Look to the Blue Horse — Marianne Ruuth

Blonde Rosemary Anderson, a children's book illustrator, had rented a small cottage at Malibu for her two-week vacation and planned to do nothing but lie in the sun and let the waves lull her to sleep at night. Bit the best-made plans can go awry, and Rosemary's were no exception. And it all started out so innocently.

One moment the little girl was playing along the shoreline; the next moment Rosemary was plunging into the water to rescue her from nearly drowning. And it was natural to become friendly with little Maria Turner and her very grateful grandmother, Anna; it was also natural for Mrs. Turner to confide in Rosemary that her son and daughter-in-law had recently died in a plane crash and that because of the apparent suicide of her benefactor, Andre Maurier, she and Maria were practically penniless. Andre Maurier had promised that they would be provided for his his will, but when it was read, their names were decidedly missing.

Rosemary, who could not bear to see injustice of any kind, determined to contact Andre Maurier's lawyer to check into the matter. And after meeting Rosemary, dark-haired Robert Boyle proved to be most cooperative. But then thorn in both their sides was the many riddles left lying about by the puzzle-happy Andre--especially the riddle that spoke of a significant clue to his will that would be found in a painting of a blue horse.