The Pot Thief Who Studied Calvin

by J. Michael Orenduff

An Albuquerque ceramics dealer soon turns amateur sleuth after he gets a 3D-printed pot to die for.
Hubie Schuze usually digs through the dirt—often illegally—to find the ancient ceramics he sells in his shop, Spirits in Clay. But thanks to his nephew, Tristan, a computer science student at the University of New Mexico, Hubie receives a unique 3D-printed pot. And after a photo of it runs in the local paper, it becomes a popular item.
Unfortunately, the pot is sought-after by all the wrong people, and strange characters start darkening the doorway of Hubie's shop. They're willing to do anything to get their hands on the pot, and after Det. Whit Fletcher summons Hubie to the morgue, he discovers that includes murder. Now, to get to the bottom of things, Hubie must uncover what's so hot about this pot, before the cold-as-ice-killer strikes again. 
"Diverting. . . . Orenduff offers good fun along with all the erudite lore." —Publishers Weekly
"The book is such a fun read." —Albuquerque Journal

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 14, 2025

About the author

Mike Orenduff grew up in a house so close to the Rio Grand that he could frisbee a tortilla into Mexico. Despite such antics, he ended up in higher education, teaching at thirteen colleges in eight states and three countries. He was also an academic dean three times, an academic vice-president twice, a president four times, and a statewide chancellor once. His supporters say he welcomes new challenges. His critics say he cant hold a job. Newt Gingrich, in his book, To Renew America, called Orenduff A hero to the American People for his pioneering work in distance education.
After taking early retirement form higher education, Mike embarked on a new career as a fiction writer. His play, The Christmas Visitor, has won numerous awards. His murder mystery series has also received many accolades. The first in the series, The Pot Thief Who Studied Pythagoras, won the Dark Oak Mystery Contest and the Kindle version won the 2010 EPIC Award as the eBook of the Year in the Mystery/Suspense Category. The second book in the series, The Pot Thief Who Studied Ptolemy, was recently selected as the Fiction Book of the Year by the Public Safety Writers Association. Although the Pot Thief books are humorous murder mysteries, they also contain serious treatments of the issue of race and ethnicity.
Mike and Lai, his high school sweetheart, wife of forty-five years and noted art historian, have two grown children. Jay is a dean at Columbia University in New York, and Claire teaches art history at Georgia College and more importantly is the mother of their grandson, Bram.

Reviews

[Betsy Cornwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hubie Schuze is one of my favorite characters. His friendly voice and dry wit make me feel welcome every time I pick up a book in this series. This time he's reading Calvin, but not the Calvin you're expecting. This book is all about New Mexico, hispano culture, predestination, crypto-Jews, and true love, among other things. If you like books that keep you guessing, expand your education, and make you laugh, then pour yourself a margarita and open a Pot Thief book.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a special ARC edition in my Left Coast Crime goodie bag.

Hubie Schuze is an antique pot-seller (the clay kind ...) in Albuquerque. His nephew brings him a tiny pot, explaining that it was 3D printed from an original, on the grounds that he might find it interesting. Tristan was commissioned to make eight copies, but made a 9th for his uncle.

When a local reporter mentions the pot in an article, suddenly all kinds of people are interested in it ... and Hubie's in the middle of a controversy that devolves into a murder mystery.

Mind you, this is a well-executed fair play puzzle. All of the clues were there. One was ridiculously obvious, but I failed to make the connection with one of them until the very end.

The characters and situations were entertaining, and I loved walking the streets of Albuquerque through the pages of this tale. Highly recommended.

[Carolee · Rating 5 out of 5]

just my cups

Wish I could join them for margaritas at 5 o’clock every night. I love their conversation I love their thinking I love their Convoluted historical explanations, and I’m kind of jealous I’d like to be their friend.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've bought and enjoyed reading every Pot Thief book until now. The Pot Thief Who Studied Calvin was an exteme disappointment to me. Instead of being a murder mystery, this latest book was 90% focused on theology and philosophy. BORING!

[Amber Foxx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like all Pot Thief mysteries, this one is unconventional, entertaining, and educational, with historical and philosophical explorations as well as a mysterious little pot and a sudden death, perhaps a murder. These ingredients are blended and seasoned with insight and humor. If you’re a series fan, you’ll enjoy a reunion with the usual characters as well as another trip to the village of La Reina. It was good to spend more time in Old Town Albuquerque and in Hubie’s shop. As usual, his personal life gets a good share of the story’s pages, as you’d want when catching up with an old friend. After all, he’s a person, not just the person solving a mystery. (Actually, he’s part of a team solving the mystery.)
The solution left me puzzled and questioning. Was this supposed to be like King Solomon and the case of the two women claiming the same baby? Was the reader meant to still be sorting it out, or was the reader supposed to get some hints? I am so bad at getting hints. Nonetheless, I loved the ending. It left me with a smile.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pot Thief who studied Calvin is written by J. Michael Orenduff. This title is Book #10 of The Pot Thief Mysteries.

“An Albuquerque ceramics dealer soon turns amateur sleuth after he gets a 3-D printed pot to die for.”

J. Michael Orenduff is a retired professor and retired president of New Mexico State University.
His ‘Pot Thief’ books are delightful reads. There are very interesting characters, equally interesting conversations, a beautiful landscape and sense of place, educational in everything from history to logic, to philosophy, to humor, mysteries, delicious margaritas, Native American culture, history, folklore and pottery.

I have read every one of the ‘Pot Thief’ books and highly recommend each and every one.
*****

[Richard Gartee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book ten in J Michael Orenduff's Pot Thief series. I had read and liked book two, then jumped directly to book ten simply because I had it on hand. The protagonist is a potter who has now been made head of the University art department. His close friend and drinking buddy Susannah is the one who is actually obsessed with solving murder mysteries. The story revolves around a small pot that may be thousands of years old, which has been replicated with a 3d printer. I won't say more so as not to give away the plot.

[Jodell Larimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a strong fan of Hubie and his crew - I always look forward to the next adventure. This one wasn't so much an adventure as it was a wonderful visit with him. I closed the book and realized I had been given an informal history and cultural lesson/lecture/education on New Mexico and how the varied cultures make up this unique state.
Hubie has grown and matured from Book 1 through Book 10 - from the first book I purchased in Taos in early 2011 ( ...Einstein) until now (...Calvin). What a journey.
And, yes, I realized very very early on - which Calvin was being quoted.

[Barbara Behrens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another day in the life of Hubie

This book was just as engaging as previous books in the series, but perhaps a bit heavy on religious background. The characters were all present and continued to be interesting to follow which made reading enjoyable. I just felt that the crypto culture described was pushing the limits a bit.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was repetitive with information in the previous books and was kind of all over the place and not clear in parts, but it was readable and I'll probably read it again some day. I did buy the actual physical book after all.
I own all his Pot Thief books, and I even have some with his autograph.
I enjoy the characters and the ending was fun.

[Kevin Vrieze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite different from the earlier installments. Much more personal. Serious character growth. It will be interesting to see if there's a continuation and how that would go. I even liked the rockeship pants.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the series--but ended well with a marriage. It was a complicated plot with 3 D printers and pots and a mysterious death which may have been an accident. Throw in crypto-Jewish people and Seventh Day Adventists and the usual Catholics of the area.

[Vivian Oleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Unexpected Story

This is a charming and very informative tale which reveals a little-known piece of USA history. There are also plenty of twists and turns to keep the very inventive plot moving right along. This is one of the best books in the series!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy hanging out with Hubie.

[Terri Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting!

This book was a departure from my usual fare that I'm glad to have made. I'll be reading more books by this author.

[KathrynK · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Pot Thief book that I have read. It is set in my home town, so had a special appeal. I found the descriptions of Albuquerque largely accurate, albeit a bit rosier than current reality. The pot thief himself is funny, intelligent and interesting. I have heard about the crypto-Jews in New Mexico, and recent genetic testing has revealed to Jewish roots to many in the state. This aspect of the story was fascinating to me, more so than the mysterious deaths that dominate the story telling. I also enjoyed hearing about how Hubie convinces his future father-in-law to bless his marriage.