I'm not usually interested in light mystery, but this was well done. The characters are interesting and I really like the setting (New Mexico). ( )

An entertaining look at the market for Native American pottery: producers ancient and modern, clients and sellers,. The protagonist is drawn into a mystery when a man approached him with a proposal that he steal a rare pot from a museum. The next day is accused of having stolen a different pot of the same type from a different location. Complication follows complication, including a rather pasted in appearance by a homeless woman seeking shelter. The style seems somewhat derivative of L. Blocks Burglar series, the same sort of transparent self-justifying hero, a female sidekick with whom the hero is not romantically involved, a cop with flexible ethics so long as he gets to take credit for any solution. Instead of the atmosphere of New York we get the very different ethnic mix and layout of Old Town Albuquerque. I bought this in a bookstore there, so probably won't track down any more in the series. ( )

Our hero, Hubert Schuze, sells old pots in Old Town, Albuquerque. Some of them he may have dug up himself, which makes him a pot thief, not an archaeologist, according the Native Antiquities Act. But he doesn't see himself as a thief. But in the course of this book, several pots get stolen, and he ends up with two that he doesn't own. Perhaps that does make him a thief. He's a smidge past middle age, fond of his evening cocktails, and both reads and cooks. That, and the authentic Albuquerque setting makes this a fun read.

The book starts with someone approaching him to steal a Mogollon water jug from a local museum. Hubie doesn't precisely agree to do it, but he does case the place to see if he could. That's when the first murder happens, and he is the prime suspect. A delightful story with twists and turns, until he solves the murders, and the thefts are made right at the end. ( )

This was a very entertaining book. I am looking forward to the next in the series. ( )

I just finished this book. I couldn't resist it. It is set in Old Town Albuquerque and involves ancient indian pottery, the University of New Mexico, and murder. I used to live in Albuquerque, got my first degree at UNM, and love Old Town. It is the mixture of the cheesy and the nice. Very very old adobe buildings, nice restaurants, lots of alleys and old streets. New Mexico has a charm to it that never leaves you.

The book is about an Old Town pottery shop owner, Hubert Schuze, who has been known to go dig up pots illegally. He doesn't much apologize for it. He is a laid back guy who has a wide variety of friends and enjoys life. He is accused of murder so he has to take matters into his own hands.

Orenduff is a natural storyteller. This is one of those books where the writing is so smooth and the story so compelling that you stay up till midnight and then get surprised when you look at the clock.

Hey, and it is on Amazone Kindle for less than $6.

I give this book 3.5 stars out of five. This is the first of a series and I'm going to read the rest. ( )