This tautly written debut thriller was named one of the 10 Best Mysteries of 2013 by the Wall Street Journal.After two tours as a sniper in Iraq, Tommy Smith has returned to his former life as a cowboy and wilderness guide in California’s Sierra Nevada, hoping to reclaim the simplicity of his youth and heal the wounds the world can’t see. When, high on a mountain pass, he and his partner find the … and his partner find the wrecked plane of a billionaire adventurer who disappeared months earlier, a seemingly innocent act triggers a breathtaking cycle of violence that threatens Tommy’s world. Soon he is enmeshed in the struggle between the billionaire’s trophy wife and wannabe drug lord son and their allies. Every effort to set things right draws him deeper into a bad situation and closer to needing those deadly skills that he had hoped to leave behind forever.
With lean, efficient prose and dialogue that crackles with repartee, Bart Paul has written a contemporary thriller of steadily mounting suspense and ruthless action. He captures both the beauty of the high mountain wilderness and the laconic rhythms of the outfitters’ lives. In Tommy Smith he offers a protagonist whose cool competence, home-grown decency, and clarity of purpose in the face of danger suggest a brotherhood with heroes from the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Cormac McCarthy.
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Stupid people, stupid plot. Did not finish it
Almost looses steam toward the end.
Very slow, couldn’t get into it.
Very wordy and assumes the reader knows a lot about western terms for horses and cattle.
This is an entertaining book that, in spite of including some unrealistic and frustrating scenarios, was a good read. Very good character development.
At first I wasn’t sure why I was reading this book. Then it grabbed me and I could hardly put it down. Loved it. Sent a copy to my brother-in-law since I know he will love it too. I love horses and the big open country in Calif/Nev where this takes place. This is about current day cowboys. And, yeah, I fantasize about cowboys. So to have a …
Part mystery and part western sort of. Enjoyed it
I really enjoyed this book. Can’t wait to read the next one.
Great story had to finish it so up most of night. And it was worth it. Makes you think about how greedy people can be.
I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book. I really liked the character ‘s different personalities. The main character’s special talents added to the excitement of the story.
I enjoyed reading this book. Unexpected twists and turns. Full of suspense and hard to put down.
Another modern western that will keep you locked into the story and difficult to turn out the light.