Commander Speaks by Jody Jaffe

Commander Speaks is a very insightful, unique and amusing horse mystery. I am not from a big riding background. And so I found as I read this story, that I learned a lot about the horse showing world – particularly in Hunter classes.

Dante is a very expensive show jumper Hanoverian that comes into contact with animal communicator Izzie Isaac. As Dante works with Izzie to ensure that his person treats him in the best way possible, he also helps Izzie to solve a mystery relating to a much disliked trainer that appears to prey on young women. Mancuse doesn’t appear to have anyone that likes him. And yet, he has incredible power as a top trainer of horse riders in the showing world.

Izzie connects with Dante’s owner – a 67 year-old woman who is insistent that her horse will allow her to take the much coveted first place in her Special Adults division. Suddenly the two find themselves in amongst a murder mystery. With so many suspects and just as many motives, it is hard to know which way to look first.

This is where Dante comes in. But how on earth is Izzie going to convince anyone about this? After all, the evidence that she has been able to gather is through her mind communication with a very large Warmblood.

Commander Speaks by Jody Jaffe

Commander Speaks has a unique spin in that much of the conversation is with a very well educated German horse. There is much humour in the story, too as Izzie and Dante banter back and forth between German observations and American idiosyncrasies.

This was a very entertaining read, with a great horse focus and a really engaging mystery. There is quite a bit of language in it – which I would easily do without, but otherwise highly recommended.

Author: Jody Jaffe
Fiction – secure it now on Amazon.
In my library? As an electronic copy it is.