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Sam Dawson #5
Yesterday Calling: A Sam Dawson Mystery
At age sixteen, Sam Dawson was interested in three fish, cars, and girls-and not necessarily in that order. When it came to girls, he was not sure what the attraction was, but he was curious. Lured by the woman he believed to be the most beautiful creature on the planet, Sam was both confused and frightened. She was married, a mother, and most of all she was to be avoided.
Now nearing fifty, Sam's life is upended by the tidal wave of consequences from choices he made decades earlier, repercussions that threaten his career and imperil both him and his daughter, Sidney. Never has Sam encountered such a nemesis as Hank Thompson, who believes death is too cheap a price when suffering is the currency for reparation. The past calls to Sam, and he must pay. But there are no amends, only reprisal and the horror of vengeance as Sam and Sidney are victimized by a dangerously unpredictable psychopath bent on revenge in an edge-of-your-seat thriller.
The past and present collide as author Steven W. Horn adds another riveting chapter to his award-winning Sam Dawson Mystery Series. The shocking ending will take your breath away. Nothing is as it seems in YESTERDAY CALLING.
Now nearing fifty, Sam's life is upended by the tidal wave of consequences from choices he made decades earlier, repercussions that threaten his career and imperil both him and his daughter, Sidney. Never has Sam encountered such a nemesis as Hank Thompson, who believes death is too cheap a price when suffering is the currency for reparation. The past calls to Sam, and he must pay. But there are no amends, only reprisal and the horror of vengeance as Sam and Sidney are victimized by a dangerously unpredictable psychopath bent on revenge in an edge-of-your-seat thriller.
The past and present collide as author Steven W. Horn adds another riveting chapter to his award-winning Sam Dawson Mystery Series. The shocking ending will take your breath away. Nothing is as it seems in YESTERDAY CALLING.
326 pages, Paperback
Published June 9, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 21, 2022
Yesterday Calling: A Sam Dawson Mystery (Hardcover)
by Steven W Horn
It's as remarkably hard for a fan as the writer to wait for the publication of the next book. In our society books have become the gateway from the current times to a place better suited and lived. We yearn for the next book as we close the cover of the current publication. Steven Horn does not disappoint his fans. This soon to be published account of Sam Dawson is so addictive and enchanting that the reader will lose hours of time without a thought to when it passed until circumstances like bedtime or eating force them to close the book but for a moment to the real world.
Sam Dawson has grown up with his readers, and learned from his mistakes. Or so this reader believed, to have revealed in this book, more mistakes, wrong choices and regrets. Is it the character emulating the world or the world emulating the character. Haunted by a madman, Sam and Sidney are again placed in the most precarious situations. Sam is haunted by a nearly forgotten drunken memory of his youth, before he married his wife and had his daughter. An ill-conceived idea of finally grasping his fantasies, just before life and the world take him down a different path. This choice, barely remembered, will torture not only Sam, but Sidney and lead to the loss of friend and family in order.
The use of a Russian Spy is a conceptual masterpiece. The delusions and manipulations of despondent men after the dissolution of the Russian empire make the best of villains. His intelligence, network, capabilities and the use of manipulations make him diabolical. You turn each page hoping that Sam, Sydney or whom ever he got his screws into will survive this next torture. It is dastardly amazing the methods he uses to disrupt Sam and Sydney's lives. He has a phenomenal plethora of ways to make things worse. Each even piled on the next that the final twist will surprise the most predictive of readers, What a villain.
by Steven W Horn
It's as remarkably hard for a fan as the writer to wait for the publication of the next book. In our society books have become the gateway from the current times to a place better suited and lived. We yearn for the next book as we close the cover of the current publication. Steven Horn does not disappoint his fans. This soon to be published account of Sam Dawson is so addictive and enchanting that the reader will lose hours of time without a thought to when it passed until circumstances like bedtime or eating force them to close the book but for a moment to the real world.
Sam Dawson has grown up with his readers, and learned from his mistakes. Or so this reader believed, to have revealed in this book, more mistakes, wrong choices and regrets. Is it the character emulating the world or the world emulating the character. Haunted by a madman, Sam and Sidney are again placed in the most precarious situations. Sam is haunted by a nearly forgotten drunken memory of his youth, before he married his wife and had his daughter. An ill-conceived idea of finally grasping his fantasies, just before life and the world take him down a different path. This choice, barely remembered, will torture not only Sam, but Sidney and lead to the loss of friend and family in order.
The use of a Russian Spy is a conceptual masterpiece. The delusions and manipulations of despondent men after the dissolution of the Russian empire make the best of villains. His intelligence, network, capabilities and the use of manipulations make him diabolical. You turn each page hoping that Sam, Sydney or whom ever he got his screws into will survive this next torture. It is dastardly amazing the methods he uses to disrupt Sam and Sydney's lives. He has a phenomenal plethora of ways to make things worse. Each even piled on the next that the final twist will surprise the most predictive of readers, What a villain.
July 14, 2022
Yesterday Calling is another winner in the Sam Dawson mystery series, and I thought this one had some of the best humor in the entire collection.
The author is at his best when writing conversations between his characters. His dialogues flow naturally and serve to illustrate each character's distinct personality. I was especially entertained by the effortless and humorous criticisms that Sam's long-suffering daughter, Sidney, and his friend the sheriff bestowed upon Sam regularly. And Sam is most enjoyable when he is being hilariously oblivious of his shortcomings and caught off-guard by the insults. Sam is written as a highly relatable character, having little motivation for paid work and showing true disdain for small-minded men in positions of power. Yet he feels past regrets strongly and cares deeply for his family and past loves. The plot unfolds easily and carries a few twists that also add to the fun.
Overall, this was a fast and engaging read. Highly recommended!
The author is at his best when writing conversations between his characters. His dialogues flow naturally and serve to illustrate each character's distinct personality. I was especially entertained by the effortless and humorous criticisms that Sam's long-suffering daughter, Sidney, and his friend the sheriff bestowed upon Sam regularly. And Sam is most enjoyable when he is being hilariously oblivious of his shortcomings and caught off-guard by the insults. Sam is written as a highly relatable character, having little motivation for paid work and showing true disdain for small-minded men in positions of power. Yet he feels past regrets strongly and cares deeply for his family and past loves. The plot unfolds easily and carries a few twists that also add to the fun.
Overall, this was a fast and engaging read. Highly recommended!
November 26, 2025
None of his books disappoint!
July 31, 2022
I am going to start my review with a hockey analogy. A hockey analogy? Well yes, I don't like baseball so I am not going to say the author hit it out of the park so I will say Steven Horn hit the puck into the goal with this novel. Being a fan of Sam Dawson and his daughter Sidney since the start of the series, I was really looking forward to the next installment and I was not disappointed.
Mr. Horn weaves an intricate story that starts with just a phone call. I must admit that at first I was afraid the calls were taking us nowhere but the more the calls came in, the more intrigued I became. I was not disappointed as the story went on to an incredible climax.
There is so much we don't know about Sam Dawson and I hope this means more books in this series will be forthcoming. Bravo Mr. Horn. I loved it!
Mr. Horn weaves an intricate story that starts with just a phone call. I must admit that at first I was afraid the calls were taking us nowhere but the more the calls came in, the more intrigued I became. I was not disappointed as the story went on to an incredible climax.
There is so much we don't know about Sam Dawson and I hope this means more books in this series will be forthcoming. Bravo Mr. Horn. I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews