Review: Well-written, fast-paced, spooky little story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 24, 2013
Even though set in the American West with horses and Indians, this is not a traditional western. Rather, this IS a suspenseful novel in which it seems as if a supernatural entity is the force behind the gruesome deaths of various expedition members searching for an old and possibly valuable mine. This leaves three plot-development possibilities: (1) The supposed supernatural entity is NOT real, so what or who is really the murderer? This turns the book into a mystery novel. (2) The supposed supernatural entity IS real, so how do the characters deal with it? This turns the book into a horror novel. (3) The supposed supernatural entity is real OR the product of over-stimulated imaginations, and the reader must decide which it is. This turns the book into an open-ended, psychological thriller. I was hoping for a particular one of the above, whereas the authors (much to my disappointment) chose another. Nevertheless, the book was fast-paced and enjoyable, much like an old-fashioned, lightweight, pulp novelette, but especially well-written. I rate it 3-stars for plot, but 5 for style, to average 4-stars overall. (You may also wish to read "The Haunted Mesa" by Louis L'Amour.)