The first book in the Horseshoer Mystery series by bestselling novelist Lisa Preston featuring farrier and amateur detective Rainy Dale, for fans of William Kent Kruger and Craig Johnson.

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 tracked down her childhood horse in small-town Oregon—a land full of cowboys and their horses—then stayed 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 in order to make a living by her trade, especially to her male clients who look down their noses at a female farrier. She finds herself in over her head, however, when one of her clients turns up dead, setting her up as both a suspect and a seeker of the truth. If she plans on setting down roots in her new town, Rainy will have to find the killer and clear her name. But it a country as wild as the mustangs that used to run free, finding the truth just might get her killed. "An exuberantly quirky series opener … The tough and irascible but innately good-hearted Rainy, determined to rise above her past, is brought to vivid life by Preston, whose effortless prose immerses readers in rural Cowdry, populated by horses that are just as interesting as its human residents. ... 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

"Can a woman whose life is all about horses and a man whose life is all about food make a go of it? A rousing novel. The mystery leaves plenty of open questions for the tough but needy heroine while immersing the reader in all things equine." —Kirkus Reviews

"Lisa Peston's The Clincher hits like a nailing hammer and won’t let go—her horseshoeing sleuth, Rainy Dale, is a new and distinctive voice in crime fiction."—Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire series

"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 of Winter’s Child

"The Clincher runs at full gallop from first page to last with sharp-eyed Rainy Dale leading the charge. Lisa Preston's writing is so vivid you'll think you're sitting in the saddle and you'll finish knowing you need to see Rainy Dale ride again."—Mark Stevens

"Rainy Dale—an engaging character with a unique voice who can shoe horses like nobody’s business!"—J.A.Jance

"Preston creates a riveting tale in her first thriller, intertwining the past with the present for an exciting ride that will keep readers hanging on until the very end." –Booklist (for Orchids and Stones)

In Praise of The Horseshoer Mystery Series: "Rainy Dale—an engaging character with a unique voice who can shoe horses like nobody’s business!" -- New York Times best-selling author JA Jance