Into the Fire

The Bitter Fields by Matthew Iden is Book 7 in A Marty Singer Mystery Series.

Marty and Julie travel to Virginia from DC to help Julie's friend Ruth at her Blue Moon ranch located in the midst of a "hero-driven" town known as Burwell. Apparently this so-called hero owned most of the farms and wineries in the area a long time ago and those who trace their lineage back to him have their own cemetery which borders part of Ruth's land. However, this Burwell fathered an abundance of kids who didn't happen to be all the same "color" which makes for some disputes about burial inclusions and the expansion of the cemetery to accommodate present-day "relatives" – some of whom fail to acknowledge their "different" half-families. 

Long story short in that arena: Ruth's had some vandalism involving the horse part of her ranch and needs help finding out exactly how it happened and who engineered the ugly deed. In the course of investigating motives and opportunities, Ruth's foreman Nano learns one of his Argentine "boys" Freddie has been murdered at another farm where Freddie's been keeping company with its wealthy married owner. 

Singer is exasperated by all the pomp and circumstance of polo matches, snobbery, winery etiquette, and now murder, while just trying to find out who committed the dastardly deed at Ruth's place. With the murder added on, the wealthy mistress insists her husband killed Freddie, and that unleashes a whole other proverbial can of worms especially when the Sheriff is devoted to the mistress and committed to condemning her husband. 

In a small way this is similar to a cozy mystery with all the eccentric characters that show up in the story. The intricate workings of this historic town make for all kinds of odd behind the scenes complexities that spin every angle Marty with Julie's assistance try to take. Two crimes lead to one more and finally after several insufferable people and efforts, Marty whittles it down to the truth. 

A real mystery here, but the reader can guess who did what when only if they can wade through the convoluted clues with Marty, and it's not a pretty journey. 

(I have one petty objection – and I always do when horses or equipment are incorrectly written. Reins are attached to a bridle of some kind. Horses do not wear a bridle with reins when they're being shod. They wear a halter and the holder uses a shank attached to the halter. If they're being led out to pasture or walked around a barn, same equipment – not a bridle with reins.) 

Profanity present. 

Lord, once again, only you know hearts. Every good and perfect gift comes down from you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.