Red,
Green, or Murder
A
Posadas County Mystery
Steven
Havill
Poisoned
Pen Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-59058-665-4 (1590586654)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-665-5 (9781590586655)
Publication Date: November 2009
List Price: $24.95
Synopsis (from
the publisher): Former Posadas County Sheriff Bill Gastner, now a New
Mexico Livestock Inspector, is enjoying a day of Herb Torrance's ranch
when a horse spooks, and Bill finds himself ferrying a broken
cowpuncher in the back of his SUV, headed out to meet an ambulance.
Moments later, Bill's day goes from bad to worse as he is summoned by
undersheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman to an investigation of an unattended
death.
Before any questions can be answered, the small herd of cattle Bill had
just counted is found wandering down a county highway. But there's no
sign of cowpuncher Pat Gabaldon or his boss' $40,000 truck and
livestock trailer. Forced into two tangled investigations, Bill faces
one of the most complex cases in his 35-year career.
Review:
Former sheriff Bill Gastner is abruptly pulled back into the business
of keeping the peace and solving a murder in Red, Green, or Murder,
the 16th mystery in the Posadas County series by Stephen Havill.
It's a sunny, lazy day and Bill, now a New Mexico livestock inspector,
is just finishing checking on a small herd of cattle owned by his
friend Herb Torrance. Eager to meet another old friend, George Payton,
for lunch, he's returning to the ranch when the horse on which Herb's
son is riding becomes spooked, throwing the boy and stomping on his
leg. Bill calls George to cancel his lunch date as he accompanies the
boy to the hospital. Another cowpuncher, Pat, together with his dog,
continue to herd the cattle. His day doesn't get any better when
Estelle Reyes-Guzman, the current county undersheriff, calls him to
tell him George had been found dead in his kitchen, an apparent heart
attack. He was having lunch, which was delivered from a local
restaurant, his partially eaten meal and a spilled glass of wine found
at the scene. Though George wasn't in ill health, he was elderly ...
and Estelle doesn't want to jump to any conclusions. But Bill's
eventful day isn't over yet: the local police find a herd of cattle
wandering down the highway, the same herd Pat was in charge of, but now
only accompanied only by Pat's dog. Bill knows Pat would never
voluntarily leave without his dog, so where is he? Bill must use all
his lawman's instinct and intuition to get to the bottom of these
mysteries.
Red,
Green, or Murder is a great
mystery, the title referring to a common question asked by the locals,
whether one prefers red or green chilies with one's meal (and also a
key plot point). The contrast between the analytical skills of Bill and
Estelle is striking, the two being a most interesting, even unlikely,
pair of investigators. The puzzle surrounding George's death is
stirring, and the search for, and the resolution of, the missing
cowpuncher is heartrending. These two storylines, separate yet not,
make for a remarkable mystery.
An author's note that accompanies the book states that though Red, Green, or Murder
is the most recent title in the series, the events take place
immediately after those in Bag Limit
and before those in Scavengers,
respectively the 10th and 11th books.
Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Red, Green, or Murder and to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC of the book for this review.
Review Copyright © 2010 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
Have you read Red, Green, or Murder? How would you rate it?
Mysteries in this series …
Heartshot
St. Martin's Press (Hardcover), February 1991
ISBN-10: 0-312-05442-4 (0312054424)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-05442-7 (9780312054427)
Bitter
Recoil
St. Martin's Press (Hardcover), July 1992
ISBN-10: 0-312-07656-8 (0312076568)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-07656-6 (9780312076566)
Twice
Buried
St. Martin's Press (Hardcover), April 1994
ISBN-10: 0-312-10566-5 (0312105665)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-10566-2 (9780312105662)
Before
She Dies
St. Martin's Press (Hardcover), March 1996
ISBN-10: 0-312-13927-6 (0312139276)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-13927-8 (9780312139278)
Privileged
to Kill
St. Martin's Press (Hardcover), February 1997
ISBN-10: 0-312-15196-9 (0312151969)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-15196-6 (9780312151966)
Prolonged
Exposure
St. Martin's Press (Hardcover), April 1998
ISBN-10: 0-312-18158-2 (0312181582)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-18158-1 (9780312181581)
Out
of Season
St. Martin's Press (Hardcover), October 1999
ISBN-10: 0-312-24414-2 (0312244142)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-24414-9 (9780312244149)
Dead
Weight
St. Martin's Press (Hardcover), October 2000
ISBN-10: 0-312-25203-X (031225203X)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-25203-8 (9780312252038)
Bag
Limit
St. Martin's Press (Hardcover), November 2001
ISBN-10: 0-312-25183-1 (0312251831)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-25183-3 (9780312251833)
Scavengers
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover), September 2002
ISBN-10: 0-312-28833-6 (0312288336)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-28833-4 (9780312288334)
A
Discount for Death
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover), November 2003
ISBN-10: 0-312-30785-3 (0312307853)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-30785-1 (9780312307851)
Convenient
Disposal
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover), November 2004
ISBN-10: 0-312-32404-9 (0312324049)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-32404-9 (9780312324049)
Statue
of Limitations
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover), March 2006
ISBN-10: 0-312-33630-6 (0312336306)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-33630-1 (9780312336301)
Final
Payment
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover), June 2007
ISBN-10: 0-312-35415-0 (0312354150)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-35415-2 (9780312354152)
The
Fourth Time Is Murder
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover), November 2008
ISBN-10: 0-312-38063-1 (0312380631)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-38063-2 (9780312380632)
Red, Green, or Murder
Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover), November 2009
ISBN-10: 1-59058-665-4 (1590586654)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-665-5 (9781590586655)
Omnimystery
keywords for Red, Green, or Murder
...
Location(s) referenced: New Mexico.
