, a 12-year-old girl named Penny. She suddenly vanished from his life, leaving him heartbroken and resentful. Pony is determined to track down Penny and amend the mistake he took too long to acknowledge. He embarks on a long, cross-country search that spans several years.
Meanwhile, Penny faces a serious charge of murder, and her upcoming trial appears hopeless. Can Pony help to clear her name?
This book is an almost-cozy murder mystery entwined with a lovely story about the emotional lives of animals. You will need to suspend disbelief for this book but if you loved 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 or even the movie 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱, I think you’ll love this story, too.
This is a funny and heartwarming story that is perfect for reading during the holidays. I loved the audiobook featuring wonderful dual narration for Pony and Penny.
“𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴.”
July 14, 2025
“That’s what I hate about humans. They play favorites. I ate a psychology textbook once. Learned a lot.”
This is the story of Pony and Penny, two misunderstood souls who met years prior, only to reconnect through unexpected twists and turns many years later.
When the book begins we meet Pony, a disgruntled animal, hell bent on getting revenge against his young owner, Penny who he believed abandoned him years prior. At the same time we meet an adult Penny, now a school teacher who is being tried for a murder how that happened when she was just a kid.
As the story unfolds, we understand the key events that happened the day in question, as well as the important aspects of both Penny and Pony’s struggles over the years. Through his interaction with other wise animals, Pony comes to realize Penny is not the enemy and instead, in fact is his one true human. Now Pony has to get off his own high horse and save Penny at all costs.
If Pony Confidential’s premise sounds strange that’s because it is. However, it’s also a laugh out loud, special story about the underestimation of both animals themselves as well as the human/animal connection. But Pony is no regular horse, of course, of course. 😜 Pony’s sarcastic narration is both cute and clever, turning what could have been a run of the mill murder mystery into a fun adventure that leaves the reader champing at the bit for more.
This is the story of Pony and Penny, two misunderstood souls who met years prior, only to reconnect through unexpected twists and turns many years later.
When the book begins we meet Pony, a disgruntled animal, hell bent on getting revenge against his young owner, Penny who he believed abandoned him years prior. At the same time we meet an adult Penny, now a school teacher who is being tried for a murder how that happened when she was just a kid.
As the story unfolds, we understand the key events that happened the day in question, as well as the important aspects of both Penny and Pony’s struggles over the years. Through his interaction with other wise animals, Pony comes to realize Penny is not the enemy and instead, in fact is his one true human. Now Pony has to get off his own high horse and save Penny at all costs.
If Pony Confidential’s premise sounds strange that’s because it is. However, it’s also a laugh out loud, special story about the underestimation of both animals themselves as well as the human/animal connection. But Pony is no regular horse, of course, of course. 😜 Pony’s sarcastic narration is both cute and clever, turning what could have been a run of the mill murder mystery into a fun adventure that leaves the reader champing at the bit for more.
April 27, 2025
3.5.
This was really cute! All of the characters grew a lot. The pacing was a bit confusing, but once I understood it, it obviously made a lot more sense!
This was really cute! All of the characters grew a lot. The pacing was a bit confusing, but once I understood it, it obviously made a lot more sense!
September 11, 2025
Very fun, wacky and animals!
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