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Horseshoer Mystery #1
The Clincher
The first book in the Horseshoer Mystery series by bestselling novelist Lisa Preston featuring farrier and amateur detective Rainy Dale, for fans of William Kent Kruger and Craig Johnson.
Rainy Dale is The Clincher, a twenty-something high school-dropout turned farrier (horseshoer) who is haunted by a secret she carries. Estranged from her California D-list actress momma and her ranch hand Texas daddy, she tracked down her childhood horse in small-town Oregon—a land full of cowboys and their horses—then stayed to build a life with her tools, steel, and forge. She's sleeping in a garage and trying not to fall for her landlord, the hapless and hopeful chef, Guy, who is determined to create the perfect soufflé while Rainy would prefer to just stuff her mouth with fuel for her physically demanding job.
As the new kid in town, Rainy has an uphill battle to prove herself in order to make a living by her trade, especially to her male clients who look down their noses at a female farrier. She finds herself in over her head, however, when one of her clients turns up dead, setting her up as both a suspect and a seeker of the truth. If she plans on setting down roots in her new town, Rainy will have to find the killer and clear her name. But it a country as wild as the mustangs that used to run free, finding the truth just might get her killed.
Rainy Dale is The Clincher, a twenty-something high school-dropout turned farrier (horseshoer) who is haunted by a secret she carries. Estranged from her California D-list actress momma and her ranch hand Texas daddy, she tracked down her childhood horse in small-town Oregon—a land full of cowboys and their horses—then stayed to build a life with her tools, steel, and forge. She's sleeping in a garage and trying not to fall for her landlord, the hapless and hopeful chef, Guy, who is determined to create the perfect soufflé while Rainy would prefer to just stuff her mouth with fuel for her physically demanding job.
As the new kid in town, Rainy has an uphill battle to prove herself in order to make a living by her trade, especially to her male clients who look down their noses at a female farrier. She finds herself in over her head, however, when one of her clients turns up dead, setting her up as both a suspect and a seeker of the truth. If she plans on setting down roots in her new town, Rainy will have to find the killer and clear her name. But it a country as wild as the mustangs that used to run free, finding the truth just might get her killed.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2018
555 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Preston
22 books101 followersLisa Preston (1964- ) turned to writing after careers as a fire department paramedic and a city police officer. Experience in her earlier professions enhance the medical and legal passages of her fiction and non-fiction.
Her debut novel, Orchids and Stone, was released by Thomas & Mercer in April 2016, and has been described both as a thriller and as domestic noir.
Her published work includes non-fiction books and articles on animals, particularly the care and training of dogs and horses.
Away from her desk, she spends hours on backcountry trails as a runner and rider, sometimes combining her two outdoor pursuits via the obscure sport of Ride and Tie.
She lives with her husband and Malinois on Washington State's vast Olympic Peninsula.
Her debut novel, Orchids and Stone, was released by Thomas & Mercer in April 2016, and has been described both as a thriller and as domestic noir.
Her published work includes non-fiction books and articles on animals, particularly the care and training of dogs and horses.
Away from her desk, she spends hours on backcountry trails as a runner and rider, sometimes combining her two outdoor pursuits via the obscure sport of Ride and Tie.
She lives with her husband and Malinois on Washington State's vast Olympic Peninsula.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
July 24, 2018
Lisa Preston kept my nose buried in the pages with a fascinating tale. The main protagonist added flavor to the storyline with colorful language reminiscent of the Old West. There was no wasted digital ink for the sole purpose of consuming space. The scenes kept pace to the steady beat of the farrier's hammer. It was a refreshing trip into the backcountry of Oregon.
Rainy Dale attended horseshoeing school to learn the archaic trade. Bottom line, she loved horses. Having started off in Texas, she hightailed it over to Central Oregon in search of her childhood horse, Red. The trip proved successful; they were reunited. While she was there, it was a good a place as any to hang her shingle, in her case, horseshoe.
Upheaval of the worst kind found its way to Rainy's otherwise quiet existence when her main client turned up dead, the result of foul play. She had only shod the dead woman's horse earlier that day.
Suspicious circumstances surrounded her death. The local police fixed a keen eye on the horseshoer. For the time being, she was the primary suspect.
Not one to remain on her derrière, she was intent on finding the one responsible for her client's slaying. This did not hold well with the killer, and she soon found herself in harm's way.
I offer my thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Rainy Dale attended horseshoeing school to learn the archaic trade. Bottom line, she loved horses. Having started off in Texas, she hightailed it over to Central Oregon in search of her childhood horse, Red. The trip proved successful; they were reunited. While she was there, it was a good a place as any to hang her shingle, in her case, horseshoe.
Upheaval of the worst kind found its way to Rainy's otherwise quiet existence when her main client turned up dead, the result of foul play. She had only shod the dead woman's horse earlier that day.
Suspicious circumstances surrounded her death. The local police fixed a keen eye on the horseshoer. For the time being, she was the primary suspect.
Not one to remain on her derrière, she was intent on finding the one responsible for her client's slaying. This did not hold well with the killer, and she soon found herself in harm's way.
I offer my thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
September 18, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley and https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/ for providing me with an advanced digital copy of The Clincher by Lisa Preston. The first book in a series that takes place in ranch country in Oregon, this book features Rainy Dale, newly minted horseshoer, who is trying to establish her business in a small town in Oregon. This book focuses on Rainy, her landlord/boyfriend Guy, and the owner and widower of the murder victim. There are a number of secondary characters such as the veterinarian, a young girl who has the same passion for horses as Rainy did when she was young and various residents of the town, but it is unclear if they will continue in future books within the series.
Throughout the book, there is an internal dialog constantly referring to Rainy’s past. She routinely reminds herself and the reader she has turned over a new leaf and she is no longer “that person.” This initially adds some interest to Rainy but becomes so repetitive as to make me feel the writer doesn’t trust my intelligence as a reader enough to “get” the fact that Rainy is a troubled soul.
The book is written in first person, with what seems to be an attempt to drive home the point that Rainy was a difficult child, had a difficult childhood and was a teenager who constantly bucked the system. She sees herself as anything but the typical girl and this is, in part, her inspiration for pursuing a career as a horseshoer. Also, within the internal dialog are hints at Rainy having been on the receiving in of bullying by both girls and boys in school as she reminds herself she is no longer that girl.
The mystery in this novel takes a back seat to Rainy’s personal struggles. While there is some information in the form of clues, etc. many of the red herrings are not resolved which may indicate that some storylines will continue in future books. Toward the end the action becomes hard to believe in spots but will not be detailed here as to do so would put spoilers in this review.
I had difficulty identifying with Rainy throughout the book. As a result, I found her hard to like or to develop any sympathy toward her in her struggle. At times it felt as if her manner of speech and internal dialog was designed to insure the reader understands she is made up of mostly rough edges rather than trusting the reader to get that without it being repeated constantly. Lack of information regarding the victim and her family also decrease interest in discovering the identity of the perpetrator, the solution of which I found easy to reach almost as soon as the perpetrator was introduced.
There is some interesting information about the intricacies of horseshoeing as well as a little information regarding horses in terms of general behavior and specific breed talents. This book might well appeal to a reader who is enamored of horses and ranch activities. The background story regarding horses and their care and feeding might be better suited to a young adult novel. However, the very adult nature of Rainy’s personal struggle and current living situation are more geared toward the adult reader.
My rating for this book would be 2 ½ stars, so I am rounding to 3 in the hopes additional books in the series concentrate more on mystery and some positive things in Rainy’s life.
Throughout the book, there is an internal dialog constantly referring to Rainy’s past. She routinely reminds herself and the reader she has turned over a new leaf and she is no longer “that person.” This initially adds some interest to Rainy but becomes so repetitive as to make me feel the writer doesn’t trust my intelligence as a reader enough to “get” the fact that Rainy is a troubled soul.
The book is written in first person, with what seems to be an attempt to drive home the point that Rainy was a difficult child, had a difficult childhood and was a teenager who constantly bucked the system. She sees herself as anything but the typical girl and this is, in part, her inspiration for pursuing a career as a horseshoer. Also, within the internal dialog are hints at Rainy having been on the receiving in of bullying by both girls and boys in school as she reminds herself she is no longer that girl.
The mystery in this novel takes a back seat to Rainy’s personal struggles. While there is some information in the form of clues, etc. many of the red herrings are not resolved which may indicate that some storylines will continue in future books. Toward the end the action becomes hard to believe in spots but will not be detailed here as to do so would put spoilers in this review.
I had difficulty identifying with Rainy throughout the book. As a result, I found her hard to like or to develop any sympathy toward her in her struggle. At times it felt as if her manner of speech and internal dialog was designed to insure the reader understands she is made up of mostly rough edges rather than trusting the reader to get that without it being repeated constantly. Lack of information regarding the victim and her family also decrease interest in discovering the identity of the perpetrator, the solution of which I found easy to reach almost as soon as the perpetrator was introduced.
There is some interesting information about the intricacies of horseshoeing as well as a little information regarding horses in terms of general behavior and specific breed talents. This book might well appeal to a reader who is enamored of horses and ranch activities. The background story regarding horses and their care and feeding might be better suited to a young adult novel. However, the very adult nature of Rainy’s personal struggle and current living situation are more geared toward the adult reader.
My rating for this book would be 2 ½ stars, so I am rounding to 3 in the hopes additional books in the series concentrate more on mystery and some positive things in Rainy’s life.
October 1, 2018
3 stars
The first book in a new series, The Clincher features a young farrier, Rainy Dale, who doesn’t have much to her name but is starting to establish her new business shoeing horses on Oregon ranches. The mystery begins with the suspicious suicide of a wealthy woman soon after Rainy finished shoeing her somewhat difficult to handle stallion. Rainy is brought in for questioning as one of the last people to see the victim alive which pokes her curiosity and proceeds in multiple directions.
Told in the first person, the main storyline is actually Rainy herself as we are slowly introduced to her background and relationships as well as her personal struggles and overall outlook on life.
Initially, I was drawn to The Clincher by Rainy’s profession. Having been a horse owner for many years, I found the portrayal of her day-to-day work life interesting and accurate. The actual mystery, however, took a back seat to the character of Rainy. I often found it difficult to make sense of Rainy’s thoughts and dialog especially exchanges between Rainy and her landlord/cook/ boyfriend Guy. As a result, I just couldn’t understand their relationship/chemistry. About half way through the book, things became a bit clearer or I just got better at filling in the blanks. It was at that point, that I found myself enjoying the story, instead of struggling, so I changed my rating from two stars to three.
There is potential here and, to keep me reading, am hopeful the character of Rainy keeps her quirks and humor but becomes a little less inscrutable and thus a bit more relatable.
FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The first book in a new series, The Clincher features a young farrier, Rainy Dale, who doesn’t have much to her name but is starting to establish her new business shoeing horses on Oregon ranches. The mystery begins with the suspicious suicide of a wealthy woman soon after Rainy finished shoeing her somewhat difficult to handle stallion. Rainy is brought in for questioning as one of the last people to see the victim alive which pokes her curiosity and proceeds in multiple directions.
Told in the first person, the main storyline is actually Rainy herself as we are slowly introduced to her background and relationships as well as her personal struggles and overall outlook on life.
Initially, I was drawn to The Clincher by Rainy’s profession. Having been a horse owner for many years, I found the portrayal of her day-to-day work life interesting and accurate. The actual mystery, however, took a back seat to the character of Rainy. I often found it difficult to make sense of Rainy’s thoughts and dialog especially exchanges between Rainy and her landlord/cook/ boyfriend Guy. As a result, I just couldn’t understand their relationship/chemistry. About half way through the book, things became a bit clearer or I just got better at filling in the blanks. It was at that point, that I found myself enjoying the story, instead of struggling, so I changed my rating from two stars to three.
There is potential here and, to keep me reading, am hopeful the character of Rainy keeps her quirks and humor but becomes a little less inscrutable and thus a bit more relatable.
FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2021
I enjoy reading novels that feature women working in fields that have not traditionally been so open to women. So this mystery that features a young woman who goes by Rainy Dale and is a horseshoer caught my interest. Rainy has followed the trail of a horse her family sold away when she was still a child, and finds herself settling into a small town in Oregon. There is a murder, and Rainy is considered a suspect, so begins to try to investigate the murder herself. Though Rainy is young, she has a past that sometimes haunts her; she also has a new love interest. All in all, this was an enjoyable read. 3.5 Stars, rounded up.
May 16, 2020
Picking up a mystery with a female horseshoer may sound like an odd choice, but when you love horses like I do and when a man from your little hometown was a farrier for one of the teams of Budweiser Clydesdales, the choice suddenly doesn't seem strange at all. I often say that I am a character-driven reader-- and I am-- but I also read for "voice." If the main character speaks in a way that draws me right into the heart of the story, 90% of the battle is won as far as I'm concerned. Rainy Dale has that voice. She's a Texan with a colorful way of speaking-- and I'm not talking swear words here. Rainy has sworn off using bad language; it's a part of her Turning Over A New Leaf. She's made some really bad decisions in her short life, but she's got the gumption to change all that. In The Clincher, she begins to realize that the hardest thing she's going to have to do is to change her (very low) opinion of herself.
Anyone who loves horses is bound to love this book for the equine lore alone. Even if you don't love horses, if you like learning about new things, chances are good that you'll find this book a winner, too. Horseshoeing, a sport called Ride & Tie, learning to get along with a talented chef who wants more from Rainy than she wants to give... all these things and more play parts in a strong, fast-paced mystery. Character, mystery, and setting are the winning trifecta here.
I'd barely begun reading when I knew I needed more, so I already have the second book in the series, Dead Blow, on hand, and I see that the third is scheduled to be released in September. If you love characterization and that elusive "voice" as much as I do, please give Lisa Preston's The Clincher a try.
Anyone who loves horses is bound to love this book for the equine lore alone. Even if you don't love horses, if you like learning about new things, chances are good that you'll find this book a winner, too. Horseshoeing, a sport called Ride & Tie, learning to get along with a talented chef who wants more from Rainy than she wants to give... all these things and more play parts in a strong, fast-paced mystery. Character, mystery, and setting are the winning trifecta here.
I'd barely begun reading when I knew I needed more, so I already have the second book in the series, Dead Blow, on hand, and I see that the third is scheduled to be released in September. If you love characterization and that elusive "voice" as much as I do, please give Lisa Preston's The Clincher a try.
October 12, 2021
What a new world for me. The heroine is a horseshoer! She apparently has a long history that will come out in bit and pieces. She and Guy are the original odd couple. There are lots of horses which made me very happy.
September 9, 2018
In Lisa Preston's The Clincher (Skyhorse Publishing 2018), first of her Horseshoer Mystery series, Rainy Dale thinks her life is finally coming together despite a rocky start and secrets she won't even share with her boyfriend and landlord, Guy. When one of her farrier clients is murdered and she is the last to see her alive, Rainy takes it upon herself to run down clues she remembers from that last appointment, her client's unease with something she didn't explain, and several unusual events Rainy noticed when leaving the client's ranch. Rainy is young in years only. She is no stranger to adversity and despite her difficult history, has a moral streak that won't allow her to walk away from someone who needs her help, even if they're dead.
The dialogue is authentic and hard-nosed, the narrative crisp and witty, with no wasted words. Throughout the book, the author shares much about Rainy's profession which made me feel pretty darn knowledgeable in this area by the last page. Still, it took me a while to get into the story. Though Rainy is a strong voice for the main character, and unique in both her job and her attitude, she is as approachable as a porcupine and has a chip on her shoulder that makes her think a light in the tunnel is a rattlesnake with a headlamp. She is judgmental of almost everyone for no apparent reason and dismissive of her boyfriend who seems to be the only person in her life who really cares about her without question.
Lest you think I didn't enjoy this book, by the time I finished, I was checking to see when the next in the series would be available (no answer to that question). If you like unique stories that teach, you'll enjoy this book.
The dialogue is authentic and hard-nosed, the narrative crisp and witty, with no wasted words. Throughout the book, the author shares much about Rainy's profession which made me feel pretty darn knowledgeable in this area by the last page. Still, it took me a while to get into the story. Though Rainy is a strong voice for the main character, and unique in both her job and her attitude, she is as approachable as a porcupine and has a chip on her shoulder that makes her think a light in the tunnel is a rattlesnake with a headlamp. She is judgmental of almost everyone for no apparent reason and dismissive of her boyfriend who seems to be the only person in her life who really cares about her without question.
Lest you think I didn't enjoy this book, by the time I finished, I was checking to see when the next in the series would be available (no answer to that question). If you like unique stories that teach, you'll enjoy this book.
October 13, 2018
This was a wonderfully refreshing book that I enjoyed reading more than I thought I would! The main character is not your average sleuth and not your average character. I liked her grit, her stubbornness and the fact that her secret bothered her so much. That alone gave her a believable humanity. She could have been me, or anyone, she was that well written. She was determined to live life according to her rules and watching the push-pull of wanting to do the right thing within the investigation but not wanting to possibly compromise herself kept me glued to find out how it would all be resolved. I could see the landscape, smell the horses...all of it. It was that well written. I can't wait for the second one to come out!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 10, 2019
2.5 Stars
To begin with, kudos to the author for setting this in a very specialized world without making the plot feel contrived. There were several aspects that I found uncomfortable, however, and one of those was the fact that I have no knowledge in the field of farriering. That wouldn't have been so much of a problem (I love picking up new knowledge), but then we come to the second aspect of discomfort - the heroine, Rainy Dale, was very disdainful of people with limited knowledge of horses and their trappings. And that nicely segues into the last complaint: Rainy, herself, who was so prickly and outright rude that she became completely unsympathetic. As the story goes on, more is revealed about the events that have led her to become the person she is, but in the end, other people have had it much worse. My final complaint is the mystery and the detection that goes on; Rainy really didn't seem to get out there and actively do much tracking down of the bad guy. There was a nice wrap up through the final chapters, but probably not enough to get me to stick around for the following book.
To begin with, kudos to the author for setting this in a very specialized world without making the plot feel contrived. There were several aspects that I found uncomfortable, however, and one of those was the fact that I have no knowledge in the field of farriering. That wouldn't have been so much of a problem (I love picking up new knowledge), but then we come to the second aspect of discomfort - the heroine, Rainy Dale, was very disdainful of people with limited knowledge of horses and their trappings. And that nicely segues into the last complaint: Rainy, herself, who was so prickly and outright rude that she became completely unsympathetic. As the story goes on, more is revealed about the events that have led her to become the person she is, but in the end, other people have had it much worse. My final complaint is the mystery and the detection that goes on; Rainy really didn't seem to get out there and actively do much tracking down of the bad guy. There was a nice wrap up through the final chapters, but probably not enough to get me to stick around for the following book.
September 1, 2018
The Clincher is the first in a new series based on Rainey Dale. She is a somewhat new farrier in the small town Cowdry. When one of her clients is found dead, she find herself on the suspect list. Most of the book I found it hard to like Rainey. I didn’t like the way she treated Guy and she didn’t say much that was nice. There were a lot of unexplained terms regarding horses, so those parts were difficult for me to get through. It did get better and by the end you know what makes Rainey the way she is. And I know more about horseshoeing!
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
August 28, 2018
Rainy Dale, the firecracker heroine of Lisa Preston’s THE CLINCHER, is one of the most unique voices you’ll come across in today’s crime fiction. Truly remarkable and addictive narration. I loved her every quirky turn of phrase. Rainy is a tough-as-nails farrier who holds her own in the macho world of horseshoeing. A great plot and compelling cast of characters round out THE CLINCHER. This one is a winner.
February 27, 2019
What a delight to discover Lisa Preston and The Clincher. Witty, original mystery with a tough, unique-voiced protagonist and fast-paced style. Wonderful love interest in the chef, too. I'll be picking up the next installment in the Horseshoer Mysteries.
November 21, 2020
Exciting and funny
October 29, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, particularly as my grandson is a farrier (ie horseshoer) and it was great to be immersed in his world for a while. The main character, Rainy Dale, whose upbringing was split between Texas and California, is a likeable one even though some of her moodiness makes it difficult for her to get on with her landlord/boyfriend and the residents of the town she has only lived in for about a year.
Her boyfriend Guy is a chef and enjoys preparing great meals for them but Rainy hasn't had much experience with fine dining. Her comments about eating quiche or other offerings are hilarious.
The story is told in the first person and Rainy's thoughts and speech give the book an interesting horse-world flavour, which feels natural and unforced.
Her boyfriend Guy is a chef and enjoys preparing great meals for them but Rainy hasn't had much experience with fine dining. Her comments about eating quiche or other offerings are hilarious.
The story is told in the first person and Rainy's thoughts and speech give the book an interesting horse-world flavour, which feels natural and unforced.
October 3, 2018
Thanks to NeGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
THE CLINCHER by Lisa Preston is the first novel in the Horseshoer Mystery Series. The novel is due out on November 6th, 2018 by Skyhorse Publishing.
Rainy Dale is a twenty-something, high school dropout turned horseshoer who is running from her rough past and aspiring to a better future. After tracking down her childhood horse in Oregon, Rainy decides to stick around open up her own farrier (horseshoeing) business in the small town of Cowdry. When one of her clients is found dead not long after Rainy left the victim’s ranch, Rainy finds herself near the top of the local police’s suspect list. Rainy knows she is innocent – though that doesn’t stop her from blaming herself for leaving the ranch instead of sticking around like her client asked – and she takes it upon her herself to find out who killed her client and why.
While all of the information about horses and horseshoeing was interesting, I just couldn’t get into THE CLINCHER. I found the narrative to be choppy and hard to follow at times. The main aspect of the story seemed to be Rainy’s job as a farrier, and her amateur investigation took a backseat throughout most of the novel. I also thought Rainy was an unlikable character. She’s a hard, judgmental woman who feels guilty over certain things that happened to her in the past. She’s a loner, and she pushes almost everyone away – including the reader. Rainy also isn’t very nice or empathetic to anyone aside from her dog and the horses. She also swears a lot – not that the swearing bothered me. But Rainy’s constant swearing and then censoring/scolding herself over the swearing was distracting and annoying.
THE CLINCHER by Lisa Preston is the first novel in the Horseshoer Mystery Series. The novel is due out on November 6th, 2018 by Skyhorse Publishing.
Rainy Dale is a twenty-something, high school dropout turned horseshoer who is running from her rough past and aspiring to a better future. After tracking down her childhood horse in Oregon, Rainy decides to stick around open up her own farrier (horseshoeing) business in the small town of Cowdry. When one of her clients is found dead not long after Rainy left the victim’s ranch, Rainy finds herself near the top of the local police’s suspect list. Rainy knows she is innocent – though that doesn’t stop her from blaming herself for leaving the ranch instead of sticking around like her client asked – and she takes it upon her herself to find out who killed her client and why.
While all of the information about horses and horseshoeing was interesting, I just couldn’t get into THE CLINCHER. I found the narrative to be choppy and hard to follow at times. The main aspect of the story seemed to be Rainy’s job as a farrier, and her amateur investigation took a backseat throughout most of the novel. I also thought Rainy was an unlikable character. She’s a hard, judgmental woman who feels guilty over certain things that happened to her in the past. She’s a loner, and she pushes almost everyone away – including the reader. Rainy also isn’t very nice or empathetic to anyone aside from her dog and the horses. She also swears a lot – not that the swearing bothered me. But Rainy’s constant swearing and then censoring/scolding herself over the swearing was distracting and annoying.
October 7, 2018
The first in the horseshoer mystery series finds Rainy Dale, a high school dropout in her late 20’s, making her way by shoeing horses out of her truck, Ol’ Blue, in Cowdry, Oregon. She lives in the garage she rents from Guy, sort of her boyfriend and the cook at the Cascade Café.
The same day Rainy shoes Spartacus, the stud at Flying Cross ranch, owner Patsy-Lynn is found murdered. Rainy was already shoeing another client’s horse at the time of death but she is a person of interest since a rasp, horseshoe tool, is found at the crime scene with blood on it.
The mystery is interesting and the twists and red herrings numerous. While author Lisa Preston writes with authority about the world of horses and horseshoeing, other parts of the book do not hold the same level of engagement for the reader. When not describing Rainy’s work as a farrier, the narrative is often confusing and character development uneven. The premise of a female horseshoer playing amateur sleuth is very appealing but it doesn’t quite come together in this first book.
The same day Rainy shoes Spartacus, the stud at Flying Cross ranch, owner Patsy-Lynn is found murdered. Rainy was already shoeing another client’s horse at the time of death but she is a person of interest since a rasp, horseshoe tool, is found at the crime scene with blood on it.
The mystery is interesting and the twists and red herrings numerous. While author Lisa Preston writes with authority about the world of horses and horseshoeing, other parts of the book do not hold the same level of engagement for the reader. When not describing Rainy’s work as a farrier, the narrative is often confusing and character development uneven. The premise of a female horseshoer playing amateur sleuth is very appealing but it doesn’t quite come together in this first book.
October 13, 2018
This was a wonderfully refreshing book that I enjoyed reading more than I thought I would! The main character is not your average sleuth and not your average character. I liked her grit, her stubbornness and the fact that her secret bothered her so much. That alone gave her a believable humanity. She could have been me, or anyone, she was that well written. She was determined to live life according to her rules and watching the push-pull of wanting to do the right thing within the investigation but not wanting to possibly compromise herself kept me glued to find out how it would all be resolved. I could see the landscape, smell the horses...all of it. It was that well written. I can't wait for the second one to come out!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
March 5, 2020
I'll say it right up front, I'm a horse person, have been for many years, and I like reading books written by horse people. But this one, not so much. I was not thrilled in the 1st few chapters with the behavior of the farrier, if I had a farrier take a rasp to my horse, I'd have fired her on the spot. Rasp's are not ways to discipline horses. I did think the plot was plausible, I did like her boyfriend. But character development of Rainy Dale left something to be desired. Her language was way too over the top hokey for me. Instead of endearing her to me, it was really off-putting. This was a 1st novel, and maybe future novels will get better, but I wasn't a fan, so I don't know if I'll read more.
July 23, 2019
I agree with one of the other reviewers, that the mystery takes second place to character development. But I liked it enough that I plan to give book 2 a try.
April 13, 2019
Says it's the start of a mystery series but the mystery really was on the back burner. Took some getting used to the rhythm of the writing. Good not great.
August 27, 2019
This was a bookclub book. It was okay but nothing that would make me want to read another by the author.
December 23, 2018
In Lisa Preston's the Clincher, the first installment in the Horseshoer Mystery series, you'll be hooked and lassoed into the wild world of horseshoes and clinching. Meet Rainy Day. She's a high school dropout who works for a barn in small-town Cowdry, Oregon, when she works as a horseshoer for barn. When she works for the Flying Cross ranch, her first assignment is for Patsy-Lynn Harper, who runs the ranch. Things tend to go well, except when later on, Patsy-Lynn turned up in a supposedly "suicide." Though Rainy doesn't know the Harpers real well, she became to suspect everyone who came close in contact with her: from her ranch-hands, herders, and even her step-son. And when the police ask her questions about rasps and other horseshoeing equipment, it brought back to the memories of her past. Of how life were unkind to her as a teenager, when she was forced to give up a baby, and when she met her landlord, Guy Kittridge, who was also the chef for the ranch. Though she pays his rent, they have a sweet kind of kindred relationship that he really cares about Rainy and wants a life with her. As Rainy investigates the prime suspect further from a missing mare, a pregnant mare, and missing tools, she runs into trouble of her own with Patsy's step-son Junior. And she becomes a victim of his wrath when she suspects him of killing Patsy. When Guy saves her, it would be up them to stop him before he gets away with murder.
December 10, 2018
Such a good book! I really enjoyed Rainy Dale. She has such a strong voice plus I'm not sure I've read any books about farriers (horseshoers) before. I learned all sorts of things about horses and shoeing. The cover was what first attracted my attention to this book and then the fact that it was also a mystery. When I read a little of the synopsis and realized it took place somewhere in Central Oregon (where I grew up) this looked like a match for me! And it was.
The mystery is good, the characters--especially Rainy and her chef boyfriend Guy--are so fun to read about. I sometimes felt sorry for Guy who is such a good person. He sometimes has trouble understanding Rainy who is complicated and troubled. She hasn't had the easiest childhood since she was shuttled back and forth between her divorced parents (a Hollywood actress and a truck driver ranch hand). She's trying to be a better person and has many internal dialogues with herself! I sometimes felt like I was eavesdropping...lol.
Rainy's horse, Red, and Australian shepherd dog, Charlie, are fun to read about. Charlie herds Guy's goslings and the search Rainy made to find her childhood horse Red help make the book special. The author knows a lot about horses and dogs which I appreciate.
I'm so glad the second book in the series--Dead Blow will be published in 2019.
The mystery is good, the characters--especially Rainy and her chef boyfriend Guy--are so fun to read about. I sometimes felt sorry for Guy who is such a good person. He sometimes has trouble understanding Rainy who is complicated and troubled. She hasn't had the easiest childhood since she was shuttled back and forth between her divorced parents (a Hollywood actress and a truck driver ranch hand). She's trying to be a better person and has many internal dialogues with herself! I sometimes felt like I was eavesdropping...lol.
Rainy's horse, Red, and Australian shepherd dog, Charlie, are fun to read about. Charlie herds Guy's goslings and the search Rainy made to find her childhood horse Red help make the book special. The author knows a lot about horses and dogs which I appreciate.
I'm so glad the second book in the series--Dead Blow will be published in 2019.
October 22, 2019
#1 in the Horseshoer Mystery series. This 2018 series entry by author Lisa Preston is an impressive debut and introduces both a winning protagonist in Rainy Dale and her offbeat occupation as a horseshoer. In this debut, she spends too much time agonizing over her past and errors she made as a teenager. I hope she has gotten it out of her system and future entries will be relatively angst free. This was a good enjoyable read and I look forward to future series entries.
Horseshoer Rainy Dale becomes a murder suspect after the police inform her that the client for whom she just did a job, Patsy-Lynn Harper, is dead. Recently settled in Cowdry, Ore., Rainy worries that her fraught past will be brought to light. With the help of her handsome landlord, chef Guy Kittredge, Rainy aims to suss out Patsy-Lynn's killer, but being the new girl in town isn't easy, and she encounters plenty of resistance. The tough and irascible but innately good-hearted Rainy, determined to rise above her past, is brought to vivid life by Preston, whose effortless prose immerses readers in rural Cowdry, populated by horses that are just as interesting as its human residents. Rainy likes horses and her dog, Charley, more than people, and her attempts to meet her "heart's new goal" to be nice offers genuinely funny moments.
Horseshoer Rainy Dale becomes a murder suspect after the police inform her that the client for whom she just did a job, Patsy-Lynn Harper, is dead. Recently settled in Cowdry, Ore., Rainy worries that her fraught past will be brought to light. With the help of her handsome landlord, chef Guy Kittredge, Rainy aims to suss out Patsy-Lynn's killer, but being the new girl in town isn't easy, and she encounters plenty of resistance. The tough and irascible but innately good-hearted Rainy, determined to rise above her past, is brought to vivid life by Preston, whose effortless prose immerses readers in rural Cowdry, populated by horses that are just as interesting as its human residents. Rainy likes horses and her dog, Charley, more than people, and her attempts to meet her "heart's new goal" to be nice offers genuinely funny moments.
May 16, 2022
Rainy Dale is a horseshoer, a career she has worked hard at to in an effort to finally gain some self respect. Her parents divorced and she was shuffled back and forth between California where her want to be actress Mom lived and Texas where her father lived.
She lives in the garage of her landlord, a good looking young man who is aiming to one day open his own fancy restaurant. She's prickly, hard to get to know, keeps her past secretive, although Guy sees her as a challenge. It's pretty obvious he is more taken by her than she is by him. She tolerates him but to me, it's pretty obvious they don't belong together.
Slowly she is building her business but after doing some work for a young fairly newly married woman of a wealthy rancher, she leaves for another appointment. Then she learns the young woman died and the police have some suspicions on what might have happened when a tool Rainy might have used was found nearby.
Even though she is just trying to keep her head down and do her job, someone has it out for her and she realizes she has to do some investigating on her own.
It was a good story although a little slow in places. I found it interesting to learn about the work horseshoers do, a job that is physically demanding and appears to be one that is mostly done by men. The author has written a sequel.
She lives in the garage of her landlord, a good looking young man who is aiming to one day open his own fancy restaurant. She's prickly, hard to get to know, keeps her past secretive, although Guy sees her as a challenge. It's pretty obvious he is more taken by her than she is by him. She tolerates him but to me, it's pretty obvious they don't belong together.
Slowly she is building her business but after doing some work for a young fairly newly married woman of a wealthy rancher, she leaves for another appointment. Then she learns the young woman died and the police have some suspicions on what might have happened when a tool Rainy might have used was found nearby.
Even though she is just trying to keep her head down and do her job, someone has it out for her and she realizes she has to do some investigating on her own.
It was a good story although a little slow in places. I found it interesting to learn about the work horseshoers do, a job that is physically demanding and appears to be one that is mostly done by men. The author has written a sequel.
June 29, 2020
This is a new author for me and I was not disappointed with my find. Lisa's protagonist; Rainey Dale is a young, female farrier (horse shoer) who has moved to Oregon to start her carrier. She has a horse named Red and an Australian shepherd named Charley and rents space from Guy who is an aspiring chef.
One of Rainey's clients ends up dead and she is the last person to see her so of course there is suspicion about her from law enforcement.
It may take you a bit to get into the flow of how Rainey speaks and thinks but once you get used to the writing style Lisa uses it is an engaging and suspenseful read. I enjoyed this mystery and will be getting the next one in the series to read. It's nice to find a new series set in the West with great characters.
One of Rainey's clients ends up dead and she is the last person to see her so of course there is suspicion about her from law enforcement.
It may take you a bit to get into the flow of how Rainey speaks and thinks but once you get used to the writing style Lisa uses it is an engaging and suspenseful read. I enjoyed this mystery and will be getting the next one in the series to read. It's nice to find a new series set in the West with great characters.
October 27, 2019
Something new for me
It took me a very long time to get comfortable with the main character, Rainy. If I were to meet her in real life I wouldn't give her the time of day.. But then, she wouldn't like me either. I stopped reading this several times, and even deleted it from my Kindle ... But i kept coming back to it, and I'm glad i did. Rainy remains true to herself throughout the story. She grows as a person too. The description were all crystal clear and i could see them in my mind. I learned a lot about horse people and horses. it's not the kind of story i usually read, but then again, that's what i wanted.
It took me a very long time to get comfortable with the main character, Rainy. If I were to meet her in real life I wouldn't give her the time of day.. But then, she wouldn't like me either. I stopped reading this several times, and even deleted it from my Kindle ... But i kept coming back to it, and I'm glad i did. Rainy remains true to herself throughout the story. She grows as a person too. The description were all crystal clear and i could see them in my mind. I learned a lot about horse people and horses. it's not the kind of story i usually read, but then again, that's what i wanted.
February 10, 2020
TITLE The Clincher
DATE READ 02/07/20
RATING 3/C
FIRST SENTENCE
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF Crime Fiction/2018/ Brilliance Audio/ 8 hr 12 min
SERIES/STAND-ALONE #1
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2020 Reading Goal 20/120;
GROUP READ
TIME/PLACE 2016/OR
CHARACTERS Rainy Dale/ Farrier and boyfriend Guy/chef
COMMENTS Rainy Dale was not someone I could warm up to and neither was the narrator. I do like the Western setting and the horses but the mystery was not very engaging either. Think this will be a one of for me in this series.
DATE READ 02/07/20
RATING 3/C
FIRST SENTENCE
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF Crime Fiction/2018/ Brilliance Audio/ 8 hr 12 min
SERIES/STAND-ALONE #1
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2020 Reading Goal 20/120;
GROUP READ
TIME/PLACE 2016/OR
CHARACTERS Rainy Dale/ Farrier and boyfriend Guy/chef
COMMENTS Rainy Dale was not someone I could warm up to and neither was the narrator. I do like the Western setting and the horses but the mystery was not very engaging either. Think this will be a one of for me in this series.
October 9, 2019
Look to the future
A very interesting story about something I know nothing about - being a horseshoer in a small town in Oregon. As Rainy Dale begins searching for a murderer she is also searching for the missing pieces of herself. As the story evolves I became more and more invested in Rainy and in Guy and as the skillful twists brought everything to a climax I couldn't wait to turn the page to find out how the end would come! Humor, suspense, action, romance and a lot of compassion make this a book to enjoy.
A very interesting story about something I know nothing about - being a horseshoer in a small town in Oregon. As Rainy Dale begins searching for a murderer she is also searching for the missing pieces of herself. As the story evolves I became more and more invested in Rainy and in Guy and as the skillful twists brought everything to a climax I couldn't wait to turn the page to find out how the end would come! Humor, suspense, action, romance and a lot of compassion make this a book to enjoy.
October 21, 2019
Interesting story
I have only seen one horse shoed in my life. I found it both interesting and horrorfying as nails were purposely driven into the horses hoof and deliberately punched through to the outside of the horses foot. So, when I read what this book was about and what a clincher was, I decided it was for me. Add to the fact that the shoer was a woman, it made it sound even better. Glad I read it. Learned a lot more about shoeing and horses. Recommended, especially if your into horses. I am not, but it was s fun book.
I have only seen one horse shoed in my life. I found it both interesting and horrorfying as nails were purposely driven into the horses hoof and deliberately punched through to the outside of the horses foot. So, when I read what this book was about and what a clincher was, I decided it was for me. Add to the fact that the shoer was a woman, it made it sound even better. Glad I read it. Learned a lot more about shoeing and horses. Recommended, especially if your into horses. I am not, but it was s fun book.
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