Aside from the murder of Walter Fleet, The Stabbing in the Stables combines two subjects with which I am well
acquainted, horses and energy balancing. The horses are important to the story because Walter was found as the
title suggests; stabbed to death at Long Bamber Stables, which he co-owned with his wife. It is assumed that Walter
interrupted the vicious "Horse Ripper" who stalks the corrals of Fethering and suffered the slashing instead of
the intended beast.
Walter’s murder is discovered by amateur sleuths Jude (no last name) and Carole Seddon. Jude has been asked to
look at a lame horse and see if she can heal it through the manipulation of energy flow. When Jude enters the stable
Walter is already dead and the back gate conspicuously slams shut.
Jude and Carole fuss and fuddle their way through their investigation, and solve both Walter’s murder and the
horse killings almost by accident. They poke their noses into things that no traditional English lady would, are
curious and Jude is daring enough for both of them. While there is not a lot of time spent on characterization
the ladies have real human flaws. Jude doesn’t drive and uses Carole to get places that Carole wouldn’t go on her
own. Carole is a prissy old lady and uses Jude as an excuse to see and experience things her dignity won’t allow
her to seek out.
The Stabbing in the Stables sits firmly in the British cozy
genre. I think you would benefit from reading previous selections
in this series before picking this one up in order to meet and be
familiar with the characters.
Reviews
of other titles in this series
The
Hanging in the Hotel #5
The
Witness at the Wedding #6
The
Stabbing in the Stables #7
Death
Under the Dryer #8
Blood
at the Bookies #9
The
Poisoning in the Pub # 10
The
Shooting in the Shop #
11
Bones
Under the Beach Hut #
12
Liar
in the Library #18