MYSTERY

A Basket of Trouble: A Claire Hanover Mystery

Midnight Ink. Nov. 2013. 296p. ISBN 9780738727035. pap. $14.99. M
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Claire Hanover is delighted that her younger brother Charley and his wife, Jessica, have moved to Colorado Springs and opened a horseback riding stable. Not just for tourists, the stable also offers hippotherapy, a form of equine occupational therapy geared toward people with disabilities. But troubles hover over Charley's head, and, shockingly, one of his key ranch hands is found dead in a stall. Initially the death is blamed on the horse, but further investigation reveals that human hands caused Kyle's death. Then a furor arises over the legal status of some of Charley's workers; immigrant officials show up. Just when it seems things couldn't get any worse, another wrangler is fatally shot in his car. Through it all, earnest and hopelessly snoopy Claire pursues leads. This time, Det. Frank Wilson welcomes her assistance, realizing the gift basket gal has surprisingly good instincts.
VERDICT Groundwater's third series entry (after To Hell in a Handbasket) is an action-packed cozy that successfully weaves in her small business and disability awareness.
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