The Blue Horse, the third installment in the Sheriff Porter Beck series, is a thrilling read that promises non-stop action and suspense. While it can be enjoyed as a standalone, the series' unique blend of action and suspense makes it a highly recommended read for all thriller enthusiasts.

Set in the captivating backdrop of rural Nevada, Beck runs an understaffed department that is currently overwhelmed and stricken by the initial COVID-19 wave. When a helicopter pilot that is rounding up wild horses is shot dead, the Bureau of Land Management coordinator is brutally murdered, a Canadian Lithium mining operation is uncovered, and Beck’s sister Brinley end up at the wrong place at the wrong time while tracking a kid in the wilderness, Beck has his hands full. But with a military investigative background and a retinal degenerative disease that significantly affects his eyesight at night, Beck tends to be underestimated.

The plot of this thriller develops quickly, moving at a brisk pace without any downtime. The narrative flows well and keeps the reader engaged in the action, gaining intrigue and momentum as things become more complex. The character development is exceptional; they are interesting and colorful, especially Bo, Beck’s tracker, and his night eyes. Worth reading, and three books in, Mr. Borgos has already become one of my favorite authors!

I am grateful to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. I also extend my thanks to Bruce Borgos for this thrilling read. As a fan of the series, I eagerly await the next installment!

I enjoyed the previous two Porter Beck books, and this one was no different. There are multiple mysteries occurring at the same time, so you definitely need to pay attention. I would also suggest reading the first two books, as I don’t feel this would be good as a standalone.

There is catching up with characters from the prior two books, new characters to meet, and Porter’s personal life in a bit of upheaval, all while trying to navigate investigations during the very beginning of the pandemic.

I found this book to be another satisfying installment.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and Bruce Borgos for the eARC.

Blue Horse is the third in the Porter Beck mystery series, but the first one I’ve read. .The multiple story lines which converge in interesting ways were intriguing, but I found the writing of the subplot about Beck’s sister to be more engaging than the main murder investigation. The overall story itself was good, but I found myself distracted (and annoyed) by excessive repetitiveness and lack of subtlety in hints. The characters are not one dimensional, but there was definitely a lack of depth in exploration of the qualities that made them unique. I also found the setting mid-pandemic to be awkwardly addressed – at times it factored in with shallow hints about symptoms, weird commentary about masks, and random concern, while at other times, it was completely forgotten by all characters. This had the potential to be an outstanding book, but I was disappointed.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this mystery.

Bruce Borgos' The Blue Horse is yet another brilliant installment in a series that just keeps getting better. Set against the vivid backdrop of a small town, the novel masterfully blends the charm of close-knit community life with the gripping intensity of a police procedural.

What truly sets this book apart are its excellent characters—each one meticulously crafted, relatable, and compelling. Borgos has an exceptional talent for character development, making you feel invested in their lives and struggles. The plot is intricately woven, filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very last page.

Moreover, the writing style is refreshingly easy to read, making it a perfect choice for both casual readers and mystery aficionados alike. Whether you're new to the series or a returning fan, The Blue Horse is a must-read that promises and delivers an engaging, unforgettable experience.

Highly recommended!

Up front- I'm a fan of Porter Beck, a sheriff with retinitis pigmentosa who solves intricate and complex cases that seem to pop up for no reason (but there always is one) in his remote corner of Nevada. Fans should know that this features North American bad guys as opposed to the more international issues we've had in the past. Animal lovers should know that it is based, among other things, on inhumane treatment of wild horses. It starts when someone with mad gun skills shoots a helicopter pilot working a roundup out of the sky but Porter does not agree with the FBI about the suspect. No one knows why a small blue plastic horse has been left by the sniper's spot. Nor does Porter take a traditional path to finding the villains in part because things escalate in a horrible way and in part because COVID has arrived in the county. HIs girl friend Detective Charlie Blue Horse (no connection to the toy Porter found) comes to help but she's acting oddly (is she sick?) Brimley, Porter's sister is helping at a camp for troubled teens. She feels a connection to Rafa the angriest of the bunch. Keep your eye on him. A lot happens very quickly-it's a real page turner-but best of all, I didn't guess the identity of the shooter. These characters, from Porter to his father, the cattlemen, the sheriff's team, and so on, shine. And then there's Bo, an amazing dog. This has highs and deep lows with some twists as well. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Great read.

This was a well thought out murder mystery. It’s full of action. Lots of twists and turns and some surprises I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed the book but could have done without the Covid side story. It would be one thing if this book came out during Covid but it’s not.
I’m looking forward to the next one.

I always enjoy a Porter Beck book, but this one was a little different from the others. It was entertaining, but it is definitely not my favorite in this series. I rounded up from 3 1/2 stars to 4 stars because the mystery was intriguing, and I do like Porter Beck.

It was an interesting story with suspense and some very intense scenes that I have come to expect from this author. There are multiple storylines, so you better pay attention or you will get lost in the "weeds", so to speak. If you enjoy a police procedural with likable characters, you will enjoy this one. I highly recommend reading books 1 and 2 first. However, it is not a necessity.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I read and loved the first in this series, The Bitter Past and then somehow jumped straight from that to this. I do feel like I missed a bit of the necessary background and recommend not jumping directly into book three.

I feel compelled to warn readers that there is some serious horse cruelty in this book and it was hard for me to continue a few times. I took a few days break and then finally felt like I could get back into it. While I struggle with animal cruelty I was glad this brought the roundup of wild horses to my attention. I had never even heard of them before but spent a lot of time down the rabbit hole researching.

Also, this is set during the pandemic in 2020 so make sure you are prepared for that if you jump into this series.

What I liked:
* Strong storylines
* Characters that are easy to root for
* The dog Colombo

What don’t work:
* The end twist felt rushed with serious plot holes.
.
Thanks to St. Martins for the arc

A helicopter driving a controversial round-up of wild horses is shot down, the pilot killed. 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. Sheriff Porter Beck's girlfriend Detective Charlie Blue Horse, arrives to help with the investigation. Their investigation leads them to Canadian Lithium mining operation near the round-up area. 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.

This is the third book in the Porter Beck series. I really enjoy this series, and really like Beck. There was non-stop action from start to finish, and a great mystery as well. This is perfect for fans of David Baldacci and Lee Child.

I'm rating this a three star only because I still like the characters and setting (and because I rounded the 2.5 star rating up to three).

The head-hopping in this book was even worse than the last one, with the POV changing within a single paragraph. Most of the writing comes across as a limited third person, and then bam, we know what a different character is thinking or feeling. It was disorienting.

But the worst part? Beck knew information he couldn't have known and acted on it before he had the information. You could drive an entire book through that hole. I even went back chapters and chapters to find out if he'd been told that information previously and I missed it. That is my least favourite activity when reading an ebook.

Porter Beck, sheriff and Tuffy Scruggs, deputy of Lincoln County, Nevada, are at a wild horse roundup from federal lands requested by a mining corporation. A helicopter was moving the horses when it suddenly went down. Beck soon realizes that the pilot was shot and the number one suspect was the group CANTER protesting the inhuman the roundups are handled. Then when a gruesome murder is shown live on an internet site, the FBI becomes involved. The state detective, Charlie Blue Horse ( Beck's girlfriend) is also on hand. Beck is unsure that who the FBI suspects, is guilty especially when a reporter is missing who was investigating the mining corporation. Beck is certain that these deaths have more to do than wild horses.
The latest intense thriller in the Porter Beck series, set at the beginning of the COVID outbreak. It continues with the lives of all the characters from the previous books and delves into wild horse management, mining practices and organized crime.
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this e-galley of "The Blue Horse".

Porter Beck is a sheriff in the high desert of Nevada. This is book 3 in a series, but can be read as a standalone. In this installment, the sheriff is investigating a controversial wild horse round-up and a murder.

This book and the series detail some personal struggles for Beck, including his fading eyesight due to a degenerative disease and family struggles. His girlfriend, Charlie Blue Horse, plays a big role in the plot of this book as well. 

Having read and enjoyed the two previous books in this series, I was excited to get the ARC for this one. Something was missing for me though this time around, and I had a hard time feeling invested sometimes. There was a lot going on. The story is set during the Covid pandemic, and it features prominently in the storyline. 

I did enjoy the setting, action-packed plot and the interesting group of characters. 

3.5/5 stars

[Thanks to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]

⚠️ | Contains some strong profanity, sprinkled throughout.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 8, 2025
Sheriff Porter Beck returns in “The Blue Horse”, the third instalment in the series by Bruce Borgos.
During a wild horse round-up in Nevada, a helicopter pilot is shot down, leaving any number of potential suspects. Then, the coordinator for the round-up is savagely murdered, and the community is convinced that the murders are related. Most blame the prominent wild horse activist group in the area, but Beck isn’t sure that something more sinister isn’t at play. As Beck and his girlfriend, Detective Charlie Blue Horse, delve deep into the events, they discover a possible connection to the county’s lithium mine, which, if true, puts Beck, Charlie and everyone they love in danger.
“The Blue Horse” is aptly named on two levels, not just for Beck’s new girlfriend, Charlie, but it also pays homage to the toy blue horse that is found at the original crime scene, leading Beck down a new investigative path. Set during Covid in 2020, Beck’s loved ones and colleagues are trying to solve a crime, while trying to stay clear of the deadly virus.
I have read all three Porter Beck novels by Borgos, and this one was particularly captivating, as it involved the controversial issues surrounding wild horses in the western U.S. Borgos covers both sides fairly, seemingly without choosing one specific side, while keeping the hot-button issue at the forefront. Borgos mentions in the author’s note that he does, indeed, have a very definitive and specific opinion on the issue and is very firmly on one side over the other, but he does not let that side show in his writing.
This series of novels is unique because they are similar to police investigation novels the world over, but they take place in the western U.S.A, where county sheriffs and small-town police forces are the norm. The issues Beck and his team investigate are important, but are not often front-page news in other novels of this type. I love the atmosphere in Borgos’ Beck novels and his characters are genuine and likable. Beck is the main character of course, but Borgos lets a few others have their time in the spotlight, such as Beck’s girlfriend, Charlie, as well as a few of the other more minor players.
It is not necessary to read the other novels in the series in order to keep up with the plot in this one, so if you like modern cowboy novels that feature a badass sheriff, his adorable canine and a crew of eccentric misfits, then any novel in the Beck series would be worth a read. However, I recommend that you read all the novels in order, to get a better understanding of the relationships and backstories of the main characters. I will be looking forward to novel number four in the series, to see what Beck and his crew get up to next.

Porter Beck is a small-town sheriff with big time issues. In the middle of the Covid epidemic, the Bureau of Land Management is running a wild horse roundup. As the roundup is happening, the helicopter directing the horses is shot and killed and the woman heading up this roundup is murdered. Beck’s life is in turmoil, his aged father has dementia and comes down with Covid, his sister goes missing while on a camping hike, there is something going on with his girlfriend. Mr. Borgos brings these happenings to a satisfying conclusion, leaving us looking forward to the next installment.

Porter Beck is the sheriff in a small town in Nevada. Right now the country is dealing with the Covid epidemic and his area is dealing with a group who are gathering herds of wild horses and moving them to what they call safer areas. Not everyone is happy with this event and when the helicopter pilot who is assisting with the gathering is shot execution style by a sharpshooter while in the air it doesn't help Beck and his team with the handling of the event. To further give him trouble is the fact that his girlfriend Detective Charlie Blue Horse is assisting and her attitude towards him seems off and he is afraid she is going to end the relationship. Then the woman leading the gathering is shown on a video being buried up to her neck and then trampled by the horses she was transporting, and her driver was also killed. Are the three murders by the same person or is there more than one murderer...Beck has limited time to find out and also has the FBI now in town also working the cases. With so much going on in his professional life he doesn't need any personal life problems, but he also gets a number of them.

Porter Beck came home from the Army and took over as sheriff from his Dad. In the middle of a controversial wild horse round-up, the helicopter pilot is killed and the woman hired by the Bureau of Land Management is murdered in a gruesome manner, echoing a method used by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Porter's personal life is in turmoil as well: his father's growing dementia; his sister's disappearance while working at a youth wilderness camp, and pressure from his girlfriend, Charlie Blue Horse. Porter and Charlie's investigation lead them to a Canadian mining company who want to stake out a claim on lithium deposits in the Nevada wilderness. And there is a lot of money involved. Where there is money, there is often murder. Another edge-of-the-seat page turner from Borgos. Recommended.

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story begins with Beck and his deputy Tuffy reading on horse observing a mustang gather. They see the helicopter driving the horses forward when Beck hears a gunshot and shortly thereafter the helicopter crashes and the pilot dies. Upon arriving at the location, they first make sure that there is no one around to shoot them. The locate the site where the shooter was and find a brass casing along with a toy blur horse. Since there was a protest going on, the belief was that they were responsible. A day or two later, the BLM agent was killed with a video live streaming her death, in addition there another victim shot as well. The FBI was brought in and they became fixated on Etta and Race who were associated with the protestors. Beck meanwhile was not convinced and he did his own investigation which in the end put him in danger.

Read along and follow Beck and his team and they hunt for the killer of the 3 individuals. Discover how Covid came into play, meet Charlie Blue Horse and eventually learn who and why these individuals were killed.

The story will definitely keep your interest, don't miss out!

The Blue Horse is the third Porter Beck mystery. Wild horses are being rounded up by the Bureau Of Land Management. There is a group of horse advocates protesting. The situation is volatile and then becomes deadly when the person in charge of the roundup is viciously murdered.

With Beck's eyesight worsening he needs all the help he can get, especially since the Sheriff's office is shorthanded due to Covid. Luckily his girlfriend Charlie is there to help. Meanwhile Brinley is off on a mission of her own, leading troubled kids in a wilderness program. Trouble is never far away though.

I love this series. Beck is a great leading character. He's funny and I love watching him in action. His role was a little different this time around and I missed seeing him get a lot of wins in the process of the investigation.

More time is spent exploring Beck and Charlie's relationship. While I enjoy seeing the characters develop, especially Beck with Bo, it does take some time away from the main investigation. I also missed Brinley and Beck working together. However, Brinley's scenes were my favorite.

The investigation isn't particularly exciting, but there is a lot of action near the end and a real sense of danger. There are a couple of new characters I liked that we might see again and it was nice to see a couple returning faces in addition to the usual team.

This is a fun series, full of humor and action with a great setting. I look forward to more in the series.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for the chance to read.

This third book in the Porter Beck Mystery series deftly maintains the momentum and thrill of its predecessors, and gives all new meaning to "the wild west".

The Bureau of Land Management is rounding up the mustangs of the Nevada desert and relocating them to parts unknown. The farmers encourage it and the wild animal rights activists are wholeheartedly against it. A helo pilot is herding the wild horses into a small canyon from where the agents can load them into trailers and cart them away. All was going according to plan until some ace shot takes out the pilot and the copter plummets to the ground. In an instant, Sherriff Porter Beck has a murder on his hands. With minimal staffing and many out with Covid, this investigation is going to be a challenge for sure. That's especially true as the bodies keep piling up.

Yet again, author Bruce Borgos has done a spectacular job of setting the scene, steadily building tension throughout the story, bringing it to a full climax and then gently easing it to a satisfying conclusion. The writing is excellent and the characters are well developed. There's a certain charm to protagonist Sheriff Beck. He's not perfect and all the more admired for it. This was yet another satisfying thriller by a deftly skilled writer.

Triggers: some rough language and graphic grisly detail

I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary uncorrected digital galley of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication date: July 8, 2025
Number of Pages: 368 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1250373908

The Blue Horse is the 3rd book in the Porter Beck series from Bruce Borgos.

"A helicopter pilot is shot and killed during a controversial roundup of wild horses. Then the person coordinating the roundups is trampled to death. Porter Beck's girlfriend, Detective Charlie Blue Horse arrives to help with the investigation that leads to a nearby lithium mining company. Porter's sister, Brinley, gets caught up in being at the mine at a bad time. Porter finds himself in a tough spot trying to solve a murder and protect his sister."

Borgos has created a great character in Sheriff Porter Beck. You don't see a lot of law enforcement get by with night blindness. There are several times in the book where you see his true character, especially since he doesn't agree with the roundup. There's a couple of great villains. And some wild moments at the mine. And some big decisions from Sheriff Beck. I also liked the side story with Brinley and Rafa. I would love to see a book with her as the MC.

Another great action/thriller from Borgos.