Synopsis

A controversial wild horse round-up in the high desert of Nevada results in two murders and too many suspects for Sheriff Porter Beck to deal with.

A helicopter driving a controversial round-up of wild horses suddenly crashes, and the pilot is found to have been shot. Then the person coordinating the round-up for the Bureau of Land Management is savagely murdered, buried up to her neck, and then trampled to death by the very same wild horses. And there’s no lack of suspects—with the wild horse advocacy group having sworn to protect the horse At Any Cost! Now, the state and federal agencies are showing up looking for answers or at least a scapegoat.

Sheriff Porter Beck has had better days.

Porter Beck’s new girlfriend, Detective Charlie Blue Horse, arrives to help with the investigation, which leads them to a Canadian Lithium mining operation near the round-up area that sets off Beck’s mental alarm bells. Brinley, Beck’s sister, is leading a group of troubled kids in a wilderness program when one of them, Rafa, bolts one night. When Brinley catches up to him, they’re just outside the mine—in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

With his personal life in turmoil, too many suspects and too many secrets, the feds pushing for a quick resolution, and his impetuous (if skilled) sister in the mix, one wrong step could be deadly for Porter Beck.

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Review

I have enjoyed this series from the start. With down-to-earth characters, twisting storylines, and even a little romance, this series brings it all together.

Porter Beck is working on what is likely his last case as Sheriff of the county. The novel addresses the issue of wild horses in Nevada and the groups that oppose rounding them up. Several gruesome deaths occur, bringing Beck into the mix, along with his girlfriend, Charlie.

The book is set in late 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are not immune to it even there, and several characters deal with the effects of the contagion on top of these murders.

Beck’s father is still alive and kicking, and despite having dementia, he remains sharp regarding locations. Brinley is still tough as nails, despite her desire to help kids who are lost and need a little guidance. However, one of these kids bolts from the camp, and they get a little too close to the action that Beck is uncovering. We even see Mercy in this novel. I like her character, she is whip-smart and is able to uncover details quicker via the internet and her hacking capabilities.

This novel, like the first two, is filled with action as they race to uncover the truth. I enjoyed each page of this novel, and wonder what could happen in future novels.

If you decide to check out this series, make sure to start with the first book to gain a better understanding of the characters and the relationships.

We give this book 5 paws up.

About the Author

BRUCE BORGOS lives and writes from the Nevada desert, where he works hard every day to prove his high school guidance counselor had good instincts when he said, “You’ll never be an astronaut.” He has a degree in political science, which mostly served to dissuade him from a career in law while at the same time tormenting his wife with endless questions about how telephones work. When not writing, you can usually find him at the local wine store.

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