Neil McMahon, Lone Creek

Lone Creek

Neil McMahon

HarperCollins, Apr 2007, $24.95

ISBN 0060792213

Former journalist Hugh Davoren figures he has come full circle as he works construction near his hometown of Helena, Montana. Hugh plans to keep out of trouble by just doing his day job as a laborer at the renovation of the colossal old Pettyjohn Ranch though the place has bad memories for him, bought by affluent Easterner, Wesley Balcomb and his wife Laurie.

However, Laurie is fascinated by his scar on his face, which he says is nothing more than a drunken surgeon's reminder that medicine and alcohol don't mix even if the remains seem interesting. However, Davoren's efforts to stay clean fail when he finds two murdered thoroughbreds dumped in the reconstruction garbage heap. Instead of praise for doing his job, he is tossed in jail as the East Coast businessman wants him out of the way though Davoren cannot think of any motive unless the newcomer is dealing in illegal trafficking. With the help of his only on-site friend, Blackfoot Viet Nam veteran "Madbird," he makes inquires even as adversaries on both sides of the law want him dead with the most dangerous being hired killer John Doe.

LONE CREEK is a fabulous thriller starring an individual trying to stay out of trouble, but becomes a magnet for danger though he does not know why. Hugh is a wonderful protagonist as for the most part he avoids people especially his employer's wife yet in spite of his efforts people come after him, literally trying to kill him. Readers will follow Davoren's efforts to survive an ordeal he does not understand in one Big Sky sitting.

Harriet Klausner