Lock the doors, grab a snack, get a drink, and settle in for a most horrifying tale.
The Donner Party story is well-known as a sorry tale of a lost wagon train headed west, few survivors, and the taboo of cannibalism. When the few remaining members of the party come out of the California mountains in 1847, their stories repulse and captivate the imagination of historians. One member of that ill fated caravan, Tamzene Donner, kept a diary of events along the trail. When the diary is found by Clive Benton, he searches for an archaeological team to head up into the Sierra Nevada to search for the Lost Camp where he feels that 20 million dollars in gold coins might have been hidden by one of the party that got lost and cut off from the rest of the travelers and were stranded in a snowstorm. Dr. Nora Kelly, a respected curator for the Santa Fe Archeological Institute, is engaged to find the Lost Camp, excavate the area, and identify any of the artifacts found -- including the bones.
Meanwhile, rookie FBI Special Agent Corinne Swanson is working on a series of grave robberies. She comes to the shocking conclusion that all of the disturbances have something in common -- they are descendants of one particular man. As she tries to prove that these are all connected and that there is a purpose behind them, she ends up in the Sierra Nevada at Lost Camp pushing against Nora Kelly and her team who are having some real issues of their own. NO SPOILERS.
Just read this -- the writing is fantastic, the story completely absorbing and the details about the history of the Donner Party and their horrible demise are fascinating. Although I figured out the connection quite early on, I was riveted to find out when and how everything would be revealed. Suspense fiction does not get much better than this, and I highly recommend it. I loved the characters and always enjoy the way that this author duo brings a tale to life. I can't read to read the next in this new series, and have it queued up ready to go.
4.5 stars for a truly good book. This was indeed absolutely riveting and I could not put it down until I reached the end.
This is the first in a new series that should be read in order.
Genre - suspense fiction, mystery, Donner Party
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