Mysteries always find their way onto my reading list--especially when they come from an author I enjoy. Westobou Gold is the next book in a series from Hawk MacKinney that I began last year--and could not resist reading and reviewing this week. I loved The Hidden Chamber of Death! So--what are my thoughts on Westobou Gold?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author or publisher. All opinions are my own.
Quick Summary of Westobou Gold by Hawk MacKinney. The Indian Queen would risk torture and worse to keep her secrets from these barbarians in suits of metal and their search for cities of gold. They never found the gold. Empires rose; empires fell, the centuries passed. Legend became fireside myths, but no treasure was ever found. Yet, among the grey-green drapes of wisteria and wild jasmine along the misty shrouded lowlands of bayous and marshes of the Westo River, the folktales persist.
Quick Summary of Westobou Gold by Hawk MacKinney. The Indian Queen would risk torture and worse to keep her secrets from these barbarians in suits of metal and their search for cities of gold. They never found the gold. Empires rose; empires fell, the centuries passed. Legend became fireside myths, but no treasure was ever found. Yet, among the grey-green drapes of wisteria and wild jasmine along the misty shrouded lowlands of bayous and marshes of the Westo River, the folktales persist.
In the lazed creep of a near-tropical dawn lit the pungent Turkish coffee permeates Moccasin Hollow. Beyond the kitchen door Lucky, Craige Ingram’s German shepherd gnaws a favorite bone. Looted burial mounds seem a world away until plundered mounds on Moccasin Hollow land brings amateur archaeologist PI Craige Ingram into the cross-hairs of kidnapping. Stealthy hideaways are concealed in old colonial brick-lined river grottoes beneath the big house of Ardochy plantation. Sex-tape underage blackmail and thrill killings on federal land spur a medical examiner’s preliminary postmortem to more than a hired cleaner’s quickie cover-up passed off as drug deals gone sour. Greed tangles a witch’s pigswill of illicit affairs and murder-to-hide-murder. Shady investigators and shadier politics stir an unexpected concoction that threatens the lives of those at Moccasin Hollow in a spiteful plot against ex-SEAL Craige Ingram and the woman he loves.
Westobou Gold required a little patience at the beginning. I didn't settle into this story as quickly and easily as I settled into MacKinney's Hidden Chamber of Death. I am really not sure why; however. MacKinney's writing style is very easy to follow and full of descriptive details--and he certainly keeps the plot moving. I just think, for a few chapters, I was distracted by some of my thoughts of what the novel was about--based on its beginning and its cover--and it took me some time to actually read Hawk's words and settle into the actual, modern-day story.
MacKinney creates wonderful characters. This was another book that hit on real-world, real-life characters that we meet every day. Ulterior motives, power, and greed reared their heads--but, so did trust and integrity and moral character. The author simply does a wonderful job keeping his characters surrounded in enough mystery and plot twists or turns to keep the action moving and the reader guessing and interested in the story line. There are characters to root for--and characters to dislike and mistrust.
MacKinney creates a suspenseful journey for readers. Things are not always as they seem--and things should not be taken for granted in this book. I love MacKinney's ability to develop his characters and his plots into a weaving, twisting, suspenseful novel that readers become glued to. Multiple murders, multiple plots moving and interlocking, and a host of characters provide a very well-developed read.
Would I recommend Westobou Gold by Hawk MacKinney? Westobou Gold is another action packed, suspenseful, easy to read story with characters that mystery lovers will enjoy. MacKinney helps readers become attached and invested in his characters and their outcomes. I would certainly recommend this book to murder mystery fans who enjoy being kept in suspense.
Internationally acclaimed author and public speaker, Hawk MacKinney began writing mysteries for his school newspapers. He served in the US Navy Reserve for over 20 years, and was a tenured faculty member at several state medical facilities, teaching postgraduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem, Israel. Since retiring Hawk has authored several novels that have received national and international recognition. Moccasin Trace, a historical novel, was nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award. The Cairns of Sainctuarie, his science fiction series, includes The Bleikovat Event and The Missing Planets, with a third book in the works. Hawk’s latest project focuses on The Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series. Book 1 in the series, Hidden Chamber of Death, was released early 2016.
Connect with the author: Website
Enter the Book Tour Giveaway!
1 Comments
A Mama’s Corner of the World/Angela THOMPSON, your in-depth review of the twisted interlocks of Westobou Gold, Book 2 in the Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series, is much appreciated. Book 3 in the mystery series as well as the next sci-fi title, is in edit. An earlier title, Moccasin Trace, a prequel historical romance establishes the bloodline(s) of serial protagonists Craige Ingram in the Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series. Thank U.
ReplyDeleteHawk MacKinney
https://www.hawkmackinney.net