Precinct Puerto Rico: A Luis Gonzalo Novel, Book One [Hardcover]

Mr. Steven Torres (Author)

Book Description

Series: Luis Gonzalo | Publication Date: June 4, 2002

Near Rincón, Puerto Rico, 1987.
Even a tropical paradise may have its little murders.

In his years as sheriff of Angustias, a small town nestled in Puerto Rico's mountainous heart, Luis Gonzalo has seen his share of violence. People kill for love and money in Angustias just as they do anywhere else. But it is during a visit to his wife's family in the seaside town of Rincón that Gonzalo encounters his greatest challenge.

A midnight call brings Gonzalo to a beach where bodies are washing ashore, victims of a shipwreck, victims of the illegal traffic in humans from the Dominican Republic. When he discovers evidence that the shipwreck was no accident, that the ship's captain was murdered, Gonzalo's life is threatened. When he discovers proof that Puerto Rican police were involved in the deaths of the illegal immigrants, the lives of his wife and children are threatened. The murder of one of his deputies brings Gonzalo no closer to the bottom of this mystery-- a mystery no other law enforcement agency wants to help him solve.

The first in a series of police procedural mysteries featuring Luis Gonzalo and the citizens and cops of Angustias, Precinct Puerto Rico: Book One is a brilliant beginning to a continuing story from a long overdue locale.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Helping recover bodies after a shipwreck off Puerto Rico's west coast, Luis Gonzalo isn't surprised to learn that the deceased are illegal immigrants from the Dominican Republic. But he is startled to discover a murder victim among the drowned. When that corpse subsequently vanishes into the trunk of a mysterious police cruiser, Gonzalo, who serves as sheriff in the hill hamlet of Angustias, is understandably curious. He just doesn't anticipate the violence that will follow his inquiries, in Steven Torres's Precinct Puerto Rico: Book One.

"We are a small town with little excitement," one of Gonzalo's deputies says of Angustias. That, though, was before Nestor Ochoa, a corrupt San Juan police sergeant, had heard of the place. Tasked by his never-identified bosses in the alien-smuggling biz to stop Gonzalo's search for the missing dead man, Ochoa tries threatening the sheriff's family. When that doesn't work, he arranges a daylight robbery of Angustias' bank, apparently hoping to cover up one crime with another. But the assault goes disastrously awry, only increasing Gonzalo's determination to bring Ochoa down.

Torres is at his best when providing quirky dimensions to his small-town players--not all of them as likable as the change-resistant Gonzalo. He's less successful at exploiting the singular character and history of his Caribbean setting, and the cinematic fireworks in Precinct Puerto Rico sadly overwhelm what might have been a politically conscious police procedural, centered around the desperation of Dominicans to share in the American Dream. --J. Kingston Pierce

From Library Journal

Sheriff Luis Gonzalo of Angustias, Puerto Rico, helps recover the bodies of illegal Dominican immigrants washed up on shore near his sister-in-law's village. He can tell that one was murdered, but when he tries to coordinate with coroners and local police, he finds that the body has disappeared. As he pursues the matter, he receives warnings from a youthful photographer and threatening phone calls that lead him to suspect police corruption. This is a most promising start to a new procedural series that stars a dedicated, sensible "hero" in an almost quaint but decidedly unique locale. Strongly recommended for most collections.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (June 4, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312285809
• ISBN-13: 978-0312285807
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,433,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Small Town In A Big World, October 16, 2006

By 

Daniel Hatadi "crime fiction writer" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Precinct Puerto Rico: A Luis Gonzalo Novel, Book One (Hardcover)

The first Precinct Puerto Rico novel is a dark and brutal picture of a small town and an even smaller police force. Torres makes the reader painfully aware of the consequences of evil acts. Can't wait to read the rest.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A reasonably well paced debut, March 4, 2004

By 

Larry Gandle (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Precinct Puerto Rico: A Luis Gonzalo Novel, Book One (Hardcover)

In Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico, bodies are washing up on shore. They are the dead bodies of refugees from the Dominican Republic who were killed while trying to flee their country and gain entry into the United States. Sheriff Luis Gonzalo, of a nearby town, helps with the victims. He notices one man has been killed with a head wound that looks suspiciously like it was caused by a hammer. He suspects murder. However, Gonzalo is forcibly removed from the beach by local police who want to assume complete control. Upon following up on the dead man, he discovers that the body has disappeared and nobody knows where it went. As he searches for the truth, Gonzalo finds himself threatened and his family in danger.
Steven Torres does an admirable job in his first effort. I always admire relative brevity in a debut work. However, this book is a bit too brief. There were several subplots that deserved some further exploring such as the fate of the ill fated Dominican boat pilot who we meet in the first chapter. Characters range from the well developed to the stereotypic. The plot was reasonably well paced and compelling enough keep the pages turning. A mild recommendation.

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great story., June 23, 2011

By 

J.A.V. "Semper Fi" (Whitehouse Station, NJ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Blackout in Precinct Puerto Rico: Book Five (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this book as much as his previous four. His main characters Gonzalo, Collazo, Mari, Maria Garcia, etc. are well developed and the story very realistic. My mother is from Naranjito and I know the area where the story takes place (of course there is no Angustias); Mr. Torres is correct "To give an idea of the beauty of these views is beyond the power of words. Perhaps the word "miraculous" comes closest to explaining the sights." From my grandmother's house at the top of the mountain you can see Puerto Rico 360 degrees.

My only criticism and is a minor one is that the book is to short just as the previous four. I read them usually between two and three sittings. There is room for further development of the stories and he should venture out.

I will be looking for Book Six of Precinct Puerto Rico.