Gin and Murder — Josephine Pullein-Thompson

The pony book grows up! In the villages of West Wintshire, deep in 'Horse and Hound' territory with their colonels, captains and brigadiers, a good-looking, rich, horsey young man keels over and dies. Local Inspector Hollis, a burly man with a low forehead, an aggressive nose, very little chin and an unfortunate manner, proves unequal to the challenge of finding the killer. Enter D.C.I. James Flecker of the Yard, whose amiable and unkempt appearance belies the fierce intelligence that suffers fools not at all. Originally published in 1959.