The Children of Black Valley

by Evan Kilgore

Sam Mackie, a lonely, divorced pharmaceutical executive, isn't sure what an abandoned nuclear silo in the jungles of Africa has to do with him. But when someone kidnaps his son Daniel, the only good part of his life, Sam will do anything to get him back including traveling halfway around the world to discover the link between his son, the dark nuclear silo, and his own mysterious past.

328 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2008

About the author

Evan Kilgore graduated from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts with a fine arts degree in Writing for the Screen and Television. Who is Shayla Hacker, his debut novel, was first published by Bleak House Books in the following year. His second novel, The Children of Black Valley, was released one year later, followed by his third, Made in China, in 2013, his fourth, The Last March of Nine, in 2014, and his fifth, Snowbound, in 2020.

Evan has also written or co-written a variety of motion picture screenplays, including shorts such as MJMW and feature films including The Butterflies of Bill Baker. After making the Black List in 2015 with the screenplay that he wrote with his screenwriting partner, Mayday 109, the duo scored a sale on their next script, Keeper of the Diary, to Searchlight Pictures in a competitive studio bidding situation, and went on to sell two television pilots to FX Networks and Peacock. They are in development on a wide array of film and television projects. Evan lives and works in Los Angeles.

Visit www.evankilgore.com to stay up-to-date on Evan's latest work.

Reviews

[Stephen]

If I were to give this book to a friend, I would say, "this is a damn good book, exciting as heck and you won't be able to stop reading it...but remember, the author is only about 25."

So why that caveat? Mr. Kilgore has not yet grown into the greatness of his voice. I remember once hearing an opera coach tell a singer, you have a great voice, but you have not grown into it yet. This is exactly the case for The Children of Black valley, Kilgore's voice, timing, sense of pace, action sequences -- impeccable; is his voice up to the fullness of all that yet? No.

Once I started the book, and it starts off with a heart pounding scene, I was hooked. The Children of Black valley is an adventure novel. Yes, there is a mystery, but there are so many shoot-em-ups, and car chases, foot chases, narrow escapes and spine tingling moments, that you can't call this book a mystery, it is adventure of the best sort. There is a writer I would compare him too and some people will instantly dismiss him, but others will know what I mean: Evan Kilgore is like a young Clive Cussler. The Clive Cussler who wrote Inca Gold. Pure adventure novel.

Why three starts and not four? Mr. Kilgore has not grown into his full greatness. There is not doubt in my mind that he will book by book, improve to such an extent that he will fill the shoes left dreadfully empty by Cussler, and don't you Cussler fans write me about Cussler books written "with," I don't go with that at all.

Another reason for three and not four stars is not fully realized characters. I hate to say that, because there is character backstory and development, but how much of that can you do when your characters are running around trying to stay alive? This is why he has three stars. Also, I never read a Clive Cussler book that had anything but cardboard characters. Kilgore's book does have real people, they just aren't as fully realized as I like. Like I said, survival trumps character development, and Evan Kilgore did better at this the Cussler ever did.

Watch for Evan Kilgore, read his books now so you can say in the future, I knew him when ... Which is why I shall read every book Evan Kilgore publishes from now on.

[Patricia]

A family is destroyed when their child vanishes. Riley Mackey is the son of Sam and Ann Mackie. One day Riley just disappears. His room remains as it was on his last day at home but his mother and father are separated. Riley’s disappearance caused a rift between the couple that even their other son Danny couldn’t span. Danny never knew Riley but he knows where his room is and he knows that it is off limits to him.

Sam is tied to his job and although Danny lives with him he spends very little time with the boy. Now something has happened that pulls Sam and Ann back together and makes Sam forget about any responsibility except his family. Danny disappears.

This time though Sam and Ann are going to leave no stone unturned until they locate their son and bring him home. Sam is determined that he will show Danny how much he loves him and how sorry he is for the time spent at work instead of with his son.

Sam has always been haunted by a vision of a dark tower. This goes back to his childhood when he went from one foster home to another. Now it seems that somehow this dark tower has played a part not only in the life of Sam but also his son Riley and his son Danny.

Sam has one friend, a fellow worker that believes in him and his theory. A police officer believes Sam and risks his life as well as his career to help Sam and Ann to track down where Danny is and if he is still alive.

This book is shocking and haunting and I hope and pray that the writing is only something formed in the author’s imagination and not something that could actually happen.

[Jeff]

Very fun book to read. It starts at 100 miles per hour and only gets faster. Just be careful, once you start reading you won't be able to put the book down.

[Akeiisa]

This reads like an action movie screenplay, full of momentum, lots twists (although some are predictable), and some big plot holes.