One Perfect Shot: A Posadas County Mystery (Posadas County Mysteries (Hardcover)) [Hardcover]

Steven F Havill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2012 | Series: Posadas County Mysteries (Hardcover)

When a county employee is found shot to death in sun-drenched daylight while sitting in his county road grader, Undersheriff Bill Gastner is faced with puzzling questions. The simplest explanation--that an errant bullet from a careless target shooter's rifle blew out Larry Zipoli's brains--is soon discarded as inconsistencies surface. The fatal bullet shows no rifling marks, and investigation reveals that the shooter walked directly toward the road grader, in full view of the victim--who did nothing to defend himself.

 

In addition to the demands of the investigation, Gastner learns that Sheriff Eduardo Salcido has hired a new deputy without discussing the matter with his undersheriff. And Gastner learns that the new hire is destined to be the first female road patrol deputy in the history of Posadas County.  

 

Thus begins Gastner's relationship with Estelle Reyes, whose shrewd observations shed important light on a crime that rattles all kinds of skeletons lurking in Posadas County closets.

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

 

“Gastner and Reyes complement each other well in an entertaining preview of a decades-long partnership. A welcome entry in an always satisfying series.”—Booklist

 

"Undersheriff Bill Gastner of Posadas County, N.M., meets Estelle Reyes, the once-and-future undersheriff, in a welcome, well-wrought prequel."—Kirkus Reviews

 

"As the story unfolds, Havill shows us yet again how random bad decisions spur unnecessary tragedy. As always, a fine mix of village drama and carefully rendered police work." —Booklist of Red, Green, or Murder

"The police combine insight and patience with technology to fit all the puzzle pieces together for a fully satisfying solution." —Publishers Weekly of Double Prey

 

About the Author

Steven F. Havill lives with his wife of more than forty years, Kathleen, in Ratón, New Mexico. He is the author of more than twenty novels set in the American west, taught secondary schools for 25 years, and recently earned an AAS degree in gunsmithing.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (January 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590589548
• ISBN-13: 978-1590589540
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #181,650 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific prequel, January 3, 2012

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One Perfect Shot: A Posadas County Mystery (Posadas County Mysteries (Hardcover)) (Paperback)

In 1987 in Posadas County, New Mexico, Sheriff Eduardo Salcido considers hiring nineteen year old Estelle Reyes-Guzman as a deputy. His Undersheriff Bill Gastner agrees to serve as the rookie's trainer and quickly becomes her mentor as he appreciates her energy and intelligence.

Her first major case under Bill's tutelage is the investigation into the shooting murder of county road grader Larry Zipoli while he sat in his vehicle. The evidence points to the deceased knowing his assassin; so the two law enforcement officials look into the victim's wife, neighbors, boss, and construction peers. Bill and Estelle also inquire into the youngsters Zipoli took boating.

The latest Posadas County police procedural is a terrific prequel that focuses on the first teaming of the series protagonists. The case is deftly handled so that the mentor trains the mentee (and readers). Besides a strong timely (with what has happened at Penn State) investigation, the key to Steven F. Havill's powerful thriller is long time fans will see clearly the traits that make Bill and Estelle strong law enforcement leaders and caring family members while newcomers will be introduced to these endearing heroes.

Harriet Klausner

3.0 out of 5 stars Love Havill, but not this one, February 21, 2012

By 

Fiver1492 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: One Perfect Shot: A Posadas County Mystery (Posadas County Mysteries (Hardcover)) (Paperback)

I have read and reread the 'Posadas County' series many times. I think that they are very well written. This one is not up to the high standards of the other books. It's as though it had been assembled from a lot of scraps of story lines that had been kept in a file somewhere for later development. I liked the premise of the book and running into the early days of many of the characters was a treat. The pieces of the whole thing just don't fit together very well.

5.0 out of 5 stars One Perfect Suspenseful Novel, January 19, 2012

By 

Ron Chicaferro (Scottsdale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One Perfect Shot: A Posadas County Mystery (Posadas County Mysteries (Hardcover)) (Paperback)

Steven Havill's One Perfect Shot is the newest in the Posadas, New Mexico Sheriff Department series of novels. This book, however, is a prequel and introduces newly appointed deputy, Estelle Reyes - now, the main character in the series. This books main character, Bill Gastner, Under-Sheriff and fatherly curmudgeon, is on the hunt for a suspect in the killing of one of the towns long-time residents. The victim, who was sitting high atop a road grader, is killed by what seems like one perfect shot. Gastner and his team of deputies try and tinker together a solution. Its a very good police procedural with the team trying to solve a crime in a small rural town near the Mexican border. So, heat up your green chili burrito and pull up your favorite chair!