Gift Horse

Tucked away in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the village of Peshekee has more to worry about than the long winters and steelhead fishing. Scandal and a suspicious death or two visit the rural village, setting speculation and gossip into motion. After her post-college career collapses, Kat Wilde finds herself living with the family cat in her parents' basement. With no other prospects on the horizon, Kat is offered a gift she can't refuse: inheriting her late uncle's failed equine venture, Wildwood Stables. There, she sees hope for regaining independence from a pity job at Dad's accounting firm. Attracting the attention of Nikko Olsen, a local woods cop, leads to unconventional romance and adventure. The discovery of a corpse, along with disturbing encounters at the old horse campground, launches a spate of entanglements that unravel as Kat stumbles onto family sins and secrets.

I want to be Terri Martin's Kat Wilde in Gift Horse: the reluctant recipient of a run-down horse boarding stable whose spirit is exceeded only by her heart! Thrown by the discovery of a dead body in her barn, Kat is determined to solve the mystery, aided and abetted by a host of endearingly wacky characters. Martin's Gift Horse is a pleasure ride, with enough bumps, turns and twists in the trail to keep the reader glued to the saddle -- right up until a very satisfying ending. -- Nancy Besonen, author of Off the Hook

Kat Wilde, a Gen Z woman trying to find a life in the rugged wilderness of the U.P., stumbles into an unlikely inheritance that reignites the fire of her forgotten youthful passion for horses. She is a down-to-earth heroine I rooted for at every turn, as she and new beau, Nikko Olsen, unravel the schemes of a murderer and impostor. -- Victor Volkman, Marquette Monthly

Kat is a delightful character with a fine sense of humor and the minor characters are not merely cardboard cutouts. The U.P. is also a nicely drawn character that contributes to the pleasure of reading what I hope is the first of A Kat Wilde U.P. Mystery series. -- Tom Powers, Michigan in Books

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Kat Wilde, our guide through the landscape of Gift Horse. Her humorous choice of language comes through - even during the most desperate events, of which there are many. Things start with a few signs of danger and soon grow into dead bodies and blackmail. -- Bob Rich, author of Hit and Run

Gift Horse is a first-class mystery story using engaging characters. The story flows masterfully with Martin's signature undertone of humor. She uses it well. Things start to move fast after Kat Wildeinherits her uncle's failed equine venture, Wildwood Stables Twists and turns occur and romance develops when Kat pairs up with Niko, the handsome son of the local sheriff. Unexplained murders and family secrets run in tandem to Kat and Niko's growing romance. I loved this book and can't wait to read more of Kat's adventures. -- Ann Dallman, award-winning author of Cady Whirlwind Thunder Mysteries

Learn more at www.TerriLynnMartin.com

From Modern History Press