The A.A. Western Detective Agency finds itself unwillingly on guard duty, protecting paleontologists excavating dinosaur bones in 1894 Wyoming. Old Red Amlingmeyer finds it all a bit dull until a human body is found in one of the scientists' trenches. Now he can put his "deductifying" skills to work like his idol, Sherlock Holmes. But he and his younger brother, Big Red, will have to work fast. A killer is stalking their client's dig site.
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It's always a pleasure to immerse myself in Steve Hockensmith's Old West with the Amlingmeyer brothers. In Hunters of the Dead, there are characters going incognito, bad guys with guns, the lucrative nut butter business, an Apache named Eskaminzim who reminded me a bit of Inspector Clouseau's valet, Kato, and Old Red (Gustav) Amlingmeyer teaching himself to read.
For me, the icing on the Hockensmith cake is the fact that there's always something to learn while I'm enjoying the story; in this case, the cutthroat early days of paleontology. And as for Eskaminzim, he has one of my favorite lines in the book: "You whites have so many words for stupid. I guess you need them."
There seems to be a trip to Texas in the Amlingmeyer brothers' future, and I'm looking forward to that. Get your hands on this series if you're in the mood for some lighthearted (yet educational) fun set in the Old West. It's a treat.
Hunters of the Dead by Steve Hockensmith
eISBN: 9781685493448
Rough Edges Press © 2023
eBook, 274 pages
Historical Mystery, #7 Holmes on the Range mystery
Rating: A
Source: Purchased from Amazon.
There's just something about the Old West setting, I think, Cathy. That enough can draw a reader in. And the Amglingmeyers are great characters. You've reminded me that I haven't paid attention to this series lately. Why does that happen? Oh, well, I should.
ReplyDeleteI know why it happens: So many books...!
DeleteI love that Old West setting! And there are paleontologists, too? I'm in! :D
ReplyDeleteIt's really a fun series, Lark. :-)
DeleteI just saw this writer at the PP. He was hilarious. I have never been drawn to reading books set in the Old West. This author may change my mind, as this review might also. Always worth checking out new books.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is. You never know what gems you may find. I'm so glad I attended his event, even though Denis and I did get stranded outside for a couple of hours.
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