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.

This review is my opinion and my opinion only.. This book was written well, and the characters were complex. But, I had a hard time connecting to the story. I would read a little then read another book. Bruce Borgos did convey a great message about conservation of our environment. Even though this book wasn’t for me you might want to give it a try.

3.5 stars

This was my first book by this author. I found it different and interesting. The murders of the man and woman in the beginning were unlike anything I ever read. The protagonists were great but I don't like reading about animals being killed.

My thanks to Net Galley, St Martin's and Minotaur.

4 stars

If Porter Beck is involved, it's a must-read scenario for me. I enjoyed the first two books in this series, and this - the third installment - fit in nicely with its predecessors.

Beck is an excellent character, and while this book can be read as a standalone and the suspense/thrills will be enough to keep most readers engaged, the highlight of this series is the way Beck's character develops. My top recommendation is to read the first two books in the series before this one to best appreciate the directions each character takes.

Now, beyond the joy of the series overall, and especially its featured character, this is an absolutely compelling book on its own. There is a lot of action, there are changing relationships, and there are opportunities for continued installments, which thrills me. I also knew exactly nothing about the situation with wild horses in this country, and I found that aspect (as well as Borgos's note about this after the fact) intriguing.

I continued to really enjoy this author and series and look forward to more!

A wild horse round-up in Nevada is already mired in controversy and protests when the helicopter pilot assisting is murdered mid-flight. Sheriff Porter Beck, his small department, and his state detective girlfriend are looking closely at the leader of the wild horse advocacy group when the woman in charge of the gathers for the BLM is also brutally murdered, along with one of her young cowboys. Meanwhile, his sister Brinley is volunteering on an outdoor camping retreat for teens from the Youth Center. When one of the boys takes off in the night, she trails him down the mountain straight into danger. Up against a deputy down with Covid, an FBI agent who doesn't want to dig deeper, a missing sister, and his worsening night blindness, Sheriff Beck is racing to discover the truth before more people end up dead. Kept a fairly quick pace with an interesting plot. This is the third book in the series, and there were brief mentions of what was likely covered in one of the two previous books regarding Charlie Blue Horse's adopted daughter, Mercy. I haven't read those, and no backstory was provided to clue me in fully. I thought it was odd that a plastic blue horse was found at one murder scene, but there was little to no consideration given to the possibility that it was targeted at Charlie Blue Horse.

The Blue Horse by Bruce Borgos is a highly recommended investigative mystery and the third novel in the Porter Beck series. This is set during 2020, and features wild horse round-ups, murder, and Covid.

Lincoln County, Nevada, Sheriff Porter Beck and his deputy, Tuffy Scruggs are watching a helicopter pilot rounding-up wild horses for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) when the pilot is shot. Jolene Manning, who is coordinating the maneuver for the BLM, blames CANTER, a horse rescue group run by Etta Clay. Then Manning is found brutally murdered along with a young man working with her, and federal law enforcement gets involved. Beck's girlfriend, State Detective Charlie Blue Horse, also arrives to help with the investigation.

The pace is fast, the tension quickly rises, and a list of suspects grow in this well-written investigative mystery. Beck may have retinitis pigmentosa (degenerating night vision) but he still has keen insight and instincts. The FBI have a suspect in mind, but Beck thinks there is something else going on and he is correct. There is an alternate story line following Brin with a group of at-risk teens on a camping trip and a teen named Rafa. Borgos continues to write a compelling thriller and mystery

All the characters in the series are well-developed and portrayed as realistic individuals with strengths and weaknesses. Returning characters to the series are Beck's dog, Columbo/Bo, Beck’s 90 year old father who has dementia, his sister Brinley, his daughter Mercy, the identical twin deputies (Twin Peaks/Jolly Greens), and the podcaster named “X-Files."

The only drawbacks for me was setting this during 2020, including Covid in the plot and touching on politically sensitive topics. The first two books in the series were exceptional five star reads. This one gets four. I am looking forward to the next book in the series and expect it to be back to a five star read. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced, mystery novel. It is a police procedural with a likable and intelligent male protagonist, a supportive canine, vividly described settings, murder, intrigue, suspense, wit, a touch of humor, some relationship drama, twists and turns, and a satisfying conclusion. I especially enjoyed the subplot, which features the male protagonist's talented sister. This is the third entry in Mr. Borgos' outstanding Porter Beck series, and it can be read as a stand alone, but it is even better enjoyed after reading the first two novels in this series.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, Mr. Bruce Borgos, and NetGalley, who provided me with an advanced reader copy of this fabulous novel. This is my honest opinion.

This is the third book in the Porter Beck series but can be read as a stand alone. I enjoyed reading more of Porter Beck as I’ve come to love the character. This time he is dealing with a wild horse round-up in the high desert of Nevada where he is the sheriff. The round-up has resulted in two murders - a helicopter pilot helping in the round-up has been shot and the person coordinating the round-up for the Bureau of Land Management has been brutally murdered by being buried up to her neck and then trampled on by wild horses. The state police and FBI are also taking part in the investigation. Porter’s girlfriend, Charlie Blue Horse is a state detective and helps with the cases. Porter is also dealing with the beginnings of the Covid pandemic and his elderly father and his top deputy Tuffy have come down with bad cases. Porter, as usual, picks up on things most investigators miss and leads him to dangerous situations, especially with his night blindness. Overall, the story moved along at a good pace and I loved the characters. We again see Porter’s sister, Brin, she seems to have a different story going on but then it intersects with the main investigation. I give the book 4.5 stars, which I’ll round up to 5 - a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published July 8, 2025.

Outlier review here. I tried to "get into" this book six times over a period of ten weeks, reading a few chapters each time, then stopping to read a more interesting novel. If this had not been a NetGalley book, I would have dnf'd after the second try.

To me, it was filled with cardboard characters—flat caricatures that the author moved around to support a specific theme. That theme is environmental conservation. Everything and everyone positive in the story bolster protecting the natural environment; the villains were environmental polluters. With such a positive message, it is natural that THE BLUE HORSE will receive lots of five-star reviews. But I prefer my fiction to immerse me into the minds of its characters. THE BLUE HORSE doesn't do that.

To me, it was flat and boring. Two stars at best, for attempting to get across a positive message.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.

This book touched me. The horses are important to me. This story is a mystery of who killed a round-up helicopter pilot while he was doing his job of forcing free horses into captivity. Then more murders occur. Could the killer be someone from the many demonstrators against the round-ups?
Porter Beck is the Sheriff of Lincoln County, but is ready to move on to a new position shortly, with the love of his life by his side.. He has an eye condition where he cannot see at night a bit of a problem but he has handled it so far. He sits on a horse watching the events unfold and is immediately called to action deciphering what's happening and who's behind it all.
A very well-written book that touches on a delicate controversial problem happening right now in our country. It doesn't dwell on the round-up and focuses on the issue at hand of finding the perpetrator.
I enjoyed the book and would like to read more by Bruce Borgos.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers Minotaur Books for this excellent read. This is my personal opinion.

Wow! I had no idea what to expect when I started The Blue Horse except I knew I found the synopsis intriguing. It’s my first book by Bruce Borgos, but it won’t be my last. Since it was my first, it took me a while to get into the story and to fall into the author’s way of writing. I didn’t realize that it was the third Porter Beck book, but obviously once I got familiar with the players, I couldn’t put it down! I’m really glad that I kept going because this is a 5 star read for me!

This takes place in 2020 during the pandemic. In my opinion, Borgos does an excellent job showing how most people felt about the virus and stays in the middle of the road. Masks. No masks. Some people got really sick and got over it. Others were hospitalized. Some never got off of the vent. Others did. Like I said. Great job!

There are several issues that Porter has to deal with in this book, and they turn out to be much more complex than they seem. Lots is going on: a wild horse roundup which brings lots of protestors, a hiking trip for troubled youth led by Porter’s sister and others which leads to more trouble, a lithium mining operation which turns out to have its own problems, the pandemic, family, etc. Porter is dealing with a lot. The author deals with the different controversial subjects very well!

I really enjoyed getting to know all of the characters in The Blue Horse. They are well-written, and once I got to know the major players, I really felt like I knew them in real life. I loved the setting because I’m finding myself to be more of a “western” police procedural/mystery fan lately. There are a couple of really graphic murder scenes, so if you can’t stomach that, you might not enjoy this. If you can, and you love this genre, I think you’ll really enjoy this Porter Beck novel, and I highly recommend it!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

A controversial wild horse round-up, protesters, lithium mining, and the pandemic are weaved into the third book in the Porter Beck series by Bruce Borgos, The Blue Horse. This suspenseful and action-packed crime thriller and police procedural immediately grabbed my attention and didn’t let go until I had completed the book.

A helicopter driving a controversial round-up of wild horses suddenly crashes when the pilot is shot. Soon afterwards, the person coordinating the round-up for the Bureau of Land Management is brutally murdered. There’s no shortage of suspects with the wild horse advocacy group having sworn to protect the horses. Beck is the sheriff of Lincoln County, Nevada where the murders occur. With the state and federal agencies showing up looking for answers (and a quick resolution) and most of Beck’s deputies sick or handling normal emergencies, can Beck solve the cases?

His 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, in addition to the protesters and an ex-military friend of the protester’s leader. Brinley, Beck’s sister, is volunteering with several counselors taking a group of troubled kids on a wilderness hike, rock climbing, and camping trip. One of them, Rafa, bolts one night and Brinley goes after him. They end up at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Borgos is adept at creating strong male and female characters. Beck is fluent in several languages due to his previous military career and has an incredible ability to think critically and analyze data quickly. He has initiative, is patient, and has a degenerative disease of the retina that significantly affects his eyesight at night and in poor lighting. It was interesting to see how he deals with the condition as he does his job. This added another layer to his character. I loved Beck’s newest partner, a young English Lab named Frank Columbo or Bo for short who is a protector and tracker besides helping Beck at night when he can’t see. Charlie is smart, a detective with the Nevada department of public safety, and a strong supporter of Beck. Brinley is a great shot, full of determination, and wants to help others.

The author is an excellent storyteller who brings intensity, suspense, and action throughout the novel, but also intersperses humor and personal events of the characters as well. The plot is twisty with multiple antagonists and conflicts as well as characters that are emotionally rich. The world-building is terrific with fluid and descriptive writing that helps readers envision the scenes without adversely affecting the pacing. Themes include abuse, deaths life choices, family, found family, and much more.

Overall, this is a gripping, unsettling, suspenseful, and action-packed thriller with compelling characters and a great sense of place. If you’re a fan of contemporary crime thrillers and police procedurals set in a rural western U.S. locale, then this is a series to consider. I can’t wait to read what happens in book four.

St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Bruce Borgos provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for July 08, 2025.

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of The Blue Horses, by Bruce Borgos, from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

Oh thank heavens. The third time was, indeed, the charm for Bruce Borgos’ Porter Beck series.

I told my husband mid-book that it finally felt like I had a new Longmire series to appreciate.

This book was well-researched, well-written, and the plotlines were (mostly) plausible.

I had hoped to spend the day stay-cationing, poolside, day drinking and reading this, but—alas—the rain is never-ending where I currently abide. So instead I read it on the screened-in porch while the rains came down, down, down.

The cats were not displeased.

Ready for the next one!

PS
I actually attempted to read this book about two months ago, but I was in some sort of foul mood at the time and it hit me wrong. Also, we had just started watching the HBO series Deadwood, and I think I can only handle so much “Western” at a time. Very glad I came back to it in a better frame of mind.

PSS
Early in the book there is a reference to the Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta, which happened in the summer of 1996. This really hit home for me because my then-boyfriend (now-husband) and I had been in the park early in the evening of that horrific domestic terrorist attack. Because we were/are us, we decided that it would be more fun to go check out a new martini/cigar bar than keep hanging at the park.

When we got back to his apartment that night, after midnight and after having had a great time out and about, there was a message on his answering machine from his younger sister, asking were we OK. We had no clue what had happened. He called her and she explained.

Whoa.

You just never know.

DESCRIPTION
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 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.

This is my first foray into the Porter Beck series, and I enjoyed it very much. As an investigator, Porter has mad skills, a great team, and the all-to-familiar in detective stories ability to beat the odds in intense situations. He's likable and entertaining to read and is made more human by the personal challenges that he's currently facing. Overall, I found him to be a well-rounded, worth-reading protagonist.

Another thing that makes this book stand out is the setting. It's interesting to look back now, 5 years later as I write this, to the year 2020 when the whole world was dealing with the Covid 19 pandemic, and it's especially interesting within the pages of this book where the author manages to capture multiple viewpoints and attitudes about it just as it felt like living through. From those who hated being told to where a mask and flatly refused to those who followed the mask mandate to the letter, and from those who took the spread of the disease extremely seriously to those who called it "just a cold;" this book has reminders of it all and felt really reminiscent of that time.

Finally, the mystery. These deaths were pretty gruesome so that's something to note if you aren't typically someone who appreciates that, but the mystery is solid. Plus, it has the advantage of centering around an issue that really is debated and challenges that really do exist when determining how to handle the wild horse population. Presenting both sides, this book will give readers a starting point for forming their own opinions on this controversial question, and I always find myself intrigued by a book that manages to teach me something while keeping me thoroughly engaged in its plot.

Overall, I'd recommend this to fans of mystery/thrillers, those who enjoy a western setting, or those interested in land management specifically where it concerns wild horses. I look forward to reading more in this series.

4.5 Stars Rounded down for the fact that there were so many secondary and tertiary characters that I couldn't keep them all straight. It may be better, if you are a first-time reader, to read at least the first book, which is free to borrow if you have Kindle Unlimited.

I did enjoy this novel, and the plot really kept me guessing. Several murders, one of which was very gruesome, Covid-19, the Mafia, Lithium mining, wild horses, a runaway street punk (sort of), and a computer hacker are all combined to make this a convoluted but a wicked good read.

I highly recommend this book to those who love a good twisty-turny mystery with plenty of gunplay.

*ARC supplied by the publisher, Macmillan/Minotaur Books, the author, and NetGalley.

Creative, Engaging, and Action Packed

As is his style in the Porter Beck series, Bruce Borgos starts his third novel off with a bang. This time, a helicopter guiding a herd of horses is shot down over a canyon with a sniper rifle. Porter and his chief deputy, Tuffy, are on horseback overseeing the roundup and arrive at the crash site within a couple of minutes. Somehow, in that short time and unforgiving terrain, the sniper has managed to vanish.

The obvious suspect is the head of a group protesting the removal of the horses. But Porter isn’t so sure. He suspects there is more at play than meets the eye and he and his girlfriend, Charlie Blue Horse, are determined to find out what that is.

Meanwhile Porter’s sister, Brinley, volunteers to go camping with a group of foster kids. When one of the kids, Rafa, departs in the middle of the night, Brinley offers to track him down. They end up finding more than they bargained for.

The Porter Beck novels have wonderfully creative plots, engaging characters, and are action-packed from start to finish. This book is set during the COVID epidemic and Borgos does a good job of making it a realistic part of the story.

I am very much looking forward to the next installment in this series.

This is the third book I’ve read in this series and I’m attached to the characters now.

These mysteries are fun and exciting to read. The pacing is good and the action is compelling. The sense of place is very well crafted and detailed. I like how Borgos has a good time with language and it makes the books very readable and entertaining.

I would recommend these to fans of CJ Box and Clive Cussler.

Small town Nevada sheriff Porter Beck is back. This time to investigate three murders seemingly connected to the roundup of wild horses in his county. But is there more to it than first appears? The deeper Porter digs, the more danger he uncovers for himself, and those he loves the most. With more to lose than ever, can Porter work with the FBI, suspected killers and the adorable Bo to solve these murders before anyone else gets hurt?

PROS and CONS:
I knew nothing of wild horse roundups before reading this one - controversial and sad. Porter Beck is a nuanced main character, a sheriff you would love to have in your community. I love the family and friends around him, and thought this was a good installment in the series. My only beef is making the Canadians the bad guys (hey!) My favourite so far has been #2 Shades of Mercy, but it is a really solid series overall.

READ IT?
If you have already started the series, you’ll definitely want to read this one. But don’t start here otherwise you’ll miss a lot of backstory in the character’s lives.

4 Stars

Oh my goodness! Every time I pick up a Porter Beck book, I know I am in for a roller coaster ride of emotions. From the second you open the book, you are drawn into the story and will be hanging on for dear life as you travel through the pages with twists and turns and emotional heart wrenching moments. The characters are well developed and if you have read the first two books in the Porter Beck series, you know Porter, his sister, Brinley, and the other officers with Nevada’s Lincoln County Sheriff’s office. There are a lot of characters, but they are easy to keep track of. There are some difficult moments with the details of the murder of humans and savage killing of horses. If this is the first book you would be reading in the series, I strongly encourage you to go back and read the first two. It will make a difference in your understanding of the characters and the relationships between them. And you cannot forget Bo (Bojangles), Beck’s dog. He is a treasure and I absolutely love him! If you enjoy an edge-of-your-seat thriller suspense book, then this is one you need to put at the top of your to-be-read list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Crime
Fiction
Horses
Mystery
Thriller

Another great mystery in series!

The pace was steady, a solid tension carrying me from start to finish. Each book in series features thought-provoking topics and this mystery explored wild horse round ups and lithium mining.

I enjoyed how Beck and his team looked out for each other and were careful to draw conclusions as they investigated the murders. It’s easy to invest in the characters and root for them to succeed.

The COVID backdrop and Charlie and Beck’s relationship added complexity to the tale without overtaking the main mystery plot or affecting the pace. All aspects of the story were balanced well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC