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M.J. Evans is back on Salty Inspirations! She previously stopped by to introduce readers to her first Harness Racing Mystery, Fire at the Track, and I’m happy to welcome her back with the second book in the series, Murder in the Winner’s Circle. Today, M.J. shares why the world of harness racing provides such an interesting setting for her mysteries. Welcome back, M.J.!
Hooves, Hunches, and Homicide: Why I Set My Mysteries in the World of Harness Racing
By M.J. Evans, author of the Harness Racing Mystery Series
What could be more exciting than a horse race? Add a suspicious death, a handful of people with secrets, and a determined amateur sleuth, and you have the makings of a mystery!
As a lifelong horse lover and an author who has written many books featuring horses, I knew I wanted to bring my passion for these remarkable animals into my adult mystery novels. But I didn’t want to use just any equestrian setting. I wanted a world filled with colorful personalities, high stakes, intense competition, and plenty of opportunities for secrets to hide in plain sight.
I found all of that—and more—in harness racing.
A World Most Readers Haven’t Explored
Many readers are familiar with Thoroughbred racing, where jockeys ride their horses around the track. Harness racing is different. Standardbred horses pull lightweight two-wheeled carts called sulkies, with drivers seated behind them. The horses race at a trot or pace, and the drivers must combine skill, strategy, and split-second decisions to compete successfully.
For me, this less familiar corner of the horse world offers a wonderful setting for fiction. Readers can discover a new sport while following a compelling mystery.
And there’s no shortage of drama.
Behind every race are owners who invest their money and dreams, trainers who work to bring out the best in their horses, drivers who compete for victory, veterinarians who care for the animals, and grooms whose daily work keeps the stable running. Each person has a different role, different pressures, and sometimes a very different version of the truth.
That makes a racetrack a natural place for a mystery. People work closely together, reputations matter, money is on the line, and everyone has something to lose.
Horses Bring More Than Atmosphere
Of course, I don’t include horses merely to provide an interesting backdrop. They are an essential part of the story.
Anyone who has spent time around horses knows that they bring their own personalities, routines, and challenges. The early mornings, the sounds of the stable, the smell of hay, and the anticipation before a race all contribute to the atmosphere. There is also a powerful bond between people and the animals in their care.
That bond can make a mystery especially personal. A horse isn’t simply a valuable investment or a potential champion. To the people who care for one, that animal can be a partner, a source of pride, and a beloved friend.
I want readers to feel that they have stepped into the racetrack world—not just to solve a crime, but to experience the horses and the people who make the sport what it is.
Everyone Has Something to Hide
My Harness Racing Mystery Series follows Callie Oaks Coffman, a former insurance investigator whose knowledge of the horse world becomes an important asset when trouble strikes at Liberty Racetrack.
In Fire at the Track, Callie goes undercover after a devastating fire kills twenty-eight Standardbreds. In the second book, Murder in the Winner’s Circle, the stakes become personal for the close-knit racetrack community when prominent horse owner Alfred Wellington collapses during the celebration of his sixtieth birthday. What initially appears to be a medical emergency takes a darker turn when investigators discover that he has been poisoned.
Suddenly, the people who gathered to celebrate a winning horse find themselves under suspicion.
Who had a reason to want Alfred dead? Was it someone close to him, someone who stood to gain financially, or someone whose resentment had been building for years?
Callie knows that appearances can be deceiving. A successful horse owner may have financial troubles. A seemingly devoted spouse may have secrets. A trusted professional may be hiding more than anyone realizes.
At a racetrack, people are accustomed to studying the competition, looking for an advantage, and making calculated decisions. Callie must use those same instincts to separate fact from fiction.
In the Winner’s Circle, everyone has something to hide.
Authenticity Matters
When writing about a world that readers may not know well, I believe authenticity is important. I want experienced harness racing fans to recognize the sport they love, while newcomers feel welcome rather than overwhelmed by unfamiliar terminology.
I also want the mystery to work whether a reader knows the difference between a trot and a pace or has never set foot at a racetrack. The racing world gives the story its distinctive flavor, but the heart of the mystery lies in universal questions: Whom can we trust? How well do we really know the people around us? And what might someone do when money, ambition, or jealousy takes over?
Those questions can lead to trouble anywhere. At Liberty Racetrack, they just happen to come with horses, sulkies, and a winner’s circle.
Come Along for the Ride
Writing these mysteries allows me to combine two things I love: horses and a good puzzle. I enjoy giving readers an inside look at harness racing while challenging them to examine the clues, question the suspects, and see if they can solve the crime before Callie does.
Murder in the Winner’s Circle, the second book in my Harness Racing Mystery Series, continues Callie’s adventures in a community where friendships run deep, rivalries can turn bitter, and the truth is rarely as straightforward as it first appears.
So, saddle up—or, in this case, climb into the sulky—and join me at Liberty Racetrack. Keep your eyes on the horses, pay attention to the people in the winner’s circle, and remember: the most dangerous person in a mystery may be the one you least suspect.
Happy reading!
M.J. Evans Award-winning author of Fire at the Track and Murder in the Winner’s Circle
Learn more about my books at www.dancinghorsepress.com
Murder In The Winner’s Circle: A Harness Racing Mystery by M.J. EvansAbout Murder In The Winner’s Circle
Murder In The Winner’s Circle: A Harness Racing Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Pennsylvania
Publisher : Dancing Horse Press
Print Length – 257 Pages
Paperback
ISBN 9798993879413
ASIN B0HLQCXS8H
Digital
ASIN : B0HFQNH72C
A Birthday Celebration. A Champion Horse. A Deadly Toast. Alfred Wellington has everything he wants on his sixtieth birthday. His prized colt just won at Liberty Racetrack, the champagne is flowing, and the crowd is cheering. Then Alfred collapses. At first, everyone assumes it was a heart attack—until the autopsy reveals the truth. ALFRED WELLINGTON WAS POISONED. Former insurance investigator Callie Oaks Coffman knows Liberty Racetrack inside and out. She knows its horses, its owners, its trainers—and she knows that secrets can get someone killed. As she and her new husband, reporter Paul Coffman, become drawn into the investigation, Callie discovers that Alfred left behind plenty of people with reasons to want him dead. A beautiful young wife. A secretive trainer. A bitter ex-wife. A business partner with something to hide. But which one of them is the killer? BECAUSE IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE, EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE. Return to the world of Liberty Racetrack in the second Harness Racing Mystery, following Fire at the Track.
About M.J. Evans
M.J. Evans is the award-winning author of twenty-seven published works spanning middle-grade, young adult, and adult fiction, as well as a selection of picture books. Her writing often explores themes centered around horses and equine fantasy, reflecting a lifelong passion for these remarkable animals. A graduate of Oregon State University and a former educator with experience teaching both middle and high school students, Ms. Evans brings both educational insight and storytelling flair to her work. She resides in beautiful Colorado with her husband, Tom, where they enjoy the company of their horses and Standard Poodle. She is the proud mother of five and grandmother of thirteen.
M.J. Evans was the recipient of the 2024 Colorado Authors League Lifetime Achievement Award. Literary awards include: Chanticleer International Book Awards Readers’ Favorite International Awards Eric Hoffer Awards Nautilus Awards Literary Classics awards Literary Global Book Awards Literary Titan Book Award Feathered Quill Book Awards Purple Dragonfly Awards Royal Dragonfly Awards Page Turner Award Next Generation Award Global Book Awards CIPA Evvy Book Awards Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards Incipere Book Awards International Impact Book Awards Maincrest Media Book Awards Book Excellence Awards Mom’s Choice AwardsAuthor Links
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Thank you, M.J., for stopping by Salty Inspirations and sharing a little about your Harness Racing Mystery Series!
If you enjoy mysteries with intriguing characters, suspicious deaths, and an unusual setting, Murder in the Winner’s Circle might be one to add to your TBR list.
Be sure to check out M.J.’s links above to learn more about her books, and take a little time to browse around Salty Inspirations for more author visits, book spotlights, and cozy inspiration.
As always, thanks for stopping by for some Salty Inspirations! —Michelle❤️
Dear Michelle, Thank you so much for inviting me to share a guest post on your blog. I hope your readers will enjoy it and learn a little more about the life of an author who also loves horses!
M.J. Evans
M.J., it was a delight to host you! Happy Thanksgiving!