Hi! I’m Meg, and I’m living the life of my dreams on an idyllic horse farm in Ontario. I emigrated from England to escape an abusive situation, but you won’t want to hear about that.

I eventually married Frank. It was a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience which ended tragically with Frank’s death. He left me this farm and four horses, including two thoroughbred racehorses.

Because Frank died under suspicious circumstances, I was driven to become an amateur sleuth, although sometimes a reluctant one. I’m proud to say that I discovered what happened to him, but it wasn’t easy, and I unearthed facts that were tough to face.

My best friend and loyal partner is my beloved border collie, Kelly. She might be smarter than I am. I met her when I was the Executive Director of Vannersville Humane Society. Kelly sleeps on my bed, and this morning we both woke up feeling a little blue. We’ve each lost a good friend. I pushed William out of my life, and he took Jake, Kelly’s buddy, with him.

Kelly and I follow the well-worn path to the barn to feed Eagle and Bullet, two retired racehorses. I love the sweet smell of horse feed, the grassy odour of green hay, and the tangy scent of wood shavings.

After a mug of tea back in the kitchen, I lead the horses out to the paddock. Kelly and I return to the back door just as Neal, my racehorse trainer, calls me. He says a racehorse trainer with a bad reputation was found dead in a ditch near the racetrack. Linda is being questioned by the police and she’s terrified. She’s a top-notch groom at Vannersville Racetrack and takes excellent care of my racehorses.

Kelly and I are soon in my pickup on our way to Vannersville Racetrack. I love to visit my horses in the backstretch barns, but Kelly knows she’s not allowed there. She lies down behind the front seats and stays out of sight. I have mints, but won’t have a chance to feed them to my horses this morning. After a brief chat with Neal, I leave to meet Linda in a coffee shop. The police have seized her car because they suspect it was involved in the trainer’s death.

I want to help Linda, but when I chat with her, it’s clear she’s hiding something and protecting someone.

Love and Death – A Meg Sheppard Mystery, Book 6
Genre: Traditional Mystery
Release Date: November 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

A cheating racehorse trainer is dead, and someone close to Meg is under suspicion.

As she digs for the truth, past gang members involved in a murder, and a zealous animal rights group bring danger to Meg.

Wounded by a gunshot, Meg is reluctant to continue as a sleuth.

Does she have the resilience to face the danger and investigate a stolen horse, another death, and two attempted murders while struggling to cope with the likelihood of a devastating personal loss?

Meet the author
Vicky Earle is the author of the Meg Sheppard Mystery Series and a recipient of a Canada Book Award. These novels are set in the world of thoroughbred horse racing and centred on country life. Vicky draws on her many years of experience as an owner and breeder (together with her husband) of thoroughbred racehorses, and her life on a small horse farm. She was the CEO of the Ontario SPCA for several years. Vicky is a member of Sisters in Crime and Coordinator of Uxbridge Writers’ Circle.