FFB Review: Come Dark by Steven Havill-- Reviewed by Aubrey Nye Hamilton

Back in late April 2017, Aubrey started contributing guest reviews. As I have long said, you could make quite the reading list just off the reviews she contributes here. Add in the books she reviews at her own place, Happiness Is A Book, and you are very well set. Her first one here, reprinted below, was on an installment of one of my favorite series. I very much liked this read in the series, probably because I love planetariums, telescopes, and all things space related. This place would be awesome to visit if it actually existed. The power of fiction to make things feel real is very evident in the read. If you have not read this series, you really should.

 

Come Dark by Steven F. Havill (Poisoned Pen Press, 2016) is the 21st title in the Posadas County contemporary mystery series. Set in fictional Posadas County, New Mexico, a few miles from the Mexico border, this series began with Undersheriff Bill Gastner as the protagonist and shifted in the 10th title to Estelle Reyes-Guzman, originally a detective in the sheriff’s office who later moved up in rank. Books 16 and 18, according to the publication dates, feature Gastner again, as Havill decided to go back in time to expand on some of the characters’ history in those stories. Otherwise each book builds logically on the previous books. 

Havill’s entry on Stop! You’re Killing Me sorts the books in chronological sequence according to the story line, not the publication date. Readers new to the series might find this list helpful. And yes, it is possible to read each book as a stand-alone. Havill is adept at sketching enough backstory for the reader to grasp context and characterization. However, these books are so good that it is not likely anyone will want to read just one.

In this latest entry, the huge astronomy park rancher Miles Waddell is building inches closer to completion, with the train that will convey visitors finished enough to allow journalists and local politicians to ride to the top of the mountain where the park is sited. However, the park’s massive satellite dish falls victim to the anonymous graffiti artist who has been decorating the schools and other buildings in town. In addition, one of the patrolling officers runs a routine check on a car with an out-of-state license plate to learn the plate is not on the vehicle it’s registered to and the people in the car don’t have a good explanation. On the same day the young wife of a banker walks into a big box store, leaving her baby and puppy in a hot car with the windows closed, and does not return. To spread the staff of the Sheriff’s Office even thinner, the high school custodian goes to the school Saturday to clean up after the big game the night before and finds the body of the coach in the showers. With multiple visible gunshot wounds, the cause of death is not in question. On the homefront Estelle’s mother is celebrating a milestone birthday and Francisco, Estelle’s musical genius of a son, arrives unexpectedly from the conservatory where he is studying to participate. Bill Gastner is still recovering from the hip fracture incurred in the previous book.

All of the usual characters are present, if a couple of them are only mentioned by the others. For instance, Estelle doesn’t want to bring Linda Real, the department photographer, to the crime scene because she is in the last stages of pregnancy and Estelle thinks there’s no need for her take chances. New officers and some temporary personnel bring a sense of realism to the department, which is perennially short-staffed and underfunded as any rural sheriff’s office is likely to be.

The plot lines unfold in a coherent manner; pacing is smooth and unrushed. My only quibble here is with the subplot involving Francisco, the musical prodigy, and it isn’t intrinsic to the story. Highly recommended, as is the entire series.

Series: Posadas County Mysteries (Book 21)

Hardcover: 308 pages

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (April 5, 2016)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1464205256

ISBN-13: 978-1464205255

 

Aubrey Hamilton ©2017, 2022

Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal IT projects by day and reads mysteries at night.

Aubrey Hamilton Reviews: Come Dark by Steven Havill

Back in late April 2017, Aubrey Hamilton made her Monday debut here with her take on a book from one of my all-time favorite authors, Steven F. Havill. I have loved this series from the start and have read/reviewed them all. As Aubrey is a bit under the weather right now (she plans to be back next week), I thought I would run again her review of Come Dark which first appeared two years ago this month. This is a book and a series you should be reading.

Come Dark by Steven F. Havill (Poisoned Pen Press, 2016) is the 21^st title in the Posadas County contemporary mystery series. Set in fictional Posadas County, New Mexico, a few miles from the Mexico border, this series began with Undersheriff Bill Gastner as the protagonist and shifted in the 10^th title to Estelle Reyes-Guzman, originally a detective in the sheriff’s office who later moved up in rank. Books 16 and 18, according to the publication dates, feature Gastner again, as Havill decided to go back in time to expand on some of the characters’ history in those stories. Otherwise each book builds logically on the previous books.

Havill’s entry on Stop! You’re Killing Me sorts the books in chronological sequence according to the story line, not the publication date. Readers new to the series might find this list helpful. And yes, it is possible to read each book as a stand-alone. Havill is adept at sketching enough backstory for the reader to grasp context and characterization. However, these books are so good that it is not likely anyone will want to read just one.

In this latest entry, the huge astronomy park rancher Miles Waddell is building inches closer to completion, with the train that will convey visitors finished enough to allow journalists and local politicians to ride to the top of the mountain where the park is sited. However, the park’s massive satellite dish falls victim to the anonymous graffiti artist who has been decorating the schools and other buildings in town. In addition, one of the patrolling officers runs a routine check on a car with an out-of-state license plate to learn the plate is not on the vehicle it’s registered to and the people in the car don’t have a good explanation. On the same day the young wife of a banker walks into a big box store, leaving her baby and puppy in a hot car with the windows closed, and does not return. To spread the staff of the Sheriff’s Office even thinner, the high school custodian goes to the school Saturday to clean up after the big game the night before and finds the body of the coach in the showers. With multiple visible gunshot wounds, the cause of death is not in question. On the homefront Estelle’s mother is celebrating a milestone birthday and Francisco, Estelle’s musical genius of a son, arrives unexpectedly from the conservatory where he is studying to participate. Bill Gastner is still recovering from the hip fracture incurred in the previous book.

All of the usual characters are present, if a couple of them are only mentioned by the others. For instance, Estelle doesn’t want to bring Linda Real, the department photographer, to the crime scene because she is in the last stages of pregnancy and Estelle thinks there’s no need for her take chances. New officers and some temporary personnel bring a sense of realism to the department, which is perennially short-staffed and underfunded as any rural sheriff’s office is likely to be.

The plot lines unfold in a coherent manner; pacing is smooth and unrushed. My only quibble here is with the subplot involving Francisco, the musical prodigy, and it isn’t intrinsic to the story. Highly recommended, as is the entire series.

Series: Posadas County Mysteries (Book 21)

Hardcover: 308 pages

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (April 5, 2016)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1464205256

ISBN-13: 978-1464205255

Aubrey Hamilton ©2017, 2019

Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.

Aubrey Hamilton Reviews: Come Dark by Steven Havill

Please welcome Aubrey Hamilton to the blog today as she reviews the latest installment of one of my all time favorite series.....

Come Dark by Steven F. Havill (Poisoned Pen Press, 2016) is the 21^st title in the Posadas County contemporary mystery series. Set in fictional Posadas County, New Mexico, a few miles from the Mexico border, this series began with Undersheriff Bill Gastner as the protagonist and shifted in the 10^th title to Estelle Reyes-Guzman, originally a detective in the sheriff’s office who later moved up in rank. Books 16 and 18, according to the publication dates, feature Gastner again, as Havill decided to go back in time to expand on some of the characters’ history in those stories. Otherwise each book builds logically on the previous books.

Havill’s entry on Stop! You’re Killing Me sorts the books in chronological sequence according to the story line, not the publication date. Readers new to the series might find this list helpful. And yes, it is possible to read each book as a stand-alone. Havill is adept at sketching enough backstory for the reader to grasp context and characterization. However, these books are so good that it is not likely anyone will want to read just one.

In this latest entry, the huge astronomy park rancher Miles Waddell is building inches closer to completion, with the train that will convey visitors finished enough to allow journalists and local politicians to ride to the top of the mountain where the park is sited. However, the park’s massive satellite dish falls victim to the anonymous graffiti artist who has been decorating the schools and other buildings in town. In addition, one of the patrolling officers runs a routine check on a car with an out-of-state license plate to learn the plate is not on the vehicle it’s registered to and the people in the car don’t have a good explanation. On the same day the young wife of a banker walks into a big box store, leaving her baby and puppy in a hot car with the windows closed, and does not return. To spread the staff of the Sheriff’s Office even thinner, the high school custodian goes to the school Saturday to clean up after the big game the night before and finds the body of the coach in the showers. With multiple visible gunshot wounds, the cause of death is not in question. On the homefront Estelle’s mother is celebrating a milestone birthday and Francisco, Estelle’s musical genius of a son, arrives unexpectedly from the conservatory where he is studying to participate. Bill Gastner is still recovering from the hip fracture incurred in the previous book.

All of the usual characters are present, if a couple of them are only mentioned by the others. For instance, Estelle doesn’t want to bring Linda Real, the department photographer, to the crime scene because she is in the last stages of pregnancy and Estelle thinks there’s no need for her take chances. New officers and some temporary personnel bring a sense of realism to the department, which is perennially short-staffed and underfunded as any rural sheriff’s office is likely to be.

The plot lines unfold in a coherent manner; pacing is smooth and unrushed. My only quibble here is with the subplot involving Francisco, the musical prodigy, and it isn’t intrinsic to the story. Highly recommended, as is the entire series.

Series: Posadas County Mysteries (Book 21)

Hardcover: 308 pages

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (April 5, 2016)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1464205256

ISBN-13: 978-1464205255

Aubrey Hamilton ©2017

Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal IT projects by day and reads mysteries at night.

My Review at Plano Reads: Come Dark by Steven Havill

My Review at Plano Reads: Come Dark by Steven Havill

Monday With Kaye: “Come Dark” by Steven F. Havill (Reviewed by Kaye George)

When this review came in from Kaye I was thrilled as I am a huge fan of the author and thought this latest book was simply great. Kaye says it was “very nice.” Either way, the read is a good one. If you have not read Steven F. Havill then get to work.

“Come Dark” by Steven F. Havill

This is the most recent in a very long series of Posadas County Mysteries. It’s the twenty-first if I counted right. This fictional county, located in southeast New Mexico, is home to a varied cast of characters. The series started out focusing on aging Undersheriff Bill Gastner, but this book features the current Undersheriff, Estelle Reyes-Guzman. Both are terrific characters, along with others in the department.

As the book opens, vandalism is being discovered at the strange resort being built by local billionaire, Miles Waddell. Waddell has situated NightZone, his theme park on a mountain top that will be accessible by narrow gauge train and a subsequent tram, wanting the tourists to really want to go there. There will be the usual theme park attractions, but also a gigantic radio telescope dish that is already attracting the notice of scientists from all over the world.

Three weeks after Labor Day, on the same day that the public, including press, is invited to tour the facility, a couple of curious cases pop up in the town below. An alert patrolman, Tom Pasquale, notices an old, battered Illinois license plate on a new car outside the megastore, The Spree. At almost the same time, Stacie Stewart walks into The Spree and never comes out. She has left her baby and her dog in the hot car. The two are rescued quickly, but the hunt is on for Stacie. The two in the Illinois car are questioned about the substance found in their vehicle after removing their disguises, but it turns out to be…alfalfa.

One more meanwhile, the popular high school coach has been gunned down in the girls’ shower right after a wildly successful volleyball match.

It was fun to follow all of these threads, guessing (wrong) the whole time about what was going on.

This is a very nice police procedural with touches of wry humor—full of quirky characters.

Reviewed by Kaye George, author of Requiem in Red, for Suspense Magazine

Review: "Come Dark: The Posadas County Mysteries" by Steven F. Havill

As Come Dark: The Posadas County Mysteries by Steven F. Havill opens the massive astronomy theme park known as Nightzone  is taking shape atop the mesa approximately 35 miles to the west of  Posadas, New Mexico. The dish is up, the technicians are installing everything, and slowly all the

details are being handled.  Paying visitors are not on the grounds yet, but a media day to publicize the latest progress is just hours away so this little county in the along the Mexican border pretty busy.

Not only is Nightzone coming right along, but the girls soccer team is on one heck of a win streak and has a championship in sight. Media is present to chronicle history as the team seems unbeatable right now.  Way more media than normal means there are plenty of outsiders to contemplate the graffiti vandalism adorning one of the narrow gauge railway passenger cars that are to move folks up to the tramway location for the eventual ride to the mesa summit and Nightzone. 

Hiding the railcar away from prying eyes will be easy. Undersheriff Estelle Reyes Guzman and the other officers will figure out who did it and why. That case will have to wait as a couple more serious crimes have occurred in quick succession. One of which is the fact that the girls volleyball coach has been found dead on the shower floor in the girls locker room at the High School. Shot four times Coach Clint Scott is definitely dead and has been dead for quite some time it would appear. Though the time of death might be a bit hard to tell since his body was found partially covered by the cascading waters of the cold shower head thanks to the fact that his dead body blocked the shower drain.

A murder, vandalism, a missing mother, and quite a lot more is going on in Come Dark by Steven F. Havill. This is one of those series where the primary and secondary characters actually age and evolve as time passes and the events of previous books impact current events and lives. This series has always been very good and nothing has changed with the latest installment. Come Dark: The Posadas County Mysteries from its distinctive cover to the last page is a complex police procedural style mystery and one heck of a read.

Come Dark: The Posadas County Mysteries

Steven F. Havill

Poisoned Pen Mystery

http://www.poisonedpenpress.com

2016

ISBN# 978-1-4642-0525-5

Hardback (also available in eBook format)

300 Pages

$26.95 

Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano Public Library System.

I also very much want to thank the wonderful Lesa Holstine who recently reviewed this book and thus alerted me to its existence. It is not the first time she has done so and I am sure it will not be the last.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2016