As seen on www.mysteryandsuspense.com

Author Christina Lynch has managed to craft an engaging, entertaining mystery novel with a pony as the protagonist. Yes, a four-legged, adorable, rideable pony. Although he goes by many names depending on who owns him at the time, he is identified to readers as “Pony,” and his quest to find his previous owner during her darkest time is both fun and heartwarming.

Penny can’t remember a time when she was happier than when she was spending time with her beloved Pony. Even though it’s been twenty-five years, her times with Pony were some of the best of her life. Now, she is a teacher, a mother, and a wife, living a moderately satisfying and very normal existence—until the day a police officer shows up at her door and arrests her for the murder of a man who died over twenty-five years ago. Now, Penny is in jail, and the only thing getting her through the hard times is the memory of her beloved Pony. Pony himself is trying to find a home where he was as happy as he was with Penny. Finally deciding to seek out the only owner he ever truly loved, he sets off on a nationwide journey to reconnect with the only family he has, just at the time when she needs him the most.

Pony Confidential is a quirky and boundary-defying mystery unlike anything in the genre. Part Homeward Bound and part Toy Story, yet with a murder mystery component and a plot geared toward adults, Lynch has written a story that will attract horse lovers across the globe.

The story is narrated by both Penny and Pony, in alternating chapters. Pony is sarcastic, bitter (and a biter!), and has managed to turn on anyone who ever shows him affection, leaving him isolated and lonely. Penny is struggling to raise a daughter with mental health challenges while navigating the possibility of a separation from her husband. Both Penny and Pony’s stories run parallel to each other, as they both find themselves in situations beyond their control, often in confined spaces, wanting nothing more than to be reunited with each other.

Not to be outdone, the mystery component is full of unexpected twists and turns. There is plenty of potential in the characters that Lynch scatters throughout the plot, but the ending took me by complete surprise in a delightfully unexpected way.

Pony Confidential was a novel I did not expect to enjoy as much as I did. Lynch’s writing flows, her plot is intriguing, and her characters—especially Pony—are sassy and lovable. Horse lovers, mystery lovers, or anyone looking for a delightfully unusual read should check out Christina Lynch’s Pony Confidential.

"It’s a hard-knock life,” says the rat. “You can’t insulate yourself from stress. You gotta learn how to cope with it. Instead of wishing for a perfect life, live the life you have. Be happy now."

Just one of many life lessons from a wise Brooklyn rat featured among the animals in the uniquely magically Pony Confidential, by imaginatively creative author, Christina Lynch. A mystery that only the love between a girl and her pony can solve.

Everything changed for Pony and 12 year old Penny in the forest with the blue butterflies. A ride that left Pony alone, Penny moving away and one man dead. Through many owners, some kind, some cruel, Pony realizes, with the help of a goat that once ate a psychology book, that Penny never wanted to leave him. This begins his cross country adventure to reunite with his favorite human.

Meanwhile, 25 years later, Penny is arrested for the murder on that fateful day. As she awaits trial, and ponders the inadequacies of our judicial system, Pony with his fine tuned sense of smell finds Penny's teenage daughter, who suffers from an anxiety disorder; they quickly realize they need each other to save Penny.

This special story is enhanced by voice actor Blair Young. His sarcastic, witty, and sincere portrayal of Pony makes it all real. Voice actress Erin Moon gives Penny her vulnerability as a mother, wife, prisoner and Pony's person.

I laughed a lot with this one of a kind mystery. I cried too. The loneliness, fear, and sadness abandoned animals suffer is quietly stated by the animals themselves. It's soul crushing. There's also quirkiness, fun and joy. It's no secret, Pony Confidential is for everyone.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair & honest review. All opinions are my own

I’m really not sure words can properly capture this unique book - it’s a drama and a comedy, a mystery, and a story of love between a girl and her pony. The book is told from two perspectives - Penny, now a middle aged mom who hasn’t seen her pony since 25 years before when her parents uprooted her after a tragedy, and the pony, who starts the book very angry and bitter about his abandonment by Penny all those years ago. Soon after the book starts, Penny much to her surprise is arrested for a murder she is alleged to have committed when she was 12; meanwhile we see Pony on a journey crisscrossing America looking for Penny.

I have read and loved Christina Lynch’s two previous books, both relatively serious historical fiction. This one couldn’t be more different, but I loved it just as much or even more! I laughed and I cried, it was just so great and so different from anything else I’ve read. If you love books with unique animal narrators like Marcellus in Remarkably Bright Creatures, Six Thirty in Lessons in Chemistry, or the fox in Remarkably Bright Creatures, this one is for you!

4.25 stars

Real Rating: 3.75* of five

You know that Swede who writes about cutesy old people? Of course you do, y'all luuuv him as much as Richard Osman! (Only Osman's old people are cool, unlike that Swede's faux-feisty feebs.) Now imagine that Swede decided to take over Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie series.

Yeah. That, and Remarkably Bright Creatures chucked in for good measure. So what's it doing as a regular review, not a Burgoine? "When you like a book, but don't love it, it's a Burgoine," someone is even now saying to their screen.

Penny and fluent English-hearer Pony the pony, separately and together, do some very good mental health work, that's why it's a regular review, and thanks for noticing. Penny's never quite gotten a grip on Life; as a result she is always on the back foot with the people and situations in her life. Being a kindergatren teacher does not make this easier. Being a single mom to a cute kid with a really bad relationship to the father, well...gettin' the drift here? She has a life-altering nightmare hit her square in the chops, and here we come to the first-ever in my reviews spoiler. (Stop laughing! And pointing is rude.)

This para has the spoiler: When Penny was twelve, a terrible, fatal accident occurred and her family has to run away. Pony got left behind, and is still bitter about it. Penny's now being accused of murder, twenty years later, and is hauled off to jail. A mother with a child is hauled off to jail for suspicion of involvement in a twenty-year-old crime.

This is really, really unbelievable to me.

Howsomever, the plot needs driving so drive we shall. Grouchy, misanthropic Pony hears and understands this, decides he's off to save Penny (the one human he's ever loved) and has so many cool adventures...all of 'em opportunities to shine a light onto how truly unfair and sadistically convoluted late-stage capitalism is. I agree with this and find the looneyness of the animal characters' various voices great fun. They banter together, discuss how rotten humans are. They still say home truths about each other that will get past the guard of all but the most cynical. I'll go with it.

I want to note that suicide and depression are more than minor plot points without being foregrounded.

As a puzzle, the villains are very two-dimensional thus easy to spot. I read a lot of mysteries, though, so ma'at leads my eyes (as the Egyptians said) and I figured it out; honestly, that's not the point here. Read this for feel-good cuteness. Read this for affirmation the world *can* be good. Read this, in short, for fun.

I did. It was. Everybody's happy. (Even Pony.)

A Pony with Personality
I enjoyed this book and had fun reading it.

The pony was a strong character with a distinctive voice and personality. I loved his bravado and cockiness. He had a lot of great lines and interesting turns of phrases that I highlighted throughout the book. His travels took him on quite the adventures, and I felt like the animal characters he met were drawn vividly, too. I will remember Burnie and Dr. Rat as well as Pony, for example, not to mention Caya and Circe.

I also think the story is a springboard for thinking about or discussing topics such as animal welfare, animal rights, the ethics of responsible animal ownership, the challenges of caring for someone with mental health difficulties, the American justice system, and, to a lesser extent, the prison system. I wasn't expecting to find any of these topics in a pony detective-led mystery novel, but I enjoyed the book more because of their inclusion.

I struggled a fair bit with the timeline. What I initially thought were parallel timelines didn't exactly line up, at even in later points of the book the two timelines seemed to contain more action in one seemingly equivalent portion than the other. I think it would have helped me a lot to have had month/year cues in the chapter heads or some other way to indicate how the timelines related to each other. A small bit, but one I spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about, especially given the sweep of travel.

I think, too, that marketing it as a mystery - especially with that great cover, with the Sherlock hat on the horseshoe! - meant I expected something different. There is a mystery, and it does provide the impetus for the action, but it isn't really the heart of the story and there isn't any type of traditional detecting. It's more of a homecoming journey than a mystery. The author references Odysseus returning to Penelope in the credits, and this is very, very apt. It's a Homeric epic more than a murder mystery. ??

I enjoyed Pony enough as a character that would enjoy a second book starring Pony and Penny in a more traditional detective novel.

Thank you to BookBrowse and PRH for the advance copy.

This book was an unexpected delight! The story moves between two character perspectives: Penny, a grown woman who has just been arrested for a crime she allegedly committed 25 years earlier, and her horse, know to us as The Pony. I loved the world of The Pony and all his animal friends as he tries to clear Penny's name. I think fans of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt and Beep by Bill Roorbach will enjoy this one.

As a kid, I absolutely loved horses. From my numerous Breyer horses to the book series I read (The Black Stallion; Phantom Stallion; Pony Pals; many more!), I was a horse girl through and through (minus the budget for riding lessons, sadly). To this day, I love horses and am drawn to anything involving them. This is why Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch first captured my interest.

25 years ago, Pony loved his human, 12-year-old Penny. But despite her seeming kindness, she suddenly disappeared from his life, leaving him disillusioned, hateful, and vengeful. Now old but still cute and naughty, Pony is on a mission to finally find Penny and right the wrong it took him far too long to realize he committed. Is Penny safe out there, wherever she is? Pony goes on a cross-country, years-long journey to be reunited with his person. Meanwhile, Penny has been accused of murder, and her trial isn’t looking good. Will anyone be able to prove her innocence?

Tropes & Narrative Devices:
- Animal narrator (The Pony)
- Nonlinear timeline
- Decades-old mystery
- Cross-country journey
- Dual POV (both first-person and third-person)

What I Liked:
- Grumpy pony! Pony gets a pretty epic opening paragraph from his point of view, and he remains a delightfully snarky and acerbic narrator throughout. Sure, he’s selfish, mean, and prone to biting people, but underneath it all, he’s also loyal and loving. Upon realizing that his mission of vengeance is misguided, he is determined to instead save Penny from whatever befell her 25 years ago. Will he be able to track her down and finally be reunited with her?
- So many animals! Horses, goats, dogs, rats, sparrows, bats, owls, cats, and more: Pony encounters numerous animals, both wild and domesticated, during his journey to find Penny. Some animals are helpful in pointing him in the right direction; others send him on a deserved runaround. No matter how big or small a role they played, I loved seeing all these animals and watching Pony interact with them.
- The harsh life animals face. Fun as this novel is, it’s also eye-opening to the atrocious ways people treat animals. Pony goes from job to job over the years, working in kids pony rides, as a companion to wealthy women or racehorses, and more. But he also faces dangers, such as the risk of being deemed worthless and thus sent to be euthanized. Pony describes the hollowness that some animals fall into, and it is heartbreaking. I hope this book inspires all its readers to treat animals better and save them from abuse, neglect, and cruelty.
- Cross-country journey! Pony travels all across the United States, from California to New York to Florida and more. It’s quite spread out, both in terms of distance and time! But he certainly is determined and makes a lot of memories along the way.
- Penny is on trial for murder. She didn’t commit it though! Right? Beyond Pony’s overdue reunion journey, Penny is facing her own tribulations. At the heart of this book is an unsolved mystery, one that had major impacts on both Penny and her pony.
- Mental health. This book looks at various mental health issues, including anxiety and that aforementioned hollowness that can affect people and animals alike. I appreciate the subtle reinforcement that we should all be more compassionate with each other.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Nothing, this was great!

Final Thoughts
From start to finish, I adored Pony Confidential. It’s funny and silly, but smart and thoughtful, with tons of laughs and heart in equal measure. Pony in particular is a standout narrator; I need to read more books from an animal’s point of view. This is a book that, while partially a cozy mystery, defies categorization and should be enjoyable to a wide range of readers.

Side note: It wasn’t until I was already reading this that I found out Christina Lynch is one half of the writing duo behind City of Dark Magic and City of Lost Dreams. I read those back in 2013 and enjoyed them so much! Pony Confidential is a completely different book and genre, but it does maintain the author’s fun, humorous writing style. I may need to reread those and finally share my reviews of them.

4/5 stars

Thank you Berkley Pub for the advanced reading copy!

This book was sooo odd and weird, but I enjoyed it! You'll have to suspend some disbelief, so know that going into it. If you're willing to try and read from a pony's perspective, you'll have as much fun as I did and really enjoy it. Mystery-wise this was more of a slow burn, and it took some time to get into it. As the plot continued and things progressed, I was super intrigued by the storyline and the way things unfolded. Overall the mystery itself was good, not great, but the creativity of this book's plot, characters and timeline bumped this up to a four star for me!

Rating: 4/5 stars

Pony sets off on a mission to find the only person he’s ever loved, Penny, and clear her name when she is accused of murder.

I have no idea what I expected from this book, but it was not HOMEWARD BOUND mixed with BLACK BEAUTY told as a retelling of THE ODYSSEY. That’s exactly what I got, however, and I’m not mad at it in the slightest. This was wildly entertaining and so original—easily the most unique book I’ve read this year. I loved Pony and really all of the animal characters, who each had such entertaining characters and added a surprising amount of depth and gravity to a book with a silly and fun overall premise.

I also thought the murder mystery in this was pretty well done, and while I figured out who had done it, I enjoyed the reveal itself. The entire novel is told in competing and overlapping timelines and the way everything was neatly plotted and came together was fairly masterful! I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

CW: Animal death/cruelty; murder/death; some discussion of mental illness and suicidal thoughts

I really thought this would be one of my favorite books of 2024 but it fell flat. The middle dragged and then there was a chronological issue that really bothered me. By the end, i didn't even care to solve the mystery, I just wanted to be done.

Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch had some laugh-out-loud moments with animals who could understand each other and some humans who could, too. There’s a mystery to solve with no time to waste.

The story begins in Ithaca, New York, but takes us to the West Coast, Florida, Canada, and across the country again. Penny is twelve years old, takes riding lessons, and falls in love with her pony, named Pony. When her family sells Pony, and they move to Chicago, Pony is determined to get revenge. What follows is a story with more twists and turns than I expected. Parts of the story were sometimes confusing, but all the details played an important role in the end.

When Penny is arrested for a crime she supposedly committed when she was twelve, no one is more surprised than Penny herself since she has no memory of it. But the clues start to build against her, and we are taken on a merry ride with Pony and his animal friends, who not only help him find Penny but also help solve the crime. We get to know Penny’s family and about her struggles and stresses. We also get familiar with Penny and Pony’s bond. There is closure when the case is solved, and some happiness comes about for Penny’s family, Pony, and other animals. It was definitely a different murder mystery!

Pony Confidential depicts animals with thought processes, family strife, and a mystery that needs to be solved. There is laughter and a little anguish while on the trail to making a family whole again. If you love animals and a cozy mystery, this story is for you.

When Penny Marcus was a kid, she loved her pony. She had a special connection with her pony and nothing could break that. Or she thought that nothing could break it. Then she decided to go to the abandoned house in the forest with Alex. Penny and her pony and Alex and his horse, and everything changed. She never saw her pony again.

Her parents sold the pony and moved her away. Penny grew up, finished school, fell in love, got married, had a kid, and lived her life. Her daughter Tella has an extreme anxiety disorder, so Penny and her husband Laus found her a boarding school that would be easier for her. But that took up all their savings and some of their retirement, so now Penny can’t afford a lawyer. And she really needs a lawyer, because 25 years after that afternoon in the forest, Penny was arrested for murder.

The pony has been angry since that afternoon in the forest. He’s been enraged at how Penny just abandoned him, and he’s been acting out ever since. He’s not afraid to kick or to bite, whatever it takes to make his unhappiness known to all around him. In the days and months and years since Penny abandoned him, he has worked hard. He’s had to give pony rides to kids, sometimes with a stupid unicorn horn on his head. He was an emotional support animal. He was a pet. He got bought and sold, over and over. But he never forgot Penny. He never forgot how she smelled. And he’s been looking for her ever since.

But when he tells the story of that day in the forest, of how he had untied the ropes for Alex’s horse and for himself, of how he got scared and ran from the forest, back to the farm where he lived, his friends point out that he’s wrong. The goat Circe and dog Caya both think that the pony got it wrong. He was the one who ran away and abandoned Penny. He doesn’t have any reason to be so mad at her.

Once the pony realizes his mistake, he wants to see Penny again. He can sense that she’s in trouble, so he sets out to find her. He remembers what she smells like, and he meets other animals who have clues about what actually happened that day at the abandoned house and maybe where he can find Penny. So he sets out to find her. The pony uses all of his wiles to find rides across the country, to find a way to Penny. He bounces around the country, chasing down clues and sniffing the air for the scent of Penny. He makes sacrifices for her. He would sacrifice everything to get back to hat magical relationship he had with Penny.

Penny was arrested in California, but the crime happened in New York, so Penny is detained until her trial. She’s not allowed bail, although she couldn’t afford it anyway. She has only a public defender, and mostly only talks to an intern in the defender’s office who is still waiting to see if she passed the bar exam. Penny is alone, and she can’t even help with her defense, since she doesn’t have a way to investigate anything about what happened that day at the abandoned house. She thinks about her daughter and her husband. She thinks about her pony.

The days go by, and Penny’s trial gets closer. Will those who care about her be able to figure out a way to save her from a lifetime in prison? Or is Penny’s fate sealed, with both her and her pony being trapped in a small metal cage for the rest of their days?

Pony Confidential is the most unusual mystery I’ve ever read. Author Christina Lynch takes readers on a journey, from anger to understanding, from loneliness to love, from mistrust to the truth. As these characters travel from one side of the country to the other, the search for answers brings up more questions that must be answered. But they don’t give up. They keep moving forward. And that ending is such a surprise.

I wasn’t sure of what to think about Pony Confidential for quite a while. It’s a bit of a slow start, with a angry pony narrating his frustration over and over. It takes a chunk of the book to figure out what’s happening with Penny and with the pony, but it’s an exceptional ride as long as you stay engaged with it. There are many interesting surprises throughout the book, with things coming together in lovely ways. I don’t think this book is a good fit for a typical mystery fan, but if you’re someone who likes something a little experimental (more literary fiction than a cozy mystery), and if you are willing to believe in a pony who is willing to stand in for an emotional support chicken to get what he wants, then Pony Confidential just might be the next book you fall in love with. I certainly did.

Egalleys for Pony Confidential were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.

What a unique story. I work at a mental health facility where we have equine therapy. We have two horses, two goats, and two donkeys and they participate with the patients in groups. When I first started attending these groups I was a bit afraid. Horses are large animals and while I am a huge animal lover, I have only ever interacted with dogs and cats and pet some animals at the zoo. It is so fascinating to see these animals interact with people and one another and this story gave me a whole new perspective. The patients often ask if the animals talk to one another or get along. I think I will think about this story every time I attend these groups or meet new animals and wonder those same things too.

I binged this one and loved the short chapters told from alternating perspectives of Penny and Pony. I know that sounds a little weird but it really worked for me. Think Homeward Bound or The Art of Racing in the Rain mixed with some crime and mystery. I don’t want to spoil anything but know that Penny is in jail and Pony is on a quest to find her. Pony and Penny have both gone through things that are surprisingly relatable. There are themes of mental health struggles, grief, and finding your happiness. I loved the gruff spunkiness turned tender (at times) Pony and the loving Penny.

Pony was by far my favorite. The adventure he goes on, the animals he meets along the way, and the growth he demonstrates really warmed my heart. He starts out the story very angry and I loved how this evolves. He learns that some emotions, like anger, make us feel justified and lose sight of the bigger picture. I think so many humans struggle with that and how the Pony handles those feelings really resonated. Again, I know that sounds a little weird to be relating to a Pony but you’ll get it when you read the story.

This is my first read by Lynch and she has some of the best one-liners I have ever read. The dialogue between the animals will give you pause and make you think. There is a nice blend of heartwarming and mysterious moments that will have you laughing out loud and also racing to see how it all turns out.

I was not sure what to expect when I started this one. This isn’t just for animal lovers. I enjoyed it so much and I think you will too!

This is a lovely story. It gives me Bruce Cameron vibes with a mystery mixed in. I love how Penny and her Pony’s story intertwine both in the past and the present, allowing both characters to find resolutions that they didn’t realize they were looking for. I adored the Pony’s voice. It just jumped off the pages and their cantankerous personality adds so much to the story telling. I also enjoyed all the animals he met along the way that help him. They also had such fun voices. This is just a lovely story and one I am truly excited to recommend.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

This pulled on my heartstrings much more than expected. Stronger in the adventure/roadtrip pony chapters than the murder mystery centered ones. A quirky little odyssey that made me miss my childhood pets gut-wrenchingly bad. 3.75 stars.

Wonderful story of life from an animal's perspective describing a pet's life as horrifying, sweet and funny. Our pony is abandoned by his owner and vows revenge. Then finds he is in the wrong and vows to save her from being wrongly imprisoned. The comparison of prison and animal ownership hits hard. Wonderful tale

Thank you @BerkleyPub for the free book and thank you @PRHAudio for the #gifted listening copy of Pony Confidential! #BerkleyBookstagram #berkleypub #BerkleyIG #berkley #PRHAudioPartner #PRHAInfluencer #PonyConfidential #ChristinaLynch

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐏𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐋𝐲𝐧𝐜𝐡
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

𝟓★

I grew up surround by ponies and horses. I started riding at the age of five and spent every single day at the barn with my horses. This book hit so close to home and gave me all the feels. The bond between a rider and their horse/pony is so real and I just loved the lengths Pony went to try to save Penny in this book. If you are a horse person, you are going to love this book. If you are not a horse person, I still think you are going to find so much joy and humor in this book!

Pony has been passed from owner to owner for years and he has had enough. He is determined to reunite with the only girl he has ever loved, Penny. Penny, now an adult, is in trouble. Accused of murder from an event that happened in her past. Hearing of Penny’s situation, and knowing she is anything but a murderer, Pony is determined to clear Penny’s name and together, wit some friends, goes on cross-country mission to clear Penny’s name and find the real killer.

This book had me laughing out loud and smiling so much. I cannot put into words how much joy this book brought me. If you love animals, I truly think you will love this book. This felt like a grown up version of a children’s book, and it felt so right. This book gets all the stars!

🎧I listened to the audiobook, and there is just something about a pony narrating a book that just feels right. Who would have thought? I mean this audiobook was just phenomenal. I found every excuse imaginable to keep my headphones on in order to keep listening or I ran extra errands to listen in the car. Erin Moon and Blair Young were outstanding. If you are on the fence about this book, please grab the audiobook. You will not regret it.

Posted on Goodreads on November 4, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around November 5, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on November 5, 2024
**-will post on designated date

This one is quirky friends. Christina boldly ventures where few authors dare by making a pony not just a protagonist but a determined amateur detective. I was intrigued by the premise and prepared for the ride, but I honestly didn't expect to like it as much as I did. 
I was pulled in right away by Penny's arrest, but what made me stay was Pony's character. I couldn't help but love him from the start. He's sassy and more than slightly angry (with good reason). Christina writes Pony from a non-human perspective without falling into cutesy anthropomorphization. Instead, she crafts a complex character whose understanding of human nature has been shaped by years of observing different owners – both kind and cruel.
The murder mystery element adds unexpected depth to what could have been a simple reunion story. Penny's adult life crashing down around her creates genuine tension, while her childhood memories of Pony provide much-needed touching moments. Christina cleverly uses these flashbacks to establish the deep bond that makes Pony's desperate quest to help her feel entirely believable, even while it is fantastical. There are parts that ran a little long for me, and there were a few timeline things that didn't quite line up, but overall, I enjoyed following Pony's epic journey.
While some readers might struggle with the premise of a pony-turned-detective, Christina's writing makes even the most improbable scenes work. The author's sharp insights into both equine and human psychology ground the story in emotional truth, even as the plot takes surprising turns. Animal lovers will rejoice in a variety of great animal characters, like a rat and a very memorable goat.
For her part Penny's character is also great. The story is mostly told in alternating chapters. She is arrested right in the prologue and then we follow her along as she attempts to navigate the justice system. Many readers may find her journey equally as improbable as Pony's, but the irony is hers is very honest and real. It's a great contrast in the overall narrative that I appreciated.
This unconventional story succeeds as both a heartwarming animal tale and a compelling mystery, proving that sometimes the most unlikely premises can yield the most memorable stories.

Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch. Thanks to @berkleypub #berkleyig for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pony has been passed from owner to owner but still remembers Penny, the little girl he was separated from years ago. Now Penny is an adult and accused of murder, she fondly remembers Pony. Hearing about Penny, Pony knows she’s innocent and sets off on an adventure to prove it.

I was a little nervous to start this one because I wasn’t sure if I would like it, boy was I wrong. This is one of my favorites this year. A perfect example of benefiting from reading outside your comfort zone. Narrated by a disgruntled and grumpy pony, we meet many animals all with unique personalities along the way. Some are helpful; some cause trouble; and some will burrow into your heart. There is also a mystery to be solved and a few humans that pony needs to save.

“I can picture us galloping off to the rescue, our hair streaming behind us, a modern-day Alexander the Great and Bucephalus. A girl and a pony to save the day. A pony and a girl. I deserve top billing.”

Pony Confidential comes out 11/5.

I was encouraged and excited to read Pony Confidential because of my love for Shark Heart and Remarkably Bright Creatures. This one felt more middle grade/YA than it did adult fiction. There were clear messages about right vs. wrong, man's relationship with animals as well as the justice system that were smart and clever, but overall, this book fell flat for me.
Full review on website coming soon.