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Posadas County Mystery #15
Final Payment: A Posadas County Mystery
The rugged Cat Mesa country north of the village of Posadas is hosting the first annual Posadas 100, a cycle-cross bicycle race that promises to attract more than 140 competitors. Despite enough injuries during the pre-race practice to promise a spectacular and dangerous race, Undersheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman has even more pressing concerns on her mind. Someone has been using Jerry Turner's big Cessna 206 and then returning it to its hangar at the Posadas airport. Did the airplane end up in Mexico? Estelle has worries at home as well. Facing his first public piano recital, her prodigiously talented seven-year-old son is stubbornly refusing to tell anyone what he plans to play, and it's making everyone, including his music teacher, very nervous. The day of the big race brings a tragedy that doesn't look like an accident, and as the investigation continues, puzzling connections surface deep in Mexico.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
160 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Steven F. Havill
38 books258 followersSteven F. Havill is an American author of mysteries and westerns.
Havill lives in Raton, New Mexico, with his wife Kathleen. He has written two series of police procedurals set in the fictional Posadas County, New Mexico; along with other works.
Havill lives in Raton, New Mexico, with his wife Kathleen. He has written two series of police procedurals set in the fictional Posadas County, New Mexico; along with other works.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
June 5, 2020
3 Stars for Final Payment (audiobook) by Steven F Havill read by Beth Richmond. My wife recommended this book and I think I gave it at least an extra half star because of that. I wanted to like the story. I’ve liked other books by the author. But the author kept referring to the bicycle race as cyclocross. This wasn’t a cyclocross race. Cyclocross is a short race on modified road bikes in city parks with man made obstacles. This was a long distance mountain bike race. A 100 mile mountain bike race is unusual but there are a few of them. Then there was the plot. Some of the detective work was just too easy or implausible. The book is not bad. I just wish it was a little better researched and a little more thought went into the plot.
February 8, 2020
Very good book. I love all the books by this author. I'm reading them again in 2020 and I still love them all!
November 27, 2018
Great mastery of the genre. An enjoyable clarity on characters.
April 8, 2022
I have enjoyed reading all of Havill's books in the Posadas county series. I admire the authors's imagination in inventing a whole county and making it real. I greatly enjoyed the main characters and was excited to return to them in each book like old friends.
October 25, 2010
This very well written and entertaining historical mystery opens with a couple of dramatic and memorable scenes that hooked me immediately. Set in ancient Rome and featuring Pliny the Younger as sleuth, this novel has characters I cared about, an interesting plot, and some fascinating information about the time period. Not only did I learn something, which I like doing in mysteries, but I've also been inspired to read further about Pliny and his world. I'm looking forward to the next in what I hope will be a long running series.
May 23, 2022
In the earlier books, Undersheriff Estelle Reyes Guzman solved cases with her intelligence and persistence. This investigation relies more on coincidences and hunches and a serious mistake on Estelle’s part. Meanwhile, her prodigiously talented son Francisco continues to develop his music, playing a Mozart sonata in recital. Quite readable, though I prefer the smarter Estelle.
January 15, 2011
Very enjoyable read. To read my full review, go to http://theenchantedbook.blogspot.com/...
Selena Collins
The Enchanted Book
Selena Collins
The Enchanted Book
July 17, 2013
Not my favorite Steven F. Havill. A lot of back story; not a lot of mystery. Even the mystery was a little lacking in this installment.
January 18, 2019
Two days of sleepless but somehow slow-feeling action and ridiculous intuitive leaps
June 19, 2019
Good book, great series! Still like Gastner better, but warming to Estelle.
February 11, 2020
A little far fetched that a drawing of a plane would set things into motion but it is fiction...
January 25, 2026
Interesting Mystery, Up To A Point...
The author has written a mostly unlike-able character/heroine. Every time 'sir' is used instead of a persons name, it feels sort of judgemental and even rude. Almost to put them in their place. One grows so tired of no one else being able think things through, that only she has the answers, and the others just stand around waiting for her to advise them.
Examples of issues/questionable story are below:
"A night landing made sense to her. The risks of trying to cross the border and then land in this isolated place would escalate in daylight—State 56 was a busy highway, and a plane parked on the airstrip would be in plain view." (Plane in view on an airstrip, probably happens frequently. People on highway are thinking their own thought, not necessarily looking around for distant planes...Why would anyone diving by even notice?)
"Besides, what’s the difference? Maybe this is the plane…maybe it is. So what? What’s flyin’ it out there in the dark going to tell you?” “I don’t know what it’s going to tell me,” Estelle said. “It’s just helpful. What I know is that it’s a link we need to explore—the sooner the better.” “Helpful,” Bergin repeated. “Seems like it could at least wait till light.” (So bad! There's absolutely no point, This makes this character look stupid)
“He had to know this area intimately, Bobby,” she said. “And he’s top-notch. That much is obvious. It was no accident that he chose the airstrip.” “We knew that.” Torrez regarded the Cessna skeptically. Bergin had switched off the engine and then remained with the plane, waiting patiently. “And so? What did you find out?” (as expected, Absolutely nothing, complete waste of time/space.)
"Estelle had not had the opportunity to talk with him, but she was reasonably sure that at some point, Rutledge would have sucked in his considerable belly and announced, “Well, that’s three more we don’t have to worry about.”" (wow, lets think the worst without any foundation, or how to build hate without basis)
"Tom Mears a chance to process the two gas cans in the shed for prints. He was going to go over the plane once more, and see if there wasn’t something there—a print on the throttle, or on the flap handle…something.”" (After the 'Sheriff has taken a useless flight in that plane? Does the writer think the readers aren't paying attention??)
"By the time Estelle reached the Public Safety Building, the dawn of Sunday was only an hour off. She could see streaks near the eastern horizon, wide bands of thin clouds." (end of c.16)
"An hour’s wolf nap wasn’t enough, especially with the rest of the household enjoying the quiet of early Sunday morning slumbering. It would have been too easy to roll over, snuggle up against her husband, and doze off again. She sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, trying to focus. She had folded into bed at three fifteen. In a blink, the clock had leaped to 4:30 a.m." (beg. of c.17, what time is dawn there???)
"“We need to check Reynaldo Estrada’s place,” she said. “I should have thought about that sooner. It’s perfect. An empty house, and handy transportation whenever Tapia needs it.”" (Its a good thing that they have her to do all the thinking for them, no one else appears to be able to think at all.. Readers wondered why it hadn't been checked long ago...)
"The face that stared back at Gordon was one of an exhausted, resigned teenager—hardly reflecting the steely nerved derring-do required of a pilot flying an overloaded plane at night through rugged country." (In several places it says overloaded, however, there are 4 more seats in the hangar and there were 5 not 6 people, so seat weight and person weight less. Not overcrowded.)
"“Frank’s on it?” The publisher of the Posadas Register would be sitting and sleeping with fingers and toes crossed, hoping that the story didn’t break until his paper came out on Wednesday afternoon." (Other books state Thursday, because of grocery ads, don't they?)
The author has written a mostly unlike-able character/heroine. Every time 'sir' is used instead of a persons name, it feels sort of judgemental and even rude. Almost to put them in their place. One grows so tired of no one else being able think things through, that only she has the answers, and the others just stand around waiting for her to advise them.
Examples of issues/questionable story are below:
"A night landing made sense to her. The risks of trying to cross the border and then land in this isolated place would escalate in daylight—State 56 was a busy highway, and a plane parked on the airstrip would be in plain view." (Plane in view on an airstrip, probably happens frequently. People on highway are thinking their own thought, not necessarily looking around for distant planes...Why would anyone diving by even notice?)
"Besides, what’s the difference? Maybe this is the plane…maybe it is. So what? What’s flyin’ it out there in the dark going to tell you?” “I don’t know what it’s going to tell me,” Estelle said. “It’s just helpful. What I know is that it’s a link we need to explore—the sooner the better.” “Helpful,” Bergin repeated. “Seems like it could at least wait till light.” (So bad! There's absolutely no point, This makes this character look stupid)
“He had to know this area intimately, Bobby,” she said. “And he’s top-notch. That much is obvious. It was no accident that he chose the airstrip.” “We knew that.” Torrez regarded the Cessna skeptically. Bergin had switched off the engine and then remained with the plane, waiting patiently. “And so? What did you find out?” (as expected, Absolutely nothing, complete waste of time/space.)
"Estelle had not had the opportunity to talk with him, but she was reasonably sure that at some point, Rutledge would have sucked in his considerable belly and announced, “Well, that’s three more we don’t have to worry about.”" (wow, lets think the worst without any foundation, or how to build hate without basis)
"Tom Mears a chance to process the two gas cans in the shed for prints. He was going to go over the plane once more, and see if there wasn’t something there—a print on the throttle, or on the flap handle…something.”" (After the 'Sheriff has taken a useless flight in that plane? Does the writer think the readers aren't paying attention??)
"By the time Estelle reached the Public Safety Building, the dawn of Sunday was only an hour off. She could see streaks near the eastern horizon, wide bands of thin clouds." (end of c.16)
"An hour’s wolf nap wasn’t enough, especially with the rest of the household enjoying the quiet of early Sunday morning slumbering. It would have been too easy to roll over, snuggle up against her husband, and doze off again. She sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, trying to focus. She had folded into bed at three fifteen. In a blink, the clock had leaped to 4:30 a.m." (beg. of c.17, what time is dawn there???)
"“We need to check Reynaldo Estrada’s place,” she said. “I should have thought about that sooner. It’s perfect. An empty house, and handy transportation whenever Tapia needs it.”" (Its a good thing that they have her to do all the thinking for them, no one else appears to be able to think at all.. Readers wondered why it hadn't been checked long ago...)
"The face that stared back at Gordon was one of an exhausted, resigned teenager—hardly reflecting the steely nerved derring-do required of a pilot flying an overloaded plane at night through rugged country." (In several places it says overloaded, however, there are 4 more seats in the hangar and there were 5 not 6 people, so seat weight and person weight less. Not overcrowded.)
"“Frank’s on it?” The publisher of the Posadas Register would be sitting and sleeping with fingers and toes crossed, hoping that the story didn’t break until his paper came out on Wednesday afternoon." (Other books state Thursday, because of grocery ads, don't they?)
August 3, 2021
I love the Posadas County series of mysteries. Alas, partway through the series Sheriff Bill Gastner retires, and the author, Steven F. Havill, switches from first-person narration from Gastner's point of view to third-person writing. It's understandable - all along Estelle Reyes-Guzman has been outside of Gastner's head, as is inevitable, and so when she becomes the main character it's natural to continue writing of her as "she" instead of switching to her viewpoint with "I." But it takes something away from the books - Bill Gastner's personal thoughts and observations.
This is one of the books from Estelle's point of view. We therefore don't get Gastner (though he does make a cameo appearance). We do, however, get good police procedure, and above all else we get Posadas County, a place more real than some real places seem when they become the setting for fiction. Just as Boston is a de facto character in the Spenser books, so Posadas County, in the southwest corner of New Mexico (it would be, that is, if there actually were such a county), is a de facto character in this series. This book takes us from the wooded top of Cat Mesa, to the arid prairie of the western portion of the county. And all along the way the landscape seems as real as the one you'd see if you looked out your front door. Havill has a genius for describing the entirely fictional county so well it seems like he's looking at it while he sits at his computer.
I can't tell you whether the puzzle is great or horrible - I don't read mysteries for the puzzle. I read for the characters, and for how they deal with the puzzle. I gave up working on the puzzle decades ago, when I found that I was right in my guesses more often than I was in my diligent efforts. I let smarter people deal with the question of whodunit. But in dealing with this puzzle we see good, solid, methodical police work, good characters, and one instance of genuine heroism.
Here's a possible spoiler. My only real complaint with this book is the climax at the gas company airstrip. I can't feature why as good a hunter as Robert Torrez let Estelle Reyes-Guzman get shot before he fired, taking out the hired murderer. He in fact had a clear shot seconds before he finally fired, before the bad guy shot Estelle. It makes for an exciting physical struggle beside the airplane - but it's a failure of good sense.
Other than that complaint, and my preference for Bill Gastner's first-person point of view, this is a great book. And if it weren't for that one complaint, I'd've given the book five stars, instead of the four that I did grant.
This is one of the books from Estelle's point of view. We therefore don't get Gastner (though he does make a cameo appearance). We do, however, get good police procedure, and above all else we get Posadas County, a place more real than some real places seem when they become the setting for fiction. Just as Boston is a de facto character in the Spenser books, so Posadas County, in the southwest corner of New Mexico (it would be, that is, if there actually were such a county), is a de facto character in this series. This book takes us from the wooded top of Cat Mesa, to the arid prairie of the western portion of the county. And all along the way the landscape seems as real as the one you'd see if you looked out your front door. Havill has a genius for describing the entirely fictional county so well it seems like he's looking at it while he sits at his computer.
I can't tell you whether the puzzle is great or horrible - I don't read mysteries for the puzzle. I read for the characters, and for how they deal with the puzzle. I gave up working on the puzzle decades ago, when I found that I was right in my guesses more often than I was in my diligent efforts. I let smarter people deal with the question of whodunit. But in dealing with this puzzle we see good, solid, methodical police work, good characters, and one instance of genuine heroism.
Here's a possible spoiler. My only real complaint with this book is the climax at the gas company airstrip. I can't feature why as good a hunter as Robert Torrez let Estelle Reyes-Guzman get shot before he fired, taking out the hired murderer. He in fact had a clear shot seconds before he finally fired, before the bad guy shot Estelle. It makes for an exciting physical struggle beside the airplane - but it's a failure of good sense.
Other than that complaint, and my preference for Bill Gastner's first-person point of view, this is a great book. And if it weren't for that one complaint, I'd've given the book five stars, instead of the four that I did grant.
March 16, 2025
This is an excellent book in the series. While much of it is a bit slow, there is a highly suspenseful truck ride and airplane ride in which Undersheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman is in serious danger of losing her life at the hands of a Mexican national.
The fictional community of Posadas is about to host its first 100-mile bicycle race that includes some challenging desert terrain. While they plan the police presence for the race, they find the bodies of three Latin-Americans. Someone murdered the three on a private airstrip near where the race will occur.
Estelle and her associates must figure out who the dead people are and what they’re doing on a private airstrip. At least one plane owner in town must deal with someone stealing his plane, flying it to Acapulco, and bringing it back. The plane thief is a teenage boy, but he’s not joy riding.
On the day of the race, the Mexican who nearly ends Estelle’s life kills one of the racers, and the cops must figure out whether there’s a connection to murky, shadowy business connections in Mexico and El Salvador.
Obviously, I’m in no position to predict whether you’ll enjoy the book, but I’m hopeful that, if you start it, you’ll find it worth your effort. I strongly encourage reading the earlier books, since they give you more information about Estelle’s family, and that information will enrich your experience with this book.
The fictional community of Posadas is about to host its first 100-mile bicycle race that includes some challenging desert terrain. While they plan the police presence for the race, they find the bodies of three Latin-Americans. Someone murdered the three on a private airstrip near where the race will occur.
Estelle and her associates must figure out who the dead people are and what they’re doing on a private airstrip. At least one plane owner in town must deal with someone stealing his plane, flying it to Acapulco, and bringing it back. The plane thief is a teenage boy, but he’s not joy riding.
On the day of the race, the Mexican who nearly ends Estelle’s life kills one of the racers, and the cops must figure out whether there’s a connection to murky, shadowy business connections in Mexico and El Salvador.
Obviously, I’m in no position to predict whether you’ll enjoy the book, but I’m hopeful that, if you start it, you’ll find it worth your effort. I strongly encourage reading the earlier books, since they give you more information about Estelle’s family, and that information will enrich your experience with this book.
October 4, 2024
Audiobok.
Thank goodness they changed the narrator. The last one was utterly awful. This one was a little better with the voices (I wish they'd simply read the book, not act it) and the Spanish words, but she'd better get Pasquale right for the next one.
A pet peeve. No one ever pokes fun at the specialized outfits of other sports - the baggy shorts and oversized shirts of basketball players, the short padded pants and long socks of hockey players, the tight pants of baseball players, or the very tight lycra pants of football players. They don't call the hockey sticks fancy, or the helmets plastic. Yet many, many times this author drew attention to the biking clothing and equipment like it was somehow freakish. He obviously has a bias.
Also, for an offroad non- mass start event, where people can get clogged up at the tough parts, they'd never put less skilled people ahead of the better riders. Why should a good competitive rider have to wait while some bad rider pushes his bike through a narrow or difficult area.
Thank goodness they changed the narrator. The last one was utterly awful. This one was a little better with the voices (I wish they'd simply read the book, not act it) and the Spanish words, but she'd better get Pasquale right for the next one.
A pet peeve. No one ever pokes fun at the specialized outfits of other sports - the baggy shorts and oversized shirts of basketball players, the short padded pants and long socks of hockey players, the tight pants of baseball players, or the very tight lycra pants of football players. They don't call the hockey sticks fancy, or the helmets plastic. Yet many, many times this author drew attention to the biking clothing and equipment like it was somehow freakish. He obviously has a bias.
Also, for an offroad non- mass start event, where people can get clogged up at the tough parts, they'd never put less skilled people ahead of the better riders. Why should a good competitive rider have to wait while some bad rider pushes his bike through a narrow or difficult area.
December 17, 2020
This infuriates me. Estelle, a trained undersheriff, acted stupidly in pursuit of the killer, resulting in her being used as a hostage. She again acted stupidly by trying to pull the killer's son out of the plane, resulting in her being shot. Why do authors do this? It really annoys me when they have their main characters, who have been smart and capable up to that point, make completely asinine mistakes. It's always male authors who do this with their female characters. I gave this 2 stars because the book was decent, up to that point. I doubt I'll read another by him, though I know this is in the middle of a series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2023
Posadas County, New Mexico is hosting a bicycle race and the former lieutenant governor Chet Hansen has entered the race. When three Hispanic victims are discovered at a remote airstrip by the sheriff the department tries to discover what happened to the victims. This leads the undersheriff to a teenager at the local high school. The sheriff is stretched thin because of the bike race. How Estelle and the sheriff's department solve the mystery and get the killer makes for a compelling read. Another great read in the series.
November 28, 2025
A rollercoaster airplane ridd
I truly love all aspects of this series. The depth of character, the family, friend and work connections, the plot twists and turns, and the terrain descriptors, so much detail that merges flawlessly into one book after another to keep the reader fully engaged and wanting more!
I truly love all aspects of this series. The depth of character, the family, friend and work connections, the plot twists and turns, and the terrain descriptors, so much detail that merges flawlessly into one book after another to keep the reader fully engaged and wanting more!
January 7, 2026
Three bodies are found at a private airport near the Mexican border the day before a 100 mile cross country bike race is set to start.
As a cyclist I was hoping for more cycling and less small plane chat. The tale is fine but it didn't grab me, it felt glossed over somehow. The map provided was nearly useless.
As a cyclist I was hoping for more cycling and less small plane chat. The tale is fine but it didn't grab me, it felt glossed over somehow. The map provided was nearly useless.
December 11, 2020
Engaging Book
"Final Payment" was a fun read. The story moved at a quick pace, and characters were developed well enough to be both interesting and believable. This was the first book by this author that I have read. I will look for more of his work.
"Final Payment" was a fun read. The story moved at a quick pace, and characters were developed well enough to be both interesting and believable. This was the first book by this author that I have read. I will look for more of his work.
July 8, 2023
Another great adventure!
This was one of the best books in the series! As I read the last action filled chapters I had vivid visuals in my mind! Can't wait to get the next one going to see which of the regular characters gets the line light!
This was one of the best books in the series! As I read the last action filled chapters I had vivid visuals in my mind! Can't wait to get the next one going to see which of the regular characters gets the line light!
July 10, 2023
A bike race and a triple murder in the county mean that Estelle is a busy under sheriff. Unusual things are happening at the airport also and a connection is made to the murders. So so plot and some obvious things to the reader are missed by the characters.
March 4, 2025
An Airplane
The 100 mile bike race brought hundreds to Pasadas.It also brought trouble. A Mexican boy and a murderous man looking for approval and revenge. The scene was a mess. Estelle risked her family to free the boy only for the Feds to take over. Another great episode!
The 100 mile bike race brought hundreds to Pasadas.It also brought trouble. A Mexican boy and a murderous man looking for approval and revenge. The scene was a mess. Estelle risked her family to free the boy only for the Feds to take over. Another great episode!
October 6, 2025
It has been a long time since I read a book in this series, and my library doesn't have many of them, it turns out, but I definitely enjoyed this. Undersheriff Guzman is a good character and this is a good installment.
July 30, 2017
So well written and constantly moving forward! I enjoyed the book immensely and look forward to the next.
March 14, 2018
Really enjoyed this book in the Posadas County Mysteries series.
June 26, 2019
June 2019 Edge of your seat drama!!!
December 9, 2020
4 stars for the story. 2 stars for the narration.
January 5, 2021
Just a continuous flow of action and activity. Wraps up with a solid ending.
June 3, 2021
This entire collection are good reads. Each story with it's own mystery, with a new set of players for the Posadas sheriff's department to solve.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews