These are but a few of the incidents of murder, mystery, and mayhem that make the Rio Abajo such a treasure trove of intriguing history for local residents and historians alike. This volume is an attempt to preserve some of the most interesting of these many cases of murder, mystery, and mayhem - ranging from heinous murders to bold train robberies, from religious miracles to unsolved mysteries, and from accounts of earthquakes to reports of terrible disease. All took place in the Rio Abajo, defined as Valencia and Socorro counties in north-central New Mexico.

So, put on your deerslayer cap and join us as we explore some of the most famous and least-well-known history of New Mexico's most colorful region, the Rio Abajo.

Murder, mystery and mayhem have played an often tragic, yet significant and exciting role in New Mexico history. The authors have utilized a wide variety of sources to bring us a broad spectrum of true stories of murder, mystery, and mayhem that vividly demonstrate how these elements have made New Mexico's history so fascinating.

These stories all share one thing: They are fascinating. They are also addictive. Once you start reading these stories, you will not be able to stop until you have read them all. And you will still want more. It is amazing that these historical events, from the late 1500s to the present day, all took place in the relatively small geographical area of what is now Valencia, Socorro, and Cibola Counties in central New Mexico. It is also interesting that most of the mysteries included in this volume remain unsolved. The authors of the stories in this book are first rate historians and scholars, but they are also spellbinding story tellers. This is a powerful combination and it means that this book will appeal to both the serious history community and casual readers alike.