The Clincher

“Hits like a nailing hammer and won’t let go—[Preston’s] horseshoeing sleuth, Rainy Dale, is a new and distinctive voice in crime fiction.” —Craig Johnson, New York Times–bestselling author
Rainy Dale is The Clincher, a twenty-something high school-dropout turned farrier (horseshoer) who is haunted by a secret she carries. Estranged from her California
D-list actress momma and her ranch hand Texas daddy, she tracks down her childhood horse in small-town Oregon—a land full of cowboys—then stays to build a life with her tools, steel, and forge. She’s sleeping in a garage and trying not to fall for her landlord, the hapless and hopeful chef, Guy, who is determined to create the perfect soufflé while Rainy would prefer to just stuff her mouth with fuel for her physically demanding job.
As the new kid in town, Rainy has an uphill battle to prove herself, especially to her male clients, but when one of her customers turns up dead, Rainy is in over her head—as both a suspect and a seeker of the truth . . .
“Fast-paced, absorbing and fun to boot, The Clincher grabs your attention from the first paragraph and never loosens its grip. Rainy Dale—horseshoer with sass—is one of the freshest and most original sleuths to come along in mystery fiction. May she live on and on!” —Margaret Coel, New York Times–bestselling author
“[An] exuberantly quirky series opener . . . The exciting, crowd-pleasing finale will leave readers breathless and eagerly awaiting Rainy’s next adventure.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“For those who enjoy both mysteries and horses, it’s a must.” —Library Journal