Sheriff Robert Torrez likes his
privacy and is meticulous about what he does. That includes his off duty hours.
Some are spent hunting. With permission of the landowner, Miles Waddell, (builder
of Nightzone)
the good sheriff has been using a portion of his off time to track a herd of
antelope. In this case there is not the thrill of the hunt as it is more a scientific
operation for him. A chance to cull the herd and manage wild game that also
serves as a means to an end for stocking his freezer.
Unfortunately he was also being
stocked on this August morning and he had no idea. That was until his rifle
scope shattered seconds after he had fired bringing down the chosen antelope. Torrez
was wounded in the attack, but not downed like the spasmodically twitching buck.
He managed to pursue the possible shooter only to see a pick up drive away with
no idea if the driver is the one who took a shot at him.
At about the same time, Undersheriff
Estelle Reyes-Guzman learns that somebody has been contacting her elderly
adopted mother, Teresa Reyes, and requesting money while claiming to be family.
Not an uncommon scam that is played upon the elderly and one the President of
Posadas State Bank is well aware of. A cashier’s check in the amount of eight
thousand dollars is an unusual request by almost any one in Posadas County, New
Mexico, and certainly very unusual by Teresa Reyes. Estelle digs into the situation
and soon discovers a very real threat coming from her home village of Tres
Santos, Mexico. Her and her family is in danger, especially her son Francisco
and his friend Mateo who are currently in Mazatlán, Mexico along with other
members of the music conservatory.
With former Sherriff Gastner
seriously injured and forced to be a very minor player as events and cases on
both side of the border heat up, the repercussions for all involved as well as
many others could be deadly. It isn’t the first time blood has been spilled
into the desert sands of both sides of the border and it won’t be the last.
The latest in The Posada County Mystery Series
written by Steven F. Havill, Blood Sweep is another excellent
read. A read that finally answers many of the questions regarding Undersheriff
Estelle Reyes- Guzman’s past while blending in multiple mysteries in the here
and now. A fast and highly entertaining read from Poison Pen Press one could
begin here in the 20th book in the series though it would be far
better to read them in order starting with Heartshot.
Along with the author’s love of the New
Mexico landscape, these books feature characters that have become family. Family
that can annoy as well as entertain as the pages fly by. An ongoing storyline
has been Estelle’s love of family and coping with the demands of her job as
well as her very talented sons. That is at play here as well as the fears of
many of us have who have aging parents who insist on going it alone as they
seek to maintain their independence. These books feature characters that have evolved
and grown over time as, just like in the real world, they experience joys and
sorrows that forever change them. Those characters that are in police work are
not dumb and willing to work with outside agencies as the need arises unlike
the way things are depicted in many other series.
Blood Sweep as well as the series as a whole is highly recommended.
Blood Sweep: The Posadas County Mysteries
Steven F. Havill
Poisoned Pen Press
2015
ISBN# 978-1-4642-0387-9
Hardback (also available in e-book
and paperback)
307 Pages
$24.95
Many, many thanks to reviewer and
friend Lesa Holstine who
provided me a review copy to read, review, and enjoy. Unlike many of the books
I receive that wind up at Texas Oncology at Medical City Dallas Hospital (our
second home these days) this one will now journey to my Mom’s home as she is
also a fan of the series.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2015
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