Less Than a Moment is the 14th Posadas County mystery by Steven Havill. Released 17th March by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 272 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is an ensemble returning cast and a solid western mystery. The central players have a long and varied history together. There are familial and generational connections (and not always in a positive manner). Despite being the 14th book in this series (which is a spinoff of an earlier series), the author is a technically adept writer and sufficient backstory is written in to provide readers who are new to the characters, enough backstory without info-dumping. I was unfamiliar with the series previously though I believe I had read one or two of the author's earlier works, and I had no trouble following along.

There will be inevitable comparisons to the Longmire mysteries, and though they're both western law enforcement mysteries (and not procedurals) based around the sheriff's department, they're clearly distinct from one another and neither is derivative. (The fan base likely has a large overlap though).

The plotting is loosely interwoven with a few main subplots which had a tendency to meander a bit, but reached a satisfying/surprising denouement. The book is distinctly character driven and for fans familiar with the series, it will feel like catching up with old friends. I have borrowed a few of the earlier books in the series and plan to give them a go, and will definitely keep an eye out for the author's upcoming work.

Well written and no-frills engaging. Four stars+.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I received this book from Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is part of the Posadas County series. I was delighted to find that there was enough background on reoccurring characters that I didn't miss a beat while reading. As I did own the first in series, I read it to establish the character development. Miles Waddell has spent a large portion of his fortune on an astronomy complex, complete with short train from Posadas to the viewing grounds where bird watchers and hikers enjoy the landscape and environment. When a land speculator, Kyle Thompson and his wife come to town, purchasing an adjacent parcel of land, there is bound to be trouble. This will end in murder. I enjoyed this series very much. The characters are relatable, like old friends; ones you can visit time and time again with pleasure. I will be reading more from this author soon.

The astronomy complex that rancher Miles Waddell built on top of a mesa is more successful than anyone in the area ever imagined. It is thriving and providing jobs to many local residents of Posadas County, New Mexico. When a land developer named Kyle Thompson comes to town and starts buying land near NightZone, Miles and other locals are worried that what he might build could create light pollution that would endanger the success of the complex. A drive-by shooting followed by a suspicious death seem to be related to NightZone and possibly the nephew of the country sheriff.

This book is the twenty-fourth Posadas County mystery. I have read most of them and my favorite characters are retired sheriff Bill Gastner and current undersheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman. Unfortunately Bill doesn't play much of a role in this book. I used to love the way he and Estelle worked together. There is a side-plot with Bill working on a mystery of his own but it's not the same. There are some great scenes with Estelle, her family, and Bill. Those relationships are part of what makes this series special and elevate it up from the typical police procedurals. There are vivid descriptions of the setting and the characters come alive against this backdrop and make this one of my favorite series.

This installment isn't my favorite in the series, but is still a solid, complex mystery. There are many suspects and a lot of questions about how Kyle and his wife planned to develop the land they have been purchasing. Along with Estelle, Sheriff Bob Torrez plays a large part in the investigation since his own nephew is one of the suspects. After a lot of investigation, the case is solved, but the ending seems somewhat abrupt and unfinished to me. This was disappointing but overall, I love this series and enjoyed this book.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Poisoned Pen. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

LESS THAN A MOMENT by Steven F. Havill is the fourteenth book in the Posadas County mystery series. It is also my second book by this author in the series. It worked well as a standalone novel, but reading more of the series would provide more background information and show how the characters have grown over time.

The book is set in New Mexico in a southern county that has seen growth and prosperity since Mile Waddell built an astronomy complex on top of Torrance Mesa. It not only caters to stargazers, but also to hikers, birders, nature lovers, and its employees. Unease escalates when a developer buys land adjoining the Waddell’s land. Light pollution would threaten Waddle’s NightZone complex. The sheriff’s department gets actively involved when a drive-by shooting occurs at the local newspaper office followed by a suspicious death.

The main character in this novel is Undersheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman, but there is a large array of supporting characters with their own idiosyncrasies. The characters felt real and three-dimensional. The relationships between the characters seemed believable and not contrived. This is a steadily-paced police procedural, not a thriller. The prose is vividly descriptive and readable. The plot is appealing, perfectly-paced, absorbing, and entertaining. There are numerous twists and turns leading to an ending that was somewhat sad, but definitely thought-provoking.

Overall, this was a well-written police procedural that explores various aspects of business, police procedures, family, friendship, and much more. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Steven F. Havill for a complimentary ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

A new couple have arrived in Posadas County to visit the land they purchased adjacent to NightZone. There is worry that development plans could adversely affect NightZone, the people who visit and the money they spend. While speculation continues, a drive by shooting occurs at the Posadas Register. Sheriff Bob Torrez and Undersheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman are puzzled as to who would shoot at the local newspaper office. Meanwhile Estelle’s famous son is visiting with plans to make his permanent residence in the village and former sheriff Bill Gastner is enjoying his search for the history of a gun he found years ago in the desert. Life is already hectic in Posadas…then there is a murder. Another complex mystery in Posadas County. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Disclaimer...I have read all of the Posadas County books. This cast of characters feel like old friends to me. This book works as a stand alone but is much richer for knowing the back stories. Steven Havill's stories of life in the small desert towns along the Mexican border are so descriptive, you see the mesa tops and breathe in the same dust as the under sheriff as she travels many miles to work through some of the harshest crimes men and women can commit. Her family's history and their future is closely tied to the people she works with everyday. And everyone is surprised Padrino is still alive!
Estelle sees the many ways individual crimes are connected long before everyone else. All of the clues are there, but I'm usually surprised at the solutions. When the new owner of a property threatens a very successful zero light business, his death opens many questions. As Big Bad Bobby investigates one of his many nephews, his Sheriff's badge causes reactions that caught me by surprise. But that is one of the reasons I love Steven Havill's Posados County and Bill Gastner series, they always leave me sorry they've ended and wondering where the next one will find my old friends.