Roped

Central California horse veterinarian Gail McCarthy is embroiled in an unsuspenseful conspiracy in her fourth escapade (after Roughstock, 1997). When Gail is required to put down a horse injured during a roping event, she renews her acquaintance with old high-school chum Lisa Bennett and her family. Lisa asks Gail to help find the person who's been plaguing her family with such dirty tricks as digging and disguising a hole in the middle of the roping arena where the horse fell, poisoning a colt and nearly running down her father, Glen, with a tractor. Gail's investigation turns up a list of likely suspects with grudges against Glen: his son Tim, who has been given too little responsibility on the ranch; Lisa's vengeful former husband; a spiteful rancher whose wife is rumored to be having an affair with Glen; and Glen's petulant second wife. In between her moments of sleuthing, Gail contends with her stressful veterinarian practice and her uneven romance with an older, married cowboy. Serving only to advance Gail's private life, this series entry will disappoint all but die-hard fans. (Sept.)