Estelle Reyes-Guzman, undersheriff in Posadas, New Mexico, has an eventful Christmas when medical emergencies sideline the police chief and the sheriff, the fiancee of one of her deputies is murdered on Christmas Day, and former sheriff Bill Gastner is attacked that night, leaving her little time to pursue the criminals, and no time at all for her family.

When a county employee is found shot to death in sun-drenched daylight while sitting in his county road grader, [Undersheriff] Bill Gastner is faced with puzzling questions.