Pony Confidential

By Christina Lynch

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593640365
• ISBN13: 9780593640364
• Release Date: November 2024
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Irresistable and clever

Thanks to First Look Book Club & Penguin Random House for a gifted copy. All comments and opinions are my own. I couldn’t resist this one – a pony solves a murder mystery. This unique novel met my high expectations and more. I was reminded of "Black Beauty" (which I loved as a child) as the story is mostly told from Pony’s point of view. He travels back and forth across the country in search of Penny, “his person” who has been arrested for a murder he (and we) knows she didn’t commit. Chapters alternate between Pony and Penny, and offer humor, heart, and insight into the world of animals from a fictional perspective. Please be forewarned this is so much better than a cutesy animal story, even though it has heartwarming moments. This unputdownable novel is an homage to Homer’s Odyssey, with Pony encountering various perils and challenges during his travels as he searches for Penny. Themes of friendship, family, and integrity mixed with magical realism. This easy-to-read novel kept me on the edge of my seat as Pony continually escapes from the humans who are preventing him from reaching Penny. I highly recommend this entertaining and charming mystery that kept me turning the pages until the end.