Sand Creek
D. W. Linden
A great Coloradan mystery and so much more
Publisher: Intrigue Press (August 2006)
D.W. Linden's SAND CREEK is a mystery set in
southeastern Colorado with an unlikely sleuth, a broken down cowboy,
hunting down Native American history to unearth a serial killer and
save his friend from murder allegations. SAND CREEK is a mystery with an
intriguing romance subplot.
Ex-rodeo man and now laid back sheriff Johnny Hart's life is fairly
much lost down the bottle. He hasn't been to a rodeo in a while, his
wife has left him and his superiors are always warning him. He is even
finding it difficult to track down the cattle rustlers. It could not
get much worse, but of course, it does. His friend and rodeo buddy Char
Sixkiller has been pegged by the FBI as the serial killer mutilating
blond white women and dumping them on historic sites of Native American
massacres. Can broken down cowboy Johnny save himself, his friend and
Sandy?
SAND CREEK focuses
mostly on the friendship between two men and the hunt for a
killer. Johnny and Char have a long history from their rodeo
past. Both are broken cowboys from past scars but loyal friends. In
searching for the identity of the serial killer, Johnny and Char must
face their past and rely on their friendship. Can the present hunt also
heal their past and teach them how to forgive?
Although the mystery focuses on the friendship between Char and Johnny,
two important women in this mystery make SAND CREEK a 5 star+ read and more
than a mystery. Barbara, Johnny's ex-wife, is a divorcee with a career
and independent. Sandy Cross is an independent unmarried woman, running
her cattle ranch mostly alone since Mr. Cross is just too old. She is a
Christian but she is spending a lot of time with a man with different
spiritual beliefs and a Native American when Native Americans are seen
with suspicion in this part of the country. Will she calmly break the
law when push comes to shove? Sometimes a girl has to do what she has
to do! Sandy is blond and smart and breaks all stereotypes. When the
going gets tough, she doesn't reach for the hair dye or the comfort of
the big city. Sandy in this book can be described with one word
--- fortitude. She may seem preachy for one small moment or two but
circumstances have to mellow out her fortitude and make it less rigid.
The Christian element is balanced by the Native American massacre
reality and the character of Char who also sees more than beyond his
viewpoint. Actually, all the characters in this novel are written
without rigid good and evil traits.
SAND CREEK draws
the reader into into the author's description of Southeastern Colorado
which is quite different than the Front Range Denver Metro area where I
live. A slightly melancholic tone in the beginning was a nice reading
change from other mystery reads this year. I also liked hearing about
the history of the Native Americans and the massacres which are often
spoken about in local papers but never explained to newcomers. SAND CREEK has some nice twists and
turns mystery-wise. The first third of this book is more about the
rodeo life, the area, and the building of the friendship between Johnny
and Char and the life of Sandy. I was drawn into the place and liked
that immersion feeling before the mystery pace wound tighter and
tighter.
SAND CREEK is not
a romance per se but readers will enjoy its multi-faceted take on love:
friendship, love and understanding that divorced people might still
have, love emerging, the love of a father for a child, a Christian
understanding of love, a Native American approach to spirituality and
love/friendship. SAND CREEK
offers an intriguing insight into history and the massacres. A very
nice read --- a mystery but also a book with an expansive view to
remember and ponder long after finishing the last page.
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
