Heartshot [Hardcover]

Steven F. Havill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1991

.,."readers will enjoy this caper...and curmudgeonly charmer Gastner." -Publishers Weekly Posadas County, New Mexico has very few mean streets and no city-slick cop shop. But it has an earnest, elected Sheriff and his aging Undersheriff-William C. Gastner. Pushing sixty, widower Bill has no other life than in law enforcement-and doesn't want one, even if he's being nudged gently toward retirement. Then big time trouble strikes. A car full of teens, running from a stop by Deputy Torrez, goes airborne into a rocky outcrop, killing all five kids and revealing a package of cocaine under the seat. Has someone brought big-time crime to the county. Bill is now dealing with grieving parents-one of whom starts packing a gun. Then a second explosion of violence fells an undercover cop. Under pressure, the sheriff's department pulls together to make a formidable team. Its weak spot may be Bill whose mind is too tough to crumble but whose body, long mistreated, gradually succumbs to stress. Ignoring all advice-and sense-he pilots the case to a final dramatic, midair confrontation where the fate of the killer-and the cop-will be decided.... Steven F. Havill lives near Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife Kathleen, a writer and artist. A dedicated high school biology and English teacher by day, Havill earned both his B.A. and M.A. from the University of New Mexico. Heartshot is the first of 14 mysteries featuring Undersheriff Bill Gastner.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Septuagenarian undersheriff Bill Gastner of Posadas County, N.M., is the skeptical, endearing narrator of this mystery debut by a writer of Westerns ( Timberblood ). Conscious of advancing age and his bulging waistline, Gastner distrusts both computers and the skills of newly elected sheriff Martin Holman, a former used-car salesman. When a large stash of cocaine is found in the car of five teenagers killed in a crash, local officials are stymied. A young state cop is brought in to mingle with the victims's friends, posing as Gastner's grandson. In short order, a grief-stricken father shoots the undercover cop, a moody teenager dies in a suspicious "suicide," and Gastner has a heart attack. Eventually Gastner, the surprisingly capable Holman and detective Estelle Reyes expose a complicated drug-smuggling operation. Airplanes, real and model, loom large in the denouement and the climactic flying sequence is a corker. If the villain's identity is not surprising, readers still will enjoy this caper and look forward to future appearances of curmudgeonly charmer Gastner.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Having lived in the historic burg of Lincoln for many years, and having written mysteries set in a remote corner of southwestern New Mexico, Stephen Havill is not one of the state's best known mystery writers. But he is one of the best mystery writers, or St. Martin's Press would not have seen fit to publish seven of Havill's Bill Gastner mysteries. For any reader who has yet to sample one, here's your chance. Gastner -- the slightly over weight, not-too-fit, not-too-glamorous, not-at-all-political undersheriff of Posadas County in the New Mexico bootheel -- was introduced to readers in HEARTSHOT, first published in 1991. Havill has invented a great bunch of characters, and the Poisoned Pen Press is to be commended for keeping them alive for a new generation of Havill fans to enjoy. --DLC, New Mexico Book League

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 246 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st edition (February 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312054424
• ISBN-13: 978-0312054427
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,003,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This one has aged well!, June 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Heartshot (Posadas County Mysteries (Paperback)) (Paperback)

Frankly, I never expected to like Heartshot. As a Southern female reader, what did I care about an aging cop in a tiny Western town? But since the book was a gift, I dutifully started it and guess what - I got hooked!

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This curmudgeonly sheriff tells a fine tale., December 10, 2009

By 

Cathy G. Cole (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heartshot (Posadas County Mysteries (Paperback)) (Paperback)

First Line: The sheriff leaned against the doorjamb of my office without saying a word, lounging there until I finally decided to notice him.

The Undersheriff of Posadas County, New Mexico, retired from the military and now has plenty of years in law enforcement. Bill Gastner has no life outside the law, and he doesn't want one- even if the new sheriff is making retirement sounds whenever Bill's within earshot. When a car full of teens racing from a traffic stop crashes and all are killed, the town of Posadas reels in shock, especially when a bag of cocaine is discovered under one of the seats of the wrecked car. Gastner and star officer Estelle Reyes have their hands full trying to keep the bereaved parents under control while they conduct their investigation.

Although the identity of the "bad guy" was clear to me early on, I didn't much care because of the characters. Undersheriff Bill Gastner is one of those curmudgeons you may not want to live around, but he's certainly a joy to read about. All that gruffness hides a truly caring person who's dedicated his life (and sacrificed his health) to doing right. Although Gastner isn't going quietly into that good night, he does have a fair idea of his limitations, as in when he takes a look at a gun and ankle holster another law enforcement officer wears:

"I don't think I'd be happy with one." Hewitt's expression of polite amusement told me that he could imagine the result as well as I. Grab down, suffer back-muscle spasm, throw out trick knee, stagger sideways and sprain other ankle. Fall and land on left wrist, refracturing an old break.


Although this first book in the series was Gastner's show, his talented protege, Estelle Reyes, did have enough time to show us her smarts and to set the stage for her appearance in other books. I'm looking forward to that. As much as I enjoy Bill Gastner, his creaks and groans are starting to catch up with him. Sooner or later folks aren't going to whisper about retirement; they're going to demand it, and Bill's got to have someone good to step in.

Can you tell that I'm looking forward to reading more of this series? Good, because I am!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hearty praise for Heartshot, May 13, 2007

By 

M. J. Staples "careful reader" (Fort Worth) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heartshot (Posadas County Mysteries (Paperback)) (Paperback)

Heartshot introduces Steven Cahill's fictional Posadas County in the southwest corner of New Mexico. Cahill's warm and expert style enhances reader appreciation of his protagonist, Bill Gastner, middle-aged undersheriff of this rural county. Gastner's experience and wisdom include deep understanding of tradition and human nature as well as appreciation of the gifts of subordinates and the developing technology that makes the job easier and more successful. This addictive series of police procedurals follows the personal and professional development of the characters through time while examining significant social issues as they impact a region seemingly remote from the outside world. I am reminded of Steve McQeen's 87th Precinct novels.