Pony Confidential - by Christina Lynch

About the Book

"Pony has been passed from owner to owner for longer than he can remember. Fed up, he busts out and goes on a cross-country mission to reunite with the only little girl he ever loved: Penny, who he was separated from and hasn't seen in years. Penny, now an adult, is living an ordinary life when she gets a knock on her door and finds herself in handcuffs, accused of murder and whisked back to the place she grew up. Her only comfort when the past comes back to haunt her are the memories of her precious, rebellious pony. Hearing of Penny's fate, Pony knows that Penny is no murderer. So, as smart and devious as he is cute, the pony must use his hard-won knowledge of human weakness and cruelty to try to clear Penny's name and find the real killer"--

Book Synopsis

An NPR "Book of the Day"

In this one-of-a-kind mystery with heart and humor, a hilariously grumpy pony must save the only human he's ever loved after discovering she stands accused of a murder he knows she didn't commit.

Pony has been passed from owner to owner for longer than he can remember. Fed up, he busts out and goes on a cross-country mission to reunite with Penny, the little girl whom he was separated from and hasn't seen in years.

Penny, now an adult, is living an ordinary life when she gets a knock on her door and finds herself in handcuffs, accused of murder and whisked back to the place she grew up. Her only comfort when the past comes back to haunt her is the memory of her precious, rebellious pony.

Hearing of Penny's fate, Pony knows that Penny is no murderer. So, as smart and devious as he is cute, the pony must use his hard-won knowledge of human weakness and cruelty to try to clear Penny's name and find the real killer.

This acutely observant, feel-good mystery reveals the humanity of animals and beastliness of humans in a rollicking escapade of epic proportions.

Review Quotes

Praise for Pony Confidential

"The pony in this mystery is such a delightfully bitter misanthrope.... A kooky page-turner that took me back to every girl-and-her-horse book I ever read, but Misty of Chincoteague was nowhere near as spicy as this pony is!"
--NPR

"Clever, funny, and full of sugar cubes."
--People

"A comic mystery that's lighthearted but not lacking in thematic substance (or twists)."
--Elle

"A quirky and boundary-defying mystery unlike anything in the genre ...Lynch's writing flows, her plot is intriguing, and her characters--especially Pony--are sassy and lovable. Horse lovers, mystery lovers, or anyone looking for a delightfully unusual read should check out Christina Lynch's Pony Confidential."
--Mystery & Suspense Magazine

"Christina Lynch has crafted something original and artful with more than a little bit of magic. Pony Confidential is fresh and crisp, with an unexpected, peppery bite. You will be rooting for Pony every step of the way!"
--Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author of Killers of a Certain Age

"Warm-hearted and charmingly clever, I instantly fell in love with Pony Confidential. It has it all - a pony with an acerbic wit and surprisingly poignant views on life, a woman with a past she's still trying to make sense of, and a compelling and unexpected mystery pulling everything together. This book was fun, funny, and unlike anything I've ever read before."
--Kristen Perrin, nationally bestselling author of How to Solve Your Own Murder

"Pony Confidential is part murder mystery, part ode to friendship, and 100% heart-warming. This is sure to be one of the funniest and most uniquely charming books you'll read this year."
--Freya Sampson, USA Today bestselling author of Nosy Neighbors

"Pony Confidential is laugh-out-loud funny in places, heart-tugging emotional in others. Christina Lynch has written a book that turns the mystery genre on its head--in a very good way. Trust me. Read it!"
--Sofie Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of the Magical Cat Mysteries

"An absurdist Black Beauty that asks if childhood fantasies can save us from adult realities. Guaranteed to gallop away with your heart."
--Eliza Jane Brazier, author of Girls and Their Horses

"A charming, unique whodunit...a magical story about friendship in all forms."
--Woman's World

"Lynch's story of an odyssey is one of love and determination. Pony devotes his life to finding Penny in an account that will be appreciated by horse lovers."
--Library Journal (starred review)

"[T]his book is a celebration of friendship and family and the kind of pure, uncomplicated love that is all too rare and should be all the more cherished and fought for because of it."
--Criminal Element

"Refreshingly offbeat... the heartwarming comic mystery you didn't know you needed."
--Booklist

"Ever wished for "Black Beauty, Private Eye"? Wish no longer."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Cozy fans looking for something out of the ordinary should saddle up."
--Publishers Weekly

"Great fun for animal lovers and mystery lovers alike!"
--Laurie Cass, bestselling author of the Bookmobile Cat mystery series

"This book made me laugh, it made me cry, and it certainly kept me turning the pages."
--Crime Reads

"Remarkably Bright Creatures with a horse instead of an octopus."
--Minneappolis Star-Tribune

"A feel-good mystery and tear-jerking journey of friendship, love, and belonging..."
--Redding Sentinel

"Champing at the bit for a mystery with an equine hero? Look no further."
--Orange County Register

"A page turner"
--Saddle Seeks Horse

About the Author

Christina Lynch is at the beck and call of two dogs, three horses, and a hilarious pony who carts her up and down mountains while demanding (and receiving) many carrots. Besides Pony Confidential, she is also the author of two historical novels set in Italy and the coauthor of two comic thrillers set in Prague and Vienna. She teaches at College of the Sequoias and lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.