Beautiful Horseflesh by Karen S. Bennett

Recently I was contacted about being sent a horse book to read and review. Of course I am always keen to add to my horse book library. And so I received a copy of Beautiful Horseflesh by Karen S. Bennett. This book focuses around a boarding and water walk farm owned by the Smitt family. Eighteen-year-old Luis Smitt is rapt to know that a promising young thoroughbred filly is coming to their farm to make use of the water walking facility. Not only that, she is also set to race in a prestigious stakes race in the near future. It’s exciting!

Luis, his mother Patrizia and sixteen-year-old Miranda Smitt know that the impending arrival of the thoroughbred filly and her trainer Bud Coleman will change their sombre lives for awhile. The three are in their own ways learning to cope with the loss of Mr. Smitt and the medical bills that are hanging around after his passing.

Bud’s good looks immediately draw in Patrizia and her teenage daughter. Miranda’s athletic physique quickly captures Bud’s attention. Suddenly Patrizia Smitt is warning her teenage daughter to steer clear of the racehorse trainer. But Miranda is not interested in her mother’s advice.

Beautiful Horseflesh is an interesting mystery that builds quite well. The story behind Bud Coleman and his secrecy about the black thoroughbred filly he so protectively watches over draws the reader in. Luis finds his awe of the older man soon dissolving. Bud often smells of alcohol, seems too interested in his younger sister and appears to have a temper. Just what is this man hiding?

Although horses feature heavily in this novel, I found that some information was incorrectly portrayed. I struggled with the accuracy of the horse information. Otherwise, the story held surprises and ended in an upbeat way but not as I envisaged. For horse fans, the technicalities may be an issue, but otherwise the story is enjoyable.

Author: Karen S. Bennett
Fiction – mystery
In My Library? Yes.