Heartshot (Hardcover)

Undersheriff Bill Gastner is widowed, his kids are grown and gone. A chronic insomniac, he rattles around his empty house, eats too much and smokes too much. The one thing he genuinely cares about is the little town of Posadas, New Mexico and its inhabitants. These days, he's worried that the newly elected Posadas sheriff has an agenda that includes pushing Bill towards early retirement and is understandably touchy about suggestions that he might be slowing down.

A Fourth of July town celebration turns to tragedy when a carful of teenagers speeds up to evade a police cruiser, loses control and goes over a cliff. While working the scene of the accident, Gastner and Posadas' lone detective, Estelle Reyes, discover a package of drugs amongst the wreckage. How did it get there? Which one of the upstanding kids might have had something to do with drugs? Posadas is close enough to the Mexican border that Gastner is not surprised by the presence of drugs in his town, but thought he had a better understanding of the town's youth. Is he losing his touch?

The townspeople are naturally upset, accusations fly and one of the bereaved parents has bought a gun. When the Sheriff suggests putting a young unknown officer undercover in the high school, Gastner has no better idea and reluctantly agrees. The situation quickly deteriorates and another senseless death occurs. Gastner feels personally responsible, neglects his health in pursuit of answers and ultimately puts his own life on the line.

One of the things I liked best about Heartshot was the relationship between the older Gastner and the younger, greener detective, Estelle Reyes. The author could have easily used the stereotype of grouchy misogynist/rabid feminist or gone the May-December romance route. Instead, I found it refreshing to note their mutual respect of each other's talents. Reyes' quiet, thoughtful approach to a problem complements Gastner's plodding, relentless style.

And I must say, I found the choice of murder weapon unique among mysteries I've read so far! (But I can't tell you, or I'd give too much away!)

I so enjoyed meeting Gastner that I have gone on to read the next two books in the series and recommend them all. But do read them in order, as the author builds on earlier events and you might spoil your own pleasure by skipping ahead.

Undersheriff Bill Gastner is widowed, his kids are grown and gone. A chronic insomniac, he rattles around his empty house, eats too much and smokes too much. The one thing he genuinely cares about is the little town of Posadas, New Mexico and its inhabitants. These days, he's worried that the newly elected Posadas sheriff has an agenda that includes pushing Bill towards early retirement and is understandably touchy about suggestions that he might be slowing down.

A Fourth of July town celebration turns to tragedy when a carful of teenagers speeds up to evade a police cruiser, loses control and goes over a cliff. While working the scene of the accident, Gastner and Posadas' lone detective, Estelle Reyes, discover a package of drugs amongst the wreckage. How did it get there? Which one of the upstanding kids might have had something to do with drugs? Posadas is close enough to the Mexican border that Gastner is not surprised by the presence of drugs in his town, but thought he had a better understanding of the town's youth. Is he losing his touch?

The townspeople are naturally upset, accusations fly and one of the bereaved parents has bought a gun. When the Sheriff suggests putting a young unknown officer undercover in the high school, Gastner has no better idea and reluctantly agrees. The situation quickly deteriorates and another senseless death occurs. Gastner feels personally responsible, neglects his health in pursuit of answers and ultimately puts his own life on the line.

One of the things I liked best about Heartshot was the relationship between the older Gastner and the younger, greener detective, Estelle Reyes. The author could have easily used the stereotype of grouchy misogynist/rabid feminist or gone the May-December romance route. Instead, I found it refreshing to note their mutual respect of each other's talents. Reyes' quiet, thoughtful approach to a problem complements Gastner's plodding, relentless style.

And I must say, I found the choice of murder weapon unique among mysteries I've read so far! (But I can't tell you, or I'd give too much away!)

I so enjoyed meeting Gastner that I have gone on to read the next two books in the series and recommend them all. But do read them in order, as the author builds on earlier events and you might spoil your own pleasure by skipping ahead.