Lost River

by Jane Candia Coleman

Coleman has won the Western Heritage Award from the Cowboy Hall of Fame three times, as well as two Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. Wealthy archeologist Lawrence Haslett has located an important site for the artifacts of an ancient tribe of Indians in the Lost River Valley. He hires talented Sidra Givens to be the photographer on the expedition. What Sidra finds as she enters Lost River Valley is violence, terror and greed. Surviving in this climate of ceaseless and unrelenting violence is an incredible challenge.

213 pages, Hardcover

First published September 2, 2003

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is set in the early 1900s out west where land and cattle are plenty.
A rich landowner wants more and will stop at nothing to achieve his goal with the railroad expanding and money to be made.
An archeological dig produces more than artifacts, a dead girl and young child is found also.
The team is lead by Dr Lawrence Hazlett and his photographer Sidra Givens. She has been recently widowed when he sickly husband passed away.
The rich rancher has a daughter who is his whole world and wants the photographer to take a special portrait of her for her birthday.
A big party attended by all the local townspeople at the ranch includes the archeological team and a warning that the owner gets what he wants and no one is stopping him from his goals.
Interesting connections with Washington and President Teddy Roosevelt, a priest and a former Texas Ranger.

[?? · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 ⭐️
A beautifully written, character-driven Western with a strong sense of mystery running throughout. I did want there to be a bit more archaeology in the plot, though.