I found Bowie's 2nd book in the John Hardin series to be as exciting as his first book GUNS. DIAMONDBACK also has many unexpected twists and turns, great writing, and an excellent plot.

In 1838, soldiers forced the Cherokees to leave the Great Smoky Mountains on the Trails of Tears to Oklahoma Territory. However, before they were forcibly removed form their homes, the shaman hid the gold mines. Almost one hundred and seventy years later, slow-witted prospector Mose Kyle discovers one of the hidden gold mines.

When Mose fails to attend church, his elderly friend Hattie becomes concerned as he always shows up. She asks local pilot John Hardin, who she thinks is her son and lives with her and her spouse Hank, to check on Mose. John goes to Mose's isolated cabin, as he would do anything for Hattie and Hank. He finds things not quite right, but assumes nothing of it as Mose is slow until he meets and shares notes with part Cherokee biker Kitty Birdsong. As they continue to search for Mose, the sheriff does nothing as Mose is strange and dimwitted while the deadly snake Preacher, the Cagle brood, and the rest of the flock keep an eye on the pilot and the biker in case they get too close to the truth.

DIAMONDBACK is an exciting suspense thriller with a touch of romance between the lead couple that for the most part remains in the background at the same level as the Hollywood western trivia questions that Hank asks John; each enhances the overall tale. The amateur sleuth investigation is cleverly devised so that John and Kitty slowly find clues of foul play, but the novel belongs to silent cold femme fatale Sis Cagle, the ultimate sadistic sexual torturer.

Harriet Klausner