Finding Fionn – A Mystery Inspired by the Kidnapping of the Irish Racehorse Shergar – by M.J. Evans | Book Review ~ Guest Post from the Author ~ 1 Signed Book GA | @iReadBookTours @MJEvansBooks
A book blog tour from iRead Book Tours.
Thank you to the author, publisher, & Lauren at iRead for providing me with the information for this tour. 
Book Details
Finding Fionn by M J Evans
Series: Horses in History #2
Published by Dancing Horse Press on 10/17/2023
Genres: Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Young Adult
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 298
Source: iRead Book Tours, Kindle UnlimitedA Mystery Inspired by the Kidnapping of the Irish Racehorse Shergar.
The excitement felt in the Winner’s Circle vanishes when the jockey’s beloved horse disappears from his stall in the dark of night. Patrick McCallin is a young Irish lad growing up in the 1980s when all of Ireland is groaning under the weight of The Troubles. Born to ride, he pays little mind to the political unrest going on around him. He dreams only of becoming a jockey.
Patrick’s dream comes true when he is selected to ride an up-and-coming Thoroughbred, named Fionn MacCool, in the biggest races in England and Ireland. Race after race ends with Fionn and Patrick in the Winner’s Circle. The pair captures the heart of all Ireland.
But the dream becomes a nightmare when Patrick’s beloved horse is kidnapped and held for ransom. When the horse’s owner refuses to pay and the Irish Garda closes the case, Patrick and his best friends, Ronan and Maddie, have no choice but to find Fionn themselves.
Content Rating: Rated G – Completely clean
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Purchase Links for Finding Fionn
Amazon-OneLink for all countries
Finding Fionn: A Mystery In...Shop on Amazon
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My thoughts on Finding Fionn
“Finding Fionn” by M J Evans is a captivating Young Adult Crime/Mystery novel that transports readers to 1980s Ireland, a period marked by political unrest during The Troubles. The story is inspired by the real-life kidnapping of the Irish racehorse Shergar, and it weaves Irish culture and the events of that turbulent era into a thrilling narrative.
The protagonist, Patrick McCallin, is a young jockey with dreams of racing glory, and his deep connection with his beloved horse, Fionn MacCool, is beautifully portrayed throughout the book. When Fionn is kidnapped and held for ransom, Patrick, along with his loyal friends Ronan and Maddie, embarks on a perilous journey to rescue the horse themselves.
M J Evans crafts an entertaining and well-researched tale, clearly reflecting her passion for horses. The story is filled with suspense, mystery, and danger around every corner, making it a compelling read for young adults and horse enthusiasts alike. If you enjoyed the intrigue of “The Westing Game,” “Finding Fionn” is a must-read, offering a thrilling adventure with a unique backdrop inspired by a real historical event. Click the Buy Now button and embark on this unforgettable journey to bring Fionn home safely.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love to read books through my Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription.
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About M J Evans
M J Evans is the author of more than twenty award-winning books for middle-graders, young adults, adults, and even a few picture books. Most of her titles are about horses or horse fantasy creatures.
Ms. Evans is a graduate of Oregon State University and a former teacher of middle school and high school students. She is the mother of five and the grandmother of twelve. She and her husband live in Colorado.
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Guest Post by M J Evans, author of Finding Fion
How do you do research for your book?
“Finding Fionn” is a historical mystery inspired by a true crime that has never been solved: the kidnapping of the Irish Racehorse Shergar. I love to find little known horse events that have happened in the past and create a novel based on that story.
As I was searching for famous horses, I stumbled upon some information about the kidnapping of Shergar. I vaguely remembered the event happening forty years ago, but I didn’t know much about it. So, with my interest piqued, I went online and purchased every book about the kidnapping. I prefer to buy non-fiction accounts about the event so I can underline, highlight, and write notes as I am reading. In this case, I found three books that were about the crime, one of which was written shortly after the kidnapping and two that were written many years later. But all three were very helpful in giving me the facts of the story as they are currently known.
Once I was done reading, I had the story, “Finding Fionn,” well established in my head. I started writing. But that is not the end of the research. As I write, I find I want to include facts such as descriptions of the horse race tracks, or what a town looks like, or how the Irish say “horse.” (It’s “Hearse” like a funeral car!) I contacted a young woman in France for all my questions about her country, and another woman in Ireland for those questions, especially the Irish dialect. They were so amazing!
I also use Duck, Duck, Go to search topics, and google maps to search locations and distances.
So, as you can see, writing a novel isn’t just about using your imagination. You need to make the story believable. I am extremely familiar with horses, but I have never been to Ireland or France. So, when you need help, find someone who knows more than you do!
I hope you will enjoy reading “Finding Fionn!”
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Easy Amazon Links
Amazon-OneLink for all countries
If the above link does not take you to your country, here are a few more:
Amazon – Canada
Amazon – France
Amazon – Germany
Amazon – United Kingdom
Please send me a note if your country isn’t listed and you would like to purchase using my links. Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share.
Finding Fionn: A Mystery In...Shop on Amazon
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Giveaway!
Enter to win Finding Fionn – A Mystery Inspired by the Kidnapping of the Irish Racehorse Shergar by M. J. Evans, signed by the author (one winner/USA only) (ends Nov 13)
Please visit more stops on the tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for Finding Fionn
Full Tour Schedule:
Oct 17 – Liese’s Blog – book spotlight
Oct 17 – Leanne Bookstagram – book review
Oct 18 – 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS – book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 18 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Oct 20 – Library Lady’s Kid Lit – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Oct 20 – Library Lady’s Kid Lit – book review / giveaway
Oct 23 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Oct 24 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / guest post / giveaway
Oct 25 – Lady Hawkeye – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Oct 26 – Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
Oct 31 –– Stephanie Jane – book spotlight
Nov 1 – Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Nov 2 – fundinmental – book review / giveaway
Nov 6 – Diane’s Book Journal – book spotlight
FINDING FIONN Book Tour Giveaway
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Book Title: Finding Fionn – A Mystery Inspired by the Kidnapping of the Irish Racehorse Shergar by M. J. Evans
Category: Young Adult Fiction (Ages 13-17)
Genre: Mystery/Crime
Publisher: Dancing Horse Press, 310 pages
Release date: October 17, 2023
Tour dates: October 17 to November 6, 2021
Content Rating: Rated G – Completely clean
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I love a good historical mystery and it’s really cool that it was inspired by an actual unsolved event.