'There's nothing really like a horse running in the wild, is there?' Porter Beck, the sheriff of Lincoln County, Nevada, watches a wild horse gather, cited as an emergency by the Bureau of Land Management due to drought. The helicopter being used to herd the horses into a canyon suddenly crashes and Beck, first on the scene, realizes the pilot was shot. Was the killing personal or done by one of the protestors calling themselves CANTORS? More deaths follow and the FBI becomes involved, promising to work with the local deputies.

There's a lot going on in this novel beyond solving the case and dealing with the friction between the BLM and the protestors. If you've read the first two books in this series, you know Beck is slowly going blind and calls on the help of a trained dog named Columbo on occasion. The story is set during the early months of Covid with deputies getting sick, adding to Beck's already short staff problems. Even Beck's father, the former sheriff, comes down with it and that's a serious problem for the 90-year-old. And Beck's girlfriend, a state detective named Charlie Blue Horse, is acting strangely and he's worried she's thinking of breaking things off with him. And Beck's adopted sister Brinley seems to have disappeared while searching for a young, troubled camper who has run off.

The story has plenty of action and excitement with some surprising plot twists. Both my husband and I are big fans of this series and look forward to reading more.

Which side do you come down on on the issue of wild horse management in this modern age? The author says he has personally taken a side but worked hard not to show it in his story. When I was seven or eight, I was fascinated by wild horses, running wild and free with long manes flowing. I loved to run myself, and with my long skinny legs, I pictured myself as one of them, as a sort of soul mate.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new suspense thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Bruce Borgos is back and better than ever with his third installment in the incredible Porter Beck series with The Blue Horse. I absolutely love this series, and the various cast of characters. The Blue Horse is a taunt, fast-paced, thrilling police procedural that I just could not put down. A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, the author and NetGalley for the eARC of the book.

The exciting premise of this story starts off with Sheriff Porter Beck and his deputy observing a controversial wild horse roundup. But when shots are fired, and the helicopter that is driving the roundup crashes, Beck is called on to investigate. The investigation at the crash site discloses that the pilot has been shot. And when the person from the Bureau of Land Management, who is actually coordinating the roundup is horrifically murdered, there is no shortage of suspects. With an animal rights advocacy group willing to fight to protect the wild horses at all costs, the state and federal agencies breathing down his neck for a quick resolution. Porter Beck definitely has his hands full, and he has seen better days.

Now his own team is under the weather, so his new girlfriend Detective Charlie Blue Horse comes to help with the investigation. Their investigation leads them to a Canadian Lithium mining operation near the wild horse round-up area, which raises their suspicions. Brinley, Beck’s sister happens to be volunteering with a few counselors helping troubled kids out on a wilderness hike. But when one of the kids, Rafa runs off — Brin goes off to find him. Unfortunately this brings them outside of this mine at a very inopportune time. With all the upheaval in his life and a lot on the line one wrong decision can turn this entire situation into an explosive powder keg. Can Beck use his innate skill set to figure out what is really going on?

Bruce Borgos is a master storyteller. The Blue Horse is a well-written, action-packed, suspenseful, highly immersive story filled with unforgettable characters. If you are a fan of crime novels, police procedurals and/or television shows like Dark Winds, Longmire, or Joe Pickett then you’ll definitely want to read the Porter Beck series.

The Blue Horse is the third Porter Beck western procedural mystery by Bruce Borgos. Released 8th July 2025 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

There are a number of well known and popular western police procedural series, from Leaphorn & Chee to Longmire, many more. This series fits very well into the milieu and compares favorably. Sheriff Beck is strong, moral, and cares about his town and fellow citizens. He's not perfect, but he tries his best to take care of his colleagues and his family. His romantic partner Charlie (female) is back in this novel, as well as his working dog partner Bo, who is a Very Good Boy.

Covid, environmental protests/natural resource management, politics, and police work are central themes. Although it's the third book in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone, with the understanding that relationships between the returning, ensemble cast have developed during the series and there will be slight spoilers for earlier books if read out of order.

Well written, tightly plotted, and engaging. There are some fairly graphic scenes of violence, and the language is R-rated (but nothing too egregious).

Four stars, likely higher for fans of western police procedurals. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, home library, or a binge/buddy read.

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

I really love this series! They just keep getting better and better. This was a nail biter from beginning to end! So much action, couldn't put it down. If you like suspense, action, and a great series, where you love the characters, you will love these books. I highly recommend, and this is his best yet!

The Blue Horse is an interesting and exciting crime novel? Police procedural? Whatever you want to call it, it's worth reading. There's quite a bit going on - a controversial wild horse round-up with protesters, murder, and since it's set in 2020, COVID (something I wasn't keen on revisiting, but it was fine). Great writing, an intriguing storyline, some misdirection, and Sheriff Porter Beck kept this novel interesting and had me flying through the pages. And I'm glad Beck's girlfriend, Detective Charlie Blue Horse, from the previous book, is back to help out.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S THE BLUE HORSE ABOUT?
For Porter Beck and the Lincoln Sheriff's Department, change—and a pandemic—are in the air. But we'll talk about that later. The main thing that they all have to focus on is a controversial wild horse roundup.

It's a Federal mandate that it occurs, and there are plenty of good wildlife management and other environmental arguments in favor of it. There are also plenty of traditional, environmental, or animal rights arguments against it. Naturally, the event faces protests both large and small—even in the middle of a pandemic. So Beck and his team are providing some security.

Because of that security, Beck and Tuffy are around to witness a helicopter involved in the roundup crash. Thanks to them, it's not written off as human error or some other accident—they know it was murder (a difficult one to perpetrate, mind you).

The easy answer seems to be that it's someone associated with the protests, but Beck's not satisfied with that. And despite what the FBI wants to focus on, he starts assembling evidence to buttress his hunch. Then another, grisly murder happens. And all signs point to something worse on the horizon. The Feds want a quick resolution, Beck wants the truth.

BRINLEY AND RAFA
So, while all this is going on, Beck can't rely on his sister to pitch in. As a follow-up to the volunteering she did in Shades of Mercy with the "at risk" youth of the area, she's off with a handful of these teens on a wilderness retreat. Rafa, in particular, is one she can identify with and really wants to help. He, on the other hand, wants no one's help. He's learned that he can only rely on himself and what his own strength, temper, and brutality can provide for him.

One night, after Brinley had already started to think he'd run off, he does just that. Annoyed at herself for letting her guard down enough to let that happen, and assured of her superior ability to track compared to the other adults in the group, she takes off on her own to track him down. As it's Brinley that we're talking about, she'd normally be right—but with COVID symptoms kicking in, are her stamina and clarity of mind up to the task? And what will she do if/when she finds him?

Sometimes, it can be a critique for a reader to note that a subplot like this one is frequently more interesting and engaging than the primary story. Early on, I was mildly irritated every time we cut from this back to the murder investigation. I really enjoy Brinley and Rafa is both a good character by himself, as a foil for Brinley? He's perfect. Together, it's a great combination.

I eventually came around on the murder investigation—it was more of a slow-burn for me, but by the end, I was equally invested in both storylines.

COVID-19
I thought it was gutsy for Borgos to tackle COVID and the reaction to both the virus and the social reactions to it. Especially in places like Beck's part of Nevada, you're not going to get a lot of people reacting to either of them the same way as you would in L.A. or NYC. (I think this is going to be the case for readers drawn to the series, too)

Borgos dealt with it as well as you could hope—Beck didn't seem to take a firm stand on things like masking or hand-shaking himself—he basically matched the environment he was in (somewhat begrudglingly at times). And his deputies clearly saw it as overblown—particularly one deputy who showed clear signs of it. The clinic is full, and the disease shows up in several ways—some that hit too close to home for Beck, too.

At the same time—the impact of the virus itself was clearly shown. Whether it was a temporary, minor obstacle or a life-altering disease (or points in between) for the characters—COVID made its presence felt. Beck doesn't have an overabundance of deputies for his large county on the best day. You force them to deal with murder cases like this—plus the security they need to provide for the roundup—with deputies out sick? That's going to have a major impact on their ability to do any of their jobs effectively.

More than a gutsy move by Borgos for the social observation, it's a smart move for narrative tension.

ALL THE PERSONAL STUFF
I was relieved to see Charlie Blue Horse back again—not only was she a good addition to the cast in Shades of Mercy, but I really didn't like the idea of Beck having a new romantic interest/dalliance in every book. I'd have been perfectly content to have a few books without one, too—but a returning romantic interest is a good way to go, too.

I did think that Beck was a bit too clueless in the beginning—you can tell how he got to his age still single—but that's a tangent.

There's a lot more going on for Beck outside the case—his father's health continues to deteriorate, there are big changes looming for the Sheriff's office as we learn early on. Basically, these murders come along at a juncture for our Sheriff and serve as a welcome distraction as much as they could interfere and possibly derail his plans.

DEPUTY FRANK COLUMBO
Bo may have been a two-time washout from the K-9 academy, but he's a good, loyal companion for Beck—and he shows signs of being a good seeing-eye dog in the future. Who doesn't want a good dog along for a story like this?

But honestly, he just seemed to be a nice little flavoring—something to add to the Western/Sheriff setting. Like Spener's Pearls, Joe Pickett's dogs, Max Boucher's Russ, Ballard's Lola, and didn't Quinn Colson have one? They're there, they're fun to see, but they're not a major player in the story.

But by the end The Blue Horse, he's that and more. He's not quite as remarkable as Longmire's Dog, or Sharp's Winnie, (definitely not in Chet Little's league). But he's on the way—this will come as no shock to anyone who's read me, I loved Bo's moments of glory (even if they weren't appreciated at the time). I don't need this series to become the Beck and Bo show, but I hope he gets more chances to shine.

Then again, would the Beck and Bo show be a bad thing?

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE BLUE HORSE? C
We're only on book three of this series, but we've got a strong recurring cast already (with promises of more). There's the FBI Agent that Beck didn't really get along with last time (and he continues to not really get along with now), there's our friendly hacker doing the things Beck and Charlie can't—but legally (probably), all the great characters in the Lincoln County Sheriff's office, and even X Files. Yes, he's back again—and I loved the way he get's involved with this one. There's more to this guy than paranoia and delusion. The characters—suspects, witnesses, standers-by, and more—are up to the same standards, and you'll end up hoping that those who live and aren't serving time come back sometime soon.

Three books in, one thing that Borgos has clearly shown us all is that he can people his novels with compelling characters. What about the story? I don't know that anything will (or can) live up to The Bitter Past, but this is as good as you can ask for next to that. The storyline involving the murders is really well-paced and plotted—the herrings are the perfect shade of red—and Beck's atypical approach to policing really helps here. Aside from my own impatience early on, there's nothing to complain about here.

Mild-spoliery thoughts—feel free to skip this paragraph. I do wonder a little about Chapter Two—it takes away some of the mystery, you'll know that the murders likely tie into it at some point, and you might not bite on some of the bait Borgos wants to tempt you with because of it (at least not as hard as you might otherwise). But it also makes a twist or two seem like they don't come out of nowhere. I can argue both sides of it convincingly to myself. The more I think of it, I think Borgos made the smart move. But I instinctively disagree and think he should've skipped it. I'd love to hear what others think.

Maybe other readers feel this way when they read about the Mexicantown in August Snow's Detroit, or about Ballard/Bosch's LA, the racial tensions in the LAPD that Trevor Finnegan navigates, the gang-culture in Eve Ronin's LACSD, or the changes in the Edinburgh police that Rebus has witnessed (and felt)—but the society/politics that Borgos shows hit close to home. The former are interesting to read about, but Borgos hits close to home (C.J. Box does, too). Lincoln County, NV could easily be 20-30 minutes south of my house, rather than the 8+ hours it really is. Borgos reflects the attitudes of the area so well—it feels easy at a distance to take issue with the gangs Ronin faces, but there's a way for locals to understand both sides of something like the roundup that I just can't with the others. I know and trust people on every side of that issue, and sympathize with them. For every hint that Borgos gives you about his (or Beck's) opinion—he provides one that might disprove it. I fully expect readers from Scotland or New York to roll their eyes at one group or another that Borgos shows us. But I can't—they're my neighbors, are married to my coworkers, and share a pew with me on Sundays. I love how well Borgos does that. A good Crime Novel talks about society without getting on a soapbox, and Borgos excels at it.

Setting that aside, let's focus on the experience of reading The Blue HorseYour heart will be in your throat in at least two occasions, you will be horrified at man's inhumanity at least once (it's comparable to the opening of The Bitter Past), you'll feel sadness, relief, and even joy throughout. I wasn't looking for another Western-set mystery series to become addicted to, but Bruce Borgos has made me a die-hard anyway. Jump on the bandwagon!! We'll make room.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley—thanks to both for this.

What a great read. Sheriff Porter Beck and Deputy Bo along with the rest of the gang and his girlfriend Charlie are all tangled up in the murder that takes place, with a second one close behind. This is a twisty tale that ends up interlacing with Becks sister Brin and that's all I can say on that. The Blue Horse entertains, made me hold my breath, informs and provided a few eye misting moments. Thank you for the advance copy. I freely share my honest thoughts and opinions. Now I have to go buy it :) #TheBlueHorse #PorterBeck #BruceBorgos #StMartinsMinotaur #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley, @StMartinsPress and @MinotaurBoos for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a solid thriller/mystery set in the Nevada desert, with just the right mix of small-town drama, big-time secrets, and a whole lot of tension. It kicks off with a wild horse round-up gone wrong, really wrong. A helicopter pilot is shot mid-air, and soon after, someone else turns up murdered in a way that's both brutal and symbolic (and yeah, the wild horses are involved). From there, things spiral fast.
Sheriff Porter Beck has a full plate, too many suspects, pressure from the feds, and more questions than answers.
His girlfriend, Detective Charlie Blue Horse, joins the investigation, and there's a shady mining operation nearby that sets off some serious red flags. To top it all off, Beck's sister is running a wilderness program when one of her kids stumbles into danger.
I really liked the setting, it felt gritty and real and Beck's voice kept things grounded. He's smart, a little worn down, but still sharp. The mystery kept me guessing, and the personal moments gave it heart. A couple of parts felt a bit slow, but nothing that took away from the overall ride.
If you're into mysteries with a strong sense of place and a lead character you can root for, The Blue Horse is the book for you.
4.25 Stars!
#NetGalley, #WildHorses, #StMartinsPress, #MinotaurBooks, #BruceBorgos, #MysteryBooks

I came to this book via NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press having never read anything else by the author. I can definitely say I’ll be reading the first two in the series now. The characters were well developed and interesting, I loved how the smart, funny, snarky Porter Beck juggles a murder tied to a controversial wild horse round up, a missing sister, COVID, his own health issues and it’s implications for the future, and so much more. The way the different stories are woven together make for a fast paced story that kept me reading. The use of the wild horse roundups and mineral mining, which can both be polarizing made the book feel so current, and of course the worst of COVID. Isn’t that far behind us. I appreciate the opportunity to be introduced to the series, I recommend it for anyone who loves the American west, mysteries, and well woven plots tnat reflect life today.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I loved this story and right up to the end I was on the edge of my seat! This was my kind of book with interesting characters and nonstop action. There was so much going on and I loved every second of it. If you like a story that keeps you turning the pages, this book is for you.
We meet Porter Beck’s new girlfriend, Detective Charlie Blue Horse. How cool of a name is that? And we get to know Brinley, Beck’s sister. This is one book you won’t be able to put down. I look forward to the next book in the series. Many thanks to the author, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheBlueHorse #MinotaurBooks #StMartinsPress #PorterBeck

Another great entry in the Sheriff Porter Beck series. There is a round-up of wild horses going on in the area amid the protests of people opposed to that. They are using a helicopter to round up the horses until someone murders the pilot and the chopper goes down. Chaos erupts as they search for the killer and everything seems to go downhill from there. His murder is not the last one and it seems the horse round-up and the mining operation seem to intersect in more ways than one. At the same time there is a new mine opening that is mining lithium for batteries and there are lots of protesters to that also because of the effects that it will have on the land. There is a lot more to this book but I don’t want to spoil it so I won’t say anything else. Just recommend that you read it. Well worth your time.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Porter Beck #3
The Blue Horse by Bruce Borgos

As much as I have enjoyed the first two books of the Porter Beck series, I hesitated to read this third book. I have four horses (actually three now since my 27 year old gelding died two years ago but it's hard to not still count him...give me more time to grieve please) and through all my horse activities and friendships, I'm very acquainted with the plight of wild horses. In the best of times, roundups can be and are deadly for the horses and that is made worse when they are organized by people who have absolutely no care for the welfare of the horses.

So I went into this book knowing I might close my eyes here or there, speed through some parts, and still know I'd be very aware of what was going on when it comes to the horses. Porter Beck is a character who cares about animals and he doesn't like to see them mistreated any more than I do. I'm just writing all of this so that readers will know there are some hard parts to read here but it helps that there is Porter Beck, who will defend animals from abuse while still trying to see all sides of a situation and trying to think through the best way to handle people on both sides of the wild horse argument.

Of course, humans never fare well in this series either. This story takes place during the early days of COVID and reading about what we lived through (and others died from) is a trauma of a different sort. I usually don't like mentions of COVID in stories but this book really incorporates COVID in a very realistic manner. People still trying to live their lives, do their jobs, just get by, while this new and very dangerous situation is affecting everyone in one way or another.

Porter Beck's girlfriend, Detective Charlie Blue Horse, plays a big part in the story and Porter is not sure she wants to continue being his girlfriend. Also, he's in the last days of his current job because he's moving on to work at the same organization that employs Charlie. Porter has his ninety year old father to worry about since his dad is further along with dementia and can't be left alone. At least he has a very good friend who cares for his father as well an Porter can care for him.

The story is full of protests against wild horse roundups and extremely invasive and polluting mine practices. Things have gotten deadly in some extremely horrible ways and people are missing, including Porter's sister. The story never lets up, the tension is high the entire time, I've grown to care about these people and we have no guarantees for who will survive to the end of the story.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, SMP Early Readers, and NetGalley for the ebook and print book of this ARC.

Exciting and suspenseful detective story set in the American West. The plot was interesting and twisty and I like the recurring side characters. I also like that the main character has a medical condition that impacts his life and, at times, his ability to do his job. Beck's condition and how he works around it add a touch of originality.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

Another incredible Porter Beck novel! Porter finds himself in the middle of a controversy over the management of wild horses. The Bureau of Land Management has started a program to round up the wild horses and move them to another area. While there are government officials who are heading up this program that are supporting it, there are also some very wealthy, important people that have formed a wild horse advocacy group to stop it. And it appears that they are willing to go to great lengths to stop the program - even murder.
As tempers explode, more people die, and the danger mounts, Porter is put to the test to put an end to it. With COVID rampant in his home and his office, Porter is stretched very thin. He is dealing with short staffing, sick family members, and people in all walks of life who want answers - including the government. Porter has never let them down and he won't give up until he brings it to an end.
This book is an exciting ride to an explosive ending that you will not want to miss!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

This author is an exceptional storyteller. He builds suspense in a calm and consistent manner that immediately captivates the reader. The last quarter of the book is simply unputdownable. Intriguing characters, a captivating plot, and the author’s incredible storytelling make this a 5-star book.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

THE BLUE HORSE, the third installment in the Porter Beck series by Author Bruce Borgos, checks all the boxes when it comes to exciting, unputdownable suspense thrillers. It's a taut, fast paced, action packed story with dynamic characters involved in a race against time to stop the bad guys. Borgos's expertise at maintaining a high intensity level while weaving multiple plotlines involving prevalent issues is impressive and highly entertaining. I found it extremely hard to stop reading once I started this one and now find myself anxiously waiting for the next one.

Sheriff Porter Beck returns along with several series’ favorites, including his adopted sister Brinley and his love interest Detective Charlie Blue Horse, in THE BLUE HORSE. Beck and his deputy are observing a wild horse roundup herded by a helicopter from a cliff above a Nevada canyon when he witnesses the copter crashing. Arriving on scene, they quickly determined the crash was the result of the pilot being shot. The leader of an anti-roundup activist group protesting in the area becomes a suspect, but when another tragic death occurs, Beck, who isn't primary on the case, follows his gut instinct looking beyond the obvious for motive. As he and Charlie work the clues, a disturbing, emerging pattern leads them to take a closer look at a Canadian Lithium mining operation buying up land in the area. The stakes skyrocket for Beck when Brinley goes missing from a wilderness camp as he suspects her disappearance may be tied to the killings. Time is of an essence, and Beck will move heaven and earth to find Brinley. Will he be in time?

Wild Mustang Roundups are controversial with strong emotions and reasonings on both sides of the issue, and Author Bruce Borgos taps into those often heated, contrasting points of view in the fictional THE BLUE HORSE. I found it interesting that Borgos states that after his in-depth research into the pros and cons of both sides, he's landed firmly on one side, but he sincerely hopes his opinion doesn't show in his rendering of this story. In my opinion, it does not. Having wild horses roaming free on the Outer Banks in North Carolina where I live, I've witnessed their majestic, breathtaking beauty but like Borgos, I won't disclose my opinion here. I will say Borgos has done a magnificent job at weaving the pros and cons into a tension laden plot line that kept this reader on the edge of her seat from start to finish. A menacing tone drives a pace that increases chapter to chapter to the explosive climax. The author incorporates the trials and tribulations we all experienced within the confines of the Covid pandemic, adding additional complicacies to the storyline. Complex characters are well defined both professionally and personally. Beck's continuous battle and insecurities learning to maneuver life with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a disease that renders him with extremely limited night vision, with the aid of a devoted dog is a lesson in perseverance while learning to cope with a handicap. The author also shines a light on groups helping troubled teens cope with PTSD with Brinley's work (herself a victim of childhood abuse) through the wilderness group, especially one troubled teen, Rafa.

As the story unfolds, various plotlines begin connecting like pieces of a puzzle. The result is a highly entertaining suspense thriller with a lot of heart highlighting some controversial, real-life issues. Beck's wry sense of humor lends a bit of comic relief to an otherwise serious subject as does his budding romance with Charlie. While this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone as the talented author flawlessly incorporates needed backstory into the narrative; however, I suggest you treat yourself by diving into the previous books. THE BLUE HORSE is a tautly written, intense, must-read thriller that fans of suspense thrillers will enjoy.

This is the third in the Porter Beck series, and though I have read the previous two, I think this and the others could be read as stand alone. Porter is the Sheriff of a small county in Nevada and is called out to a helicopter that had crashed while herding wild horses as part of a BLM exercise to transport them to a facility where they would eventually be sold or adopted, his girlfriend Charlie also attends as a member of the police. Porter quickly realizes that the pilot had been shot which was why the helicopter crashed, and the person who shot him must have been a very good shooter to hit a moving helicopter from a stand. He finds a bullet casing and a plastic blue horse at the site. Not long after the person coordinating the gathering was brutally murdered along with a fellow helping her, her murder was broadcast over the internet. Again Porter and Charlie attend the scene, though clues are scant, the horses are rounded up and taken to a fairground until they can be picked up, but they are all shot before that can happen. In a separate story line, a lithium mining company that had recently bought a huge parcel of land to mine, has attracted a number of protesters, the mine ties into the story in greater depth a bit later in the book. Porter's sister is on a wilderness outreach camping trip with a number of young youths from troubled backgrounds, one decides to bolt from the camp and Brin goes after him, they are in a remote area. Porter has bad night vision, he basically is blind when the sun goes down or in dark environments, he's training his dog, Bo as a guide dog, Bo is also a really good dog at investigating. Overall a very good book and I would highly recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Minotaur Books for the ARC.

Porter and Charlie are back in a wild case that sucks you in from the start. I felt like I was right there with the characters trying to solve this one. Its also a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. There were so many twists I didn't see coming! I'm never disappointed with this series. This is a page-turner.

Another wonderful Sheriff Porter Beck mystery and a marvelous job by a very talented author! I will never tire of reading this series. This is Book #3 and I can't wait for the next one to come out. Each of the books in this series can be read as a standalone, but I would encourage readers to read them all, preferably in order.

Suffice it to say that the suspense and action is nonstop in this book. I was glued to the page as the excitement snowballed into an avalanche of chills and thrills. I loved having a front row seat to the expert character building that goes along with this story too and being reunited with each and every lovable character.

This series reminds me of the successful TV series Yellowstone and Landman that are written by Taylor Sheridan, but without the sex and bad language. This Porter Beck series needs to be made into its own TV series or movie.

My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press-Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this exciting book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Blue Horse by Bruce Burgos is is a mystery involving the situation with wild horses and featuring Sheriff Porter Beck as the lead investigator. It begins with a helicopter pilot who was herding said horses and is shot, bring the copter down immediately. Beck was nearby and so he and his deputy were the first on the scene. It had taken a crack shot to accomplish this feat, and someone who wanted to protect the horses. Thus began a couple of weeks of intense investigating and additional situations. The next murder was of a BLM representative in charge of the roundup. This was a gruesome death and pointed directly at one person. Beck was currently involved with with a state police officer, Charlie Blue Horse, and dealing with the fact that Covid was presently rearing it’s ugly head in his office and family. It was a lot to deal with and Burgos handled it masterfully, giving the reader a plot full of problems faced by many people in the West at this time.

Porter Beck is forty-eight years old and showing the earliest symptoms of blindness: night blindness was a problem. Also his deputy, Tuffy had Covid but was refusing to give in to it. His sister seemed to be off the radar, and he was managing it all, as well as multiple law enforcement agencies, some of whom wanted to make an arrest, not necessarily the right one, just the most expedient one. Charlie was a supportive and admiring partner who did her best to assist in this investigation. The evidence led them to some difficult places, but Beck had been an officer for a long time and trusted his instincts. It was a moving book, trying to look at both sides of the wild horse problem and doing his best with a very small staff to enforce laws in a very large area. People respected him, just as they had his father, who had been sheriff previously. It was an excellent read. Very detailed, Very tense, very full of human emotion and varied politics. Good read.

I was invited to read The Blue Horse by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #BruceBurgos #TheBlueHorse