In the third installment of The Bone Rattler series, Duncan McCallum and his companion Conawago go in search of Conawago’s long lost nephew. What they find instead is a scene of terrible death with men, women, and children murdered. No sooner do they absorb the gravity of their discovery than Duncan is arrested for the crime by the British army and Conawago disappears.
Determined to find his friend and learn who was responsible for the massacre, Duncan escapes prison and begins his own investigation even as he’s being tracked by the British army and Scottish rebels. Duncan soon reunites with Conawago and they discover that a vicious killer who calls himself the Revelator is behind the massacre at Bethel Landing. The two also discover that there were children who survived Bethel Landing and that the children are all related to elders of the Iroquois Council.
Step by step, Duncan and Conawago uncover details of the Revelator’s plan, which is to seize power over the Indian tribes by making it appear as if the spirit world itself is in danger. The ultimate climax pits Duncan and Conawago against almost insurmountable odds as they fight for their lives and the survival of the Iroquois tribes.
Pattison uses historical facts expertly in this murder mystery set in 1760 America. Character dialogue well done and the plot intricate in its nature. There are some descriptions of graphic violence, however those are a minor part of the book. Plot pacing is strong with very few slow points and is consistent with traditional mystery-plot organization. One of the few weaknesses in this novel involves the transition between scenes set in different locales. At times, events felt pieced together without consideration for reader orientation. Overall, however, this is a very strong historical murder mystery.
FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.
