Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Blue Horse by Bruce Borgos Narrator: James Babson
Series: Porter Beck #3
Published by Minotaur Books, Recorded Books on July 8, 2025
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 368
Length: 10 hours, 7 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
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.
There is something so compelling about the Porter Beck series. The main point of view being a sheriff, with lots of military intelligence training, set in a small town with lots of natural beauty, are all positives. The Blue Horse is around a series of both horse and people deaths during some wild mustang roundups. The mafia is involved in the background.
Beck has been dating Charlie and has planned to move to Reno to work in the state intelligence agency.  She seems off as they begin investigations. She is fostering Mercy from the previous book.  Covid is just starting in this story set in 2020. Both Beck’s father, and Tuffy, the deputy planning to become sheriff get ill.
Beck’s sister, Brinley, is working at a wilderness camp for kids from bad situations, much as she had been. She takes to a big fighter with no trust called Rafa.  He runs away from the camp and Brinley goes after him; she likely has COVID. A chase across wilderness and mountains with limited food and water but plenty of poisonous snakes is a struggle. They end up near the source of Beck’s suspicions and rescue an older man nearly beaten to death. But shortly they are the hunted.
There are plenty of bad guys who are more than willing to kill.  They have worked to frame an ex-military guy, Race, who is friends with the group leader, Etta, protesting the wild mustang roundups. But he turns out to be helpful in tracking down the bad guys. The FBI is initially determined to arrest Etta and or Race. Beck is sure they are innocent. In the end, it takes all of them to catch the killers.
There is plenty of personal growth here for Beck, Charlie and Brinley, all while risking their lives and having it rough. It’s also interesting to see the effect of COVID in this remote area. The action doesn’t stop for a minute in The Blue Horse.  I’ll be very interested to see how they are doing next time.
Narration:
I enjoyed the narration, and have listened to all the books in the series. The narrator is Beck for me. He also keeps me in the story with voices which are distinct but fitting for the characters. I listened at my newer 1.75x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Bruce Borgos
Bruce Borgos lives and writes from the Nevada desert where he works hard every day to prove his high school guidance counselor had good instincts when he said “You’ll never be an astronaut.” He has a lifelong obsession with words and stories and a fascination with how telephones work. When not writing, you can usually find him at the local wine store.
| Rating Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Plot |
|
| Writing |
|
| Characters |
|
| Narration (Audio) |
|
| Overall: | |
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- 🎧 We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter @karinslaughter.com‬@slaughterKarin #KathleenEarly @HarperAudio #LoveAudiobooks - August 12, 2025
- Sunday Post – 10 August 2025 @caffeinatedreviewer.com @readingreality.bsky.social @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - August 10, 2025
- Series on Saturday: Rachel Caine Edition @rachelcaine.bsky.social #SeriesOnSaturday - August 9, 2025
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-Audio
- 25-COYER
I agree. This series has it all going for it. I hope to get more Porter Beck series.
Thanks Sophia. I think you got me interested. I love it.
Excellent review, Anne💜 I can’t wait to resume this series.
It’s a fast paced series which has lots of interesting threads.
Yes! Non-stop action! This was so good I didn’t realize that the locations he mentions and has set the story in are real. Great Basin National Park looks like a neat place to visit. I hope we get more stories.
yes I hope we get more too. I love this series! You are much closer for visiting this area than me.
Thiis sounds so well done. I have this series on my wishlist.
It’s excellent. I think you’d love it.
“It’s also interesting to see the effect of COVID in this remote are” this has me oddly curious!
The setting in 2020 is when COVID is rampant and there isn’t a vaccine or real treatment knowledge yet.
This looks good! I love a fast paced read. I can’t imagine having to chase a bad guy down with covid. I’ve only had it once and dog walking was a challenge much less fighting crime.
I haven’t had and don’t want COVID. The whole series has lots of action and mystery. It’s not a cozy; it’s more gritty. I would start at the beginning of the series which really sets up the characters and in particular the sheriff and his family.
Sounds like another great one in this series for you. Great review!
Thanks Lisa. I love this series.