Bad Apple — Richard S. Wheeler

Who assassinated the world's greatest cutting horse, Bad Apple--and why? Livestock detective Cletus Parr would like some answers. Bad Apple's owner, Rex Pattee, hires Parr to find out, and soon Parr is talking to millionaire horsemen, livestock brokers, and big-time trainers, looking for reasons. Parr soon finds himself in the strange and shadowy world of cutting horse competition, where rich men can buy and sell fabulous horses, hire brilliant trainers, afford the best veterinary care--and walk away with the trophies and bank their prizes. Parr usually handles stock rustling, altered brands, fake pedigrees, horse theft, and racing scams. He's never seen a case like this, which involves playboys, bitter rivals, con artists, crooks, hired killers, and someone who would murder to win. Whoever killed Bad Apple might kill again and might kill an owner too. And might even kill a livestock detective getting too close to the truth.