See what people are saying about Carol Potenza

“Carol Potenza’s award winning debut novel is a fascinating page turner that will leave readers anxious for the next in the installment. Pueblo Police Sergeant, Nicky Mathews, blends science, mysticism and cunning police work as she investigates a tribal murder that leaves her life in jeopardy. Thoroughly researched and masterfully plotted, Hearts of the Missing uses the atmospheric beauty of New Mexico to fully make this mystery come alive.”

“The Hearts of the Missing is engrossing, bewitching, and compelling. Filled with the natural enchantment of its New Mexico setting, this story of an intrepid detective in Native American culture and her FBI partner kept me rapt and delighted.”

“Hearts of the Missing is a stunning debut. It’s compelling, intelligent, and brilliantly designed. Brava, Miss Potenza! I couldn’t put it down.”

“In the Hillerman tradition, Carol Potenza’s Hearts of the Missing winds and weaves together like a Tsiba’ashi D’yini basket holding one fine mystery.”

Tony Hillerman Prize Winner 2017 ‘Hearts of the Missing’ by Carol Potenza
“New Mexico is a spectacular setting for mysteries, and Carol Potenza puts its majestic landscape to unexpected and thrilling use.”

“Getting hooked on Carol Potenzas character Nicki Mathews. I just finished Third Warrior after reading Hearts of the Missing, also Nicki Mathews mystery set in New Mexico.
The character Nicky Mathews has evolved in the past two books. She’s somewhat of a mystery herself.

As a strong but vulnerable person she keeps up a a independent professional life when possible.
Yet she has a inner life that connects to the Native American Spirit world also.

Personally it’s that spiritual connection with Native American culture keeps me turning the pages .
I’m usually not a big mystery reader but I wonder what the next book will evolve into.”

“I’ve been a long-time fan of Tony Hillerman since my father introduced me to those mysteries way back in the early 1970s. Since then, I’ve read every Tony Hillerman book and, being raised in the Southwest, love how he (and later his daughter, Anne Hillerman) capture the aura of the land and its people so beautifully and with such empathy. Author Carol Potenza’s debut novel, Hearts of the Missing, won the Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery Set in the Southwest. It was so good she is now on my automatic-buy list.

Potenza’s second book, The Third Warrior (Tiny Mammoth Press, August 3, 2021), is every bit as enthralling as a Hillerman Leaphorn or Chee mystery novel. Potenza’s love for the New Mexico landscape comes through clearly. Additionally, she has a strong female protagonist, Nicky Matthews, an officer in the police department of the Fire-Sky people. Though not a Native American, she is trusted by the people she serves. The book combines well-conceived plot twists in which Native American mythology clashes with illegal drug distribution and human trafficking. I love the esoteric science Potenza utilizes as Nicky tracks down murderers and thieves of sacred items while she deals with past characterized by abandonment, a boss who dislikes her, a sleazy former lover, an impending financial disaster, and a new love interest.”

“Author Carol Potenza is now on my automatic-buy list. I have read every Tony Hillerman book and, being raised in the Southwest, loved how he (and later his daughter Anne Hillerman) captured so beautifully the aura of the land and its people. Author Carol Potenza’s debut novel, Hearts of the Missing, won the Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery Set in the Southwest and her sophomore novel was so good she is now on my automatic-buy list. Potenza’s second book, The Third Warrior (Tiny Mammoth Press, August 3, 2021), is every bit as enthralling as a Hillerman Leaphorn or Chee mystery novel. Potenza’s love for the New Mexico landscape comes through clearly. Additionally, she has a strong female protagonist, Nicky Matthews, an officer in the police department of the Fire-Sky people. Though not a Native American, she is trusted by the people she serves. The book combines well-conceived plot twists in which Native American mythology clashes with illegal drug distribution and human trafficking. I love the esoteric science Potenza utilizes as Nicky tracks down murderers and thieves of sacred items while she deals with past characterized by abandonment, a boss who dislikes her, a sleazy former lover, an impending financial disaster, and a new love interest. 5.0 out of 5 stars”

“Tony Hillerman Prize recipient Carol Potenza strikes gold with her upcoming police procedural debut Hearts of the Missing.”

“The spirit of Tony Hillerman hovers over every page of Carol Potenza’s debut novel Hearts of the Missing (Minotaur), so it’s no surprise that, when still unpublished, it won the 2017 Hillerman Prize for the best first mystery set in the Southwest.”

“I loved all the suspense, mystery and surprises in this book. There was so much suspense that it had me hooked to the storyline and I was so into uncovering the mystery of what was going on that I flew through this book and felt myself on the edge of my seat as I was reading through the chapters….I really enjoyed reading about Nicky’s characters. She was a badass and had determination to solve each of her cases, and this one would be no different. She had a fun personality and it was interesting and fun to read about her character and watch her evolve in this story. I also enjoyed reading about her close friends Savannah and Ryan. Without giving too much away this book was amazing! I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it! All the stars for this book!”

“Dear Carol,

I have just finished Spirit Daughters and write to express my gratitude for your work and imagination. I particularly enjoyed the biochemistry that was included in the adventures in the cave and also the references to Anglo misunderstanding of Native American culture. But of course, Nicky is (mostly) not among those.

Nicky’s temperament is another interesting twist. She is clearly not the perfect heroine investigator. I sometimes was angry with her for being oversensitive to imagined slights, and other times delighted with her courage. I wonder what will happen to her in the next part of her journey. Looking forward to that.

Thank you for all the hours you spend imagining, writing, rewriting, editing, and seeing the books through production.”

S.L.

“Getting hooked on Carol Potenzas character Nicki Mathews. I just finished Third Warrior after reading Hearts of the Missing, also Nicki Mathews mystery set in New Mexico.
The character Nicky Mathews has evolved in the past two books. She’s somewhat of a mystery herself.

As a strong but vulnerable person she keeps up a a independent professional life when possible.
Yet she has a inner life that connects to the Native American Spirit world also.

Personally it’s that spiritual connection with Native American culture keeps me turning the pages .
I’m usually not a big mystery reader but I wonder what the next book will evolve into.”

“I’ve been a long-time fan of Tony Hillerman since my father introduced me to those mysteries way back in the early 1970s. Since then, I’ve read every Tony Hillerman book and, being raised in the Southwest, love how he (and later his daughter, Anne Hillerman) capture the aura of the land and its people so beautifully and with such empathy. Author Carol Potenza’s debut novel, Hearts of the Missing, won the Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery Set in the Southwest. It was so good she is now on my automatic-buy list.

Potenza’s second book, The Third Warrior (Tiny Mammoth Press, August 3, 2021), is every bit as enthralling as a Hillerman Leaphorn or Chee mystery novel. Potenza’s love for the New Mexico landscape comes through clearly. Additionally, she has a strong female protagonist, Nicky Matthews, an officer in the police department of the Fire-Sky people. Though not a Native American, she is trusted by the people she serves. The book combines well-conceived plot twists in which Native American mythology clashes with illegal drug distribution and human trafficking. I love the esoteric science Potenza utilizes as Nicky tracks down murderers and thieves of sacred items while she deals with past characterized by abandonment, a boss who dislikes her, a sleazy former lover, an impending financial disaster, and a new love interest.”

“Author Carol Potenza is now on my automatic-buy list. I have read every Tony Hillerman book and, being raised in the Southwest, loved how he (and later his daughter Anne Hillerman) captured so beautifully the aura of the land and its people. Author Carol Potenza’s debut novel, Hearts of the Missing, won the Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery Set in the Southwest and her sophomore novel was so good she is now on my automatic-buy list. Potenza’s second book, The Third Warrior (Tiny Mammoth Press, August 3, 2021), is every bit as enthralling as a Hillerman Leaphorn or Chee mystery novel. Potenza’s love for the New Mexico landscape comes through clearly. Additionally, she has a strong female protagonist, Nicky Matthews, an officer in the police department of the Fire-Sky people. Though not a Native American, she is trusted by the people she serves. The book combines well-conceived plot twists in which Native American mythology clashes with illegal drug distribution and human trafficking. I love the esoteric science Potenza utilizes as Nicky tracks down murderers and thieves of sacred items while she deals with past characterized by abandonment, a boss who dislikes her, a sleazy former lover, an impending financial disaster, and a new love interest. 5.0 out of 5 stars”

“The spirit of Tony Hillerman hovers over every page of Carol Potenza’s debut novel Hearts of the Missing (Minotaur), so it’s no surprise that, when still unpublished, it won the 2017 Hillerman Prize for the best first mystery set in the Southwest.”

“I loved all the suspense, mystery and surprises in this book. There was so much suspense that it had me hooked to the storyline and I was so into uncovering the mystery of what was going on that I flew through this book and felt myself on the edge of my seat as I was reading through the chapters….I really enjoyed reading about Nicky’s characters. She was a badass and had determination to solve each of her cases, and this one would be no different. She had a fun personality and it was interesting and fun to read about her character and watch her evolve in this story. I also enjoyed reading about her close friends Savannah and Ryan. Without giving too much away this book was amazing! I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it! All the stars for this book!”