The characters, the interwoven stories, and the location are truly amazing. I appreciate the clearly researched descriptions of the Native American Pueblo tribe, culture, practices, and daily challenges. My heart rate was elevated quite often. It's not a happily ever after, everything is fine kind of book. But there certainly is hope.

3.5/5.0 Stars

HAVOC –Book Two – by Deborah J. Ledford

HAVOC is the sequel to Book One, REDEMPTION, though I have yet to dive into the latter, I recommend reading it first as a means to connect with the characters.

The narrative in HAVOC, Book Two of the Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran series, follows the aftermath of what occurs in Book One, REDEMPTION. Ledford provides a bit of backstory for the reader in the sequel, coupled with heartbreaking moments of current events.

Overall, I enjoyed the storyline, though to me, the characters felt like they needed to be fleshed out more, specifically the main character, Eva.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of HAVOC at the request of an honest review.

Side Note: Love The Cover!

I did enjoy this book after feeling a bit lost at the beginning, my fault entirely as I had not read any of the previous books in the series. Once I worked out who the main characters were, I was thrilled with the storyline which flowed effortlessly. I would suggest that readers start with earlier books in the series because I feel that I missed out on a lot of the stories character history and how they got to the place they were at in this book. I look forward to reading more by this author. If it was possible I would mark it 4.5

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange of my honest review.

My rating: 3 stars

Thoughts: the author is clearly talented and she knows how to build up an environment of constant rush and a perpetual sensation of not knowing the full truth at any moment.
The fact that all the events of this book take place in less than 5 days is proof of how the domino pieces can topple down in the blink of an eye and cause everything to implode.

This said, I am a bit underwhelmed with the development of the story and how each issue got solved. I don't think we ever got to feel the stakes to be high, or the tension to be unbearable.
We are told from the very first moment who the bad guys are and what's really happening, so it's just a question of waiting for all the pieces to align and for the FML to connect the dots.

Also, and while important for cultural representation purposes, I do think there were many scenes about the funeral that were dragged for too long and in the end contributed practically nothing to the main story.
But then, the two action scenes where things could've been explained and detailed a bit deeper, we see them solved in less than one and a half pages? As though the author was suddenly in a rush to finish and get over with them, or worse, didn't know how to make them believable and maintain a good pace.

I'm sad to say that for a mystery thriller, nothing was really that mysterious and the police presence and action was almost anecdotal.

what an interesting story! Police procedurals run the risk of feeling cliche, but this one did not! Set in a Native American community, Eva must solve the crime and locate the suspect before more people lose their lives. Fast paced and fresh, this is a story i wasn't expecting but needed. It was well thought out and well written. The suspense was well measured and consistent throughout the book, so the pages turned fairly quickly. I am excited to read more by Deborah Ledford!

Native American crime has become a new favorite genre of mine. It’s such a niche one but it’s so interesting to learn about how the tribes incorporate their unique situations into a case.

This is the second book in the series and I didn’t have any trouble following the case, I think there is a rich background to some of the characters that I was missing. I am intrigued and need to track down the first book.

The printing of guns is an interesting topic and it was woven into the plot well. The close knit of the community and how it all played out tugged at my heart.

I really hope this series continues. I enjoyed my time with Eva and the rest of the characters.

I very much enjoyed Redemption so it was a no-brainer I needed to get my hands on Havoc! Eva is such a strong literary character and I find it fascinating to read about the Taos Pueblo people. I still adore Kai, who is gentle and wise beyond his years.

It seemed as though there were more points of view in Havoc than there had been in Redemption. I appreciated that the chapter titles gave the name of the person speaking but I had a bit of trouble keeping track of the people who weren't main characters. (On the other hand, I've possibly reached the age of needing to make notes as I read!) I'm eager to see what happens next in this series!

Many thanks to both #ThomasAndMercer and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Havoc! This book is #2 in the Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran series and the expected publication date is July 30th, 2024.

#TaosPuebloPeople #DeborahJLedford

4. 5 ⭐️

This is the 2nd book in the author's Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran series but can be read as a standalone.  I will definitely be going back to read REDEMPTION, which is the 1st book. 

A bank robbery calls Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran back to duty with the Taos Pueblo Tribal Police.  The robbery has left a fellow law enforcement officer fighting for her life.  Everyone is on high alert, keeping their eyes open to find the suspect.  Meanwhile, tragedy strikes the tribe when one of their own is shot and killed because of an untraceable 3D-printed gun.  Where did the gun come from?  Who's making them, and who are they selling them to?  Is it related to the bank robbery?

This crime thriller/police procedural was told in multiple POVs.  It was very entertaining and definitely kept my attention.  It was well-written with an interesting plot and great characters.  I really enjoyed the inclusion of the Taos Pueblo culture.  The author did an amazing job with the setting, and you actually feel like you're in NM.  This book is full of emotion, mystery, and action.  I would most definitely recommend it.

series follows Eva “Lightning Dance” Dunant as she works with fellow officers to solve crime on and off the reservation land . Both books have POVs from multiple characters with the key characters and those close to Eva being featured in both - which I love - sometimes side characters are the best ! I also like that in both stories we also have the perspectives of the guilty - who are revealed early on so these are more of a police procedural to catch the bad guys vs a mystery

I love the setting - The Tao Pueblo Reservation , which provides us with new insights and learnings


Overall this story is a bit slow paced for me liking as it spends a lot of time on character development for a variety of characters and llhence the plot moves slower than I generally like

3.5 ⭐️

Havoc by Deborah J Ledford is a pretty good mystery.
Well written plot and story line had me engaged from the start.
The characters I found them to be believable and well developed.
I enjoyed the suspense and action it was very well played and executed

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Havoc has Eva “Lightning Dance” Duran on the job with the Taos Pueblo tribal police. There is alot of action, a bank robbery, the use of 3D printed guns, tension between the Hispanic and Taos Pubelo community, and the shooting and killing of an officer on the tribal police force. The story is told with multiple POVs.

Eva is determined to get to the bottom of it all. Is the bank robbery tied into the appearance of the 3D printed guns? Who is the person in charge? The story is fast paced and the author brings the different storylines to a satisfying conclusion.

This is a great followup to Redemption, the first book. It can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading Redemption because it is an excellent book. I enjoyed the author's incorporation of the Taos Pueblo culture into the story. I look forward to seeing more of Eva.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for an ARC. The review is my own.

I tried several times to read this book about New Mexico and I just could not find it very believable. I lived in Santa Fe recently and the portrayal of police and crime is not realistic at all. Flashing a piece in New Mexico happens if you look at someone when you are driving, and the police do nothing about any of the crime that occurs there.

4.25 stars
Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran is a Taos Pueblo tribal police officer and is called in to assist with a bank robbery in which a police officer from the town of Taos is shot and the robber gets away. This ends up being just one part of a complex case with multiple law enforcement officials working on it, including Eva's boyfriend Cruz Romero. The plot of the book is complicated and is told from multiple points-of-view. Eva is a strong female main character who is adjusting to her new role as a tribal police officer after previously being a deputy sheriff. She has her own way of doing things, but gets results!

This is the second book in the series, but important information from the first book is included. In addition to the interesting plot, the book has characters you care about. I will admit that sometimes the details about the 3D guns which play a large role in the book were confusing to me, but I still enjoyed the story. Everything that is included about Pueblo customs and traditions makes this book truly unique. Many parts of the story are sad, but the book ends on a hopeful note. I hope there are additional books in this special series.

Thank you to the author and to Amazon Publishing for the advance copy of this book. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

This story masterfully intertwines complexity and emotional depth, crafting a narrative that is as intricate as it is poignant. The plot unfolds with a nuanced approach, weaving together multiple layers of meaning that challenge the reader to engage deeply with the material. The characters are vividly portrayed, their journeys reflecting both the vibrant highs and the somber lows of their experiences. While the story is undeniably melancholic, it is this very sadness that infuses it with a profound sense of reality and relatability. Each moment feels alive, resonating with authenticity and depth. This tale stands out as a powerful testament to the beauty of well-crafted storytelling that, despite its sadness, leaves a lasting impression through its depth and vitality.

Book 2 is a multicast/POV thriller novel, that follows Eva “Lightning Dance” Duran. Part police procedural, Eva is now a member of the Taos Pueblo tribal police. Her newest cases a bank robbery and crimes with 3D printed guns. Can Eva connect the cases?

I really enjoyed getting to know the characters more in the second book. Book 1, Redemption, was really good and introduced the cast but it was nice getting to know them more and see how Eva was growing in her new position as a tribal police officer.

Havoc could be read as a stand alone but I would recommend reading Redemption first. Both gave you a small look into life on the reservation and the books should fair well with fans of Tony Hillerman!

Thank you to the author, Deborah J Ledford, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#Havoc #NetGalley

As part of @thrillerbookloversthepulse I was fortunate to get the chance to read Havoc by @djledford and I’m glad I did.

Havoc is an interesting Native American mystery read set in Taos Pueblo, New Mexico. Eva, a young, strong female officer in the tribal police department, is investigating a bank robbery and the death of a young Taos Pueblo tribe member. In both cases, a 3D printed gun was used.

As Eva investigates these crimes and how they are related, we meet the members of the tribe community who have been impacted by this violence and by past trauma. It was very interesting to read and learn about the tribe, its culture, rituals and traditions of which I knew nothing before. I found the characters and the setting to be just as interesting as the mystery elements.

The story is told from multiple perspectives, including the sociopathic bank robber, but it is easy to keep track of them. The pacing is steady with an ending that brings the various plot elements together. I also think that the issues raised by the author around technology, racism, sexism, culture and traditions were well woven into the story.

I enjoyed this read which I thought did a very good job of blending a compelling story about culture, family and a mystery. This novel is actually the follow-up to Redemption, the first story about Eva. I hadn’t read that novel but was able to read this as a standalone. I think though that reading Redemption first would help to better understand the references to past events and to learn more about Eva’s backstory.

Those looking for an interesting diverse mystery read should definitely check this one out.

Thanks to @amazonpublishing and Thomas and Mercer for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

This one was a bit overwhelming in the beginning with all the POVs. There's over 4 POVs. Once I became familiar with the narrators the story wasn't hard to follow. Everything was tied up nicely.

This story starts out with a bang!
Two very shocking ones at that! It grabs your attention, and then turns into a slow burn that sets the stage for all the background info you need to know, about why this all came to be.

This book has so many amazing suspense/thriller qualities :

Police procedural
Bipoc author & story
Multiple storylines
Multiple characters

All the storyline intertwine, as well as the characters. It's such an amazingly woven web of suspense.
This is definitely worth the read.

This is the second book in a series, but I read it as a stand alone, and did not feel lost at all.

The second Eva "Lightning Dance" Durand thriller deals with a bank robbery, 3D printed guns, and the death of a child who had one of those fake guns.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints and includes chapters from various characters in the book. The bank robber's point of view illustrates his complete lack of humanity. Other viewpoints include both Eva and her boyfriend/fellow police officer Cruz and young Kai Arrio who is a biology student training a Belgian Malinois. We hear from Tomas Salas who was Kai's favorite teacher in high school and who has big dreams for the Pueblo reservation but a horrible way of realizing them. We hear many other viewpoints too.

The viewpoints are all woven together into a fast-paced suspenseful story. It is also a story about grief and loss and life on the Pueblo reservation near Taos. I enjoyed it very much.

The Universe moves mountains or it can destroy them into rubble. It's all in the intent.

People move in such a complicated way along the lines of good and bad. The gray areas run neither hot nor cold. And what sets thoughts into actions is always back to that element of intent.

Eva Durand is back again as a Taos Police tribal officer. She serves the Taos Pueblo community in Taos, New Mexico. Eva covers a wide range in her jurisdiction under quite the challenging circumstances. Her community knows one another with families established for eons. But what really is a thorn in the side is the constant upheaval in determining who is reliable and truthful during these unsettling times. People present themselves with open faces while hiding their questionable intent.

Eva reacts quickly to the call that comes in with a bank robbery in progress. The robber was masked and wearing a long wig. Two officers were down with one severely injured. Tracking this sly lawbreaker is going to be a challenge. He's slipped out of the bank and into the oncoming traffic like a phantom. Seems like this phantom had a well planned plan.

We'll also come upon a young Pueblo boy who got his hands on a 3-D Glock. It's not going to end well. It appears that someone is flooding the market with these 3-D replicas. Eva is going to go up against an unsuspecting purveyor of these weapons. And the damage inflicted upon this Pueblo community will be huge in loss of life.

Deborah J. Ledford presents a remarkable journey into the lives of the Taos Pueblo community. She respectfully relates the challenges of today's world seeping into the reservation life. Keeping her people in check and being pro-active to their needs is an uphill battle for Eva. Havoc reads as a perfect standalone, but you may wish to pick up Redemption #1 to give yourself a feel for the character of Eva Durand. Ledford creates a wide circle with well developed characters and a timely storyline that all should take note of. Bravo, Deborah J. Ledford, just bravo.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Deborah J. Ledford for the opportunity.