A Hairy Situation — Shari Malin

Fresh off their last case, Dr. Aris Thorne and his assistant, Mia Rodriguez, are called to the prestigious Sterling Stables. The farm's most valuable stallion, a champion breeding horse named Thunderbolt, is found dead. While the official report cites natural causes, Aris finds subtle clues that suggest foul play, and Mia notices a key piece of grooming equipment has vanished. They're convinced Thunderbolt was poisoned, and the killer is still on the farm.Their investigation takes them galloping into a world of old money, deep-seated feuds, and long-held family secrets. The suspects are as tangled as the horse's lineage: a proud and demanding patriarch drowning in debt, his rebellious daughter with a history of family conflict, and a long-time stable hand with a grudge.With the clock ticking, Aris uses his unparalleled knowledge of horse behavior to decipher the silent clues from the other horses, while Mia's sharp intuition uncovers the human drama behind the stables' pristine façade. Can they outsmart the culprit and expose the real killer, or will this cold-blooded crime leave them in the dust?