If you like small town police procedurals, but haven’t been reading Steven F. Havill’s Posadas County Mysteries, you’re missing out. If It Isn’t One Thing… is a carefully plotted mystery featuring Undersheriff Estelle Reyes Guzman and her understaffed team. As with other small town mysteries, there’s an emphasis on limited resources, and juggling several cases at the same time.
Posadas County New Mexico has a dedicated team of professionals, even though they’re forced to fall by the wayside due to injuries at times. Undersheriff Estelle Reyes Guzman knows how dangerous a domestic dispute can be, but she’s forced to leave one she’s dealing with a little earlier than she would like. There’s a major accident blocking the highway after a pickup truck pulling a horse trailer collided with a semi. One driver is dead; one is seriously impaired, and the horse was lucky to survive to wander off and graze. But, now Guzman’s team has to figure out how the accident happened, and who was responsible, with a truck that came out of Mexico, and a dead driver who shouldn’t have that horse trailer.
While her team investigates, they’re harassed by the horse’s owner, who seems more concerned about the horse than the dead driver. And, the County Manager is interested in the horse as well.
But, Guzman can’t forget that domestic dispute because she gets a call that it escalated overnight. Raul and Mindy Cardonas are still fighting, but the Undersheriff isn’t the first of her team on the site, and it only gets worse. Between a stabbing, an officer down from a shooting, and an unusual crime scene, she has her hands full.
Havill has aged his characters in the course of the series. Readers are familiar with the police and many in the community who are related to each other. Guzman and a county lieutenant are both within a month of retirement. At one time, Undersheriff Bill Gastner was the protagonist while he trained Guzman. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens with the series with Guzman wanting to retire and spend more time with her family. But, I’m just thinking about that with a series that has been well-written with characters that are connected.
As I said before, if you’re a fan of small town police procedurals, you should be reading Steven F. Havill’s books.
If It Isn’t One Thing…by Steven F. Havill. Severn House, 2025. ISBN 9781448311699 (hardcover), 224p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a copy through NetGalley to review for a journal.
I’ve been reading this series since the beginning – HEARTSHOT in 1991 – when then Undersheriff Bill Gastner (now retired) was the protagonist, and Estelle was his protege. I think it really helps if you read them in order, as things happen – Estlelle’s children grow from little boys to brilliant young adults – and changes happen in town. One of my favorite regional mystery series, the Southwest equivalent of the Vermont-based Joe Gunther series by Archer Mayor.
I’m looking forward to this.
I agree, Jeff. The series really should be read in order. It’s sad to think it’s about to come to an end, but it makes sense.
Sounds good.
As with any series, some books are better than others, Carol. But, this is a solid series of good books.
Very much enjoyed the review. My review runs tomorrow as Aubrey has Mondays. Great series.
Yes, it has been, hasn’t it, Kevin?