A Discount for Death

Former Posadas County, New Mexico, sheriff Bill Gastner and his legacy of commonsense detecting come in handy just when new undersheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman can benefit most. One of the best tried and true Gastner-isms -- pick through the pieces of a puzzle till you find the one that fits -- is uniquely helpful as she works to sort through several strange mysteries.

A kindly local insurance agent is indicted for fraud and is later found dead with a bullet to the head. It looks conveniently like a suicide -- too conveniently. Then, one of Estelle's patrol officers causes the death of a young woman on a motorcycle, a tragedy that complicates matters for the undersheriff. Following a hunch that leads her into the world of prescription drug scams and easy money, Estelle discovers that her own harshly beautiful corner of the Southwest can get downright ugly when the vultures of humanity swoop down for a meal of unsuspecting prey.