The Bone Trail

by Nell Walton

While searching for a clandestine mustang roundup, two wild horse preservation advocates have disappeared without a trace in the Nevada desert. When journalist Kate Wyndham and Shoshone Indian horse whisperer Jim Ludlow set out to discover their fate, they find themselves caught up in a web of corruption, deceit and intrigue that threatens to destroy everything they hold dear and may even claim their lives.

350 pages, Paperback

First published January 6, 2010

Reviews

[Kitty Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't say I was a huge fan of this book. While the story concept was good, the writing left something to be desired. I just didn't feel the passion and emotion between the couple or destined couple and I had trouble finishing the book. I'm usually not one to give bad reviews and I don't mean this to be, I would encourage others to read it if they are a fan of romance and especially if they are an advocate for wildlife and animals but I can't say it was my 'cup of tea'.

Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud / http://www.greatmindsliterarycommunit...

[Allhorses Post · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!, January 22, 2011
By Heather McBriarty (Saint John, New Brunswick Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Bone Trail (Kindle Edition)
Great story, engaging characters, mystery, and romance skillfully interwoven with serious issues affecting the environment, Native American culture and the wild horses of the US. I was entertained and enlightened.
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5.0 out of 5 stars An eye opener. Great book., January 20, 2011
By denise ingeman "Trying to relax is like tryin... (a barn in Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Bone Trail (Kindle Edition)
I love this book.
The story line is strong, moves at a good pace, keeps you interested and turning the pages.
The characters feel real, human, fully developed, with strengths and weaknesses.
The struggles they face with in and with out make for good reading.
I came away from this book wanting more of the same...
I sincerely would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a tail that has depth, is contemporary, has mystery, love, horses, and the challenges we face being true to our sprits.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read, January 9, 2011
By Evangeline - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Bone Trail (Kindle Edition)
It's rare to find an author who presents serious real life problems such as the struggles of Native Americans in modern society, environmental degradation, or the plight of America's wild horses--while also skillfully weaving in suspense, romance, and fantasy to create a story that keeps you turning pages.

Kate Wyndham, the protagonist, is a Washington DC reporter sent on assignment to investigate the disappearance of two wild horse advocates who are missing in Nevada's vast northern desert. Despite stonewalling by government officials, Kate connects with a Native American man and his family members who help her follow a dangerous trail to learn the fate of the two advocates.

This is a satisfying novel: The heroine is fiesty, the love interest is definitely interesting, the characters are well drawn, and the bad guys are horrible. It also leaves the reader thoughtful on the meaning and cost of progess.

I recommend this for readers who love horses and nature, or anyone who just loves a good book.

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, January 4, 2011
By I. Mason "ianmas515" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Bone Trail (Kindle Edition)
This is Ian's wife. Nell Walton did a fantastic job on this book. Love, mystery, betrayal, beautiful scenery and great character development. I read it quickly and wanted more! I was wrapped up in the characters and couldn't stand to be parted from it. It was also nice to read a book involving horses that was written by a genuine horse person. And not just a horse person but someone who is owned by a Mustang and is passionate about them.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling story ripped from news headlines, lead characters that give Jamie and Claire (OUTLANDER SERIES) a run for their money, January 4, 2011
By Betsy-2010 - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Bone Trail (Kindle Edition)
Wow! This book manages to educate the reader about the wild horse roundups on BLM land and the issues surrounding them while introducing you to one of literature's hottest new couples -- Kate, a journalist with a Washington, D.C. newspaper sent to investigate the probable death of two wild horse activists who haven't been seen since they were spotted en route to a helicoptor roundup near a Nevada mine ... and Ludlow, a Native American attorney who has worked the ropes as a lobbyist in D.C. but who moved back to his childhood Reservation to work with his sister on her horse breeding farm and to train the occasional wild Mustang. The descriptions of the scenery are breathtaking, the love story will leave you wanting more of Kate and Ludlow and the determination of the people who work to protect these marvelous horses will leave you motivated to get involved and heartbroken that you can't do more, at the same time.

The character development is amazing - you feel like you KNOW Kate, Ludlow and all the rest. The story arc is suspenseful and based on events that are taking place today. I usually have a few books going at the same time, but once I started reading this book, I put aside two new bestsellers from my favorite authors that I had already started and finished THE BONE TRAIL, cover to cover.

[Elizabeth A.]

When wild horse advocates Lindy Abraham and Julia Evans tire of the runaround they keep getting from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the organization that is supposed to be there to assist with the women’s efforts at conservation, the two decide to launch their own investigation to discover why the BLM seems to be dragging its heels.

What they discover is shocking. Instead of working as an advocate for the horses, the BLM appears to have gotten into bed with mining companies, forcing the wild horses off land the companies want to use for mining purposes. Instead of running free, the horses have been penned into an enclosure where they are apparently being neglected, or worse, and left to die.

Horrified, the women film what they find, intending to turn the film over to the press and expose the BLM’s unethical, and perhaps criminal, behavior. Before they are able to release the tape, however, the women disappear.

Enter investigative journalist Kate Wyndham, herself an avid horsewoman. Sent to discover what happened to the two women, her efforts are stonewalled by local authorities, with the F.B.I. not offering much more by way of assistance. Determined not to be brushed aside, Kate turns to Jim Ludlow, a Shoshone Indian and local rancher with a reputation as a horse “whisperer.” Together they launch an investigation, and every step closer to the truth also brings them one step closer to death.

Though fiction, The Bone Trail unfortunately has its roots in actual events. As such, in addition to being an engaging mystery it also offers the reader a chance to be educated on matters of land conservation for wild horses and how that often butts heads with industrial desires to utilize some of the same lands. The descriptions of the poor conditions the horses are forced to endure are fairly graphic, so if scenes of animals in distress are upsetting to you a quick flip past them is in order. They are, however, essential to telling the story properly, and are in no way inserted for gratuitous purposes.

Author Nell Walton also balances out the heavier aspects of the story with several scenes of subtle humor, as well as a budding romance between Kate and Jim. Add to that beautiful descriptions of the scenery in Northern Nevada and the horses when they are running wild and free as intended, and The Bone Trail makes for an intriguing mix of mystery, western, and light romance. If that sounds like your cup of tea, definitely consider taking a trip down The Bone Trail.

[Heavensent1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bone Trail is a mystery thriller inspired by actual events involving wild horses, a gold mining company and the Bureau of Land Management(BLM).

Wild Horse advocates Lindy Abraham and Julia Evans are frustrated with the BLM's efforts to keep them from protecting the Wild Mustangs of Nevada. They are at constant war with the government officials who are supposed to help the horses but instead, pave the way for mining companies to take more land for their mining purposes. When that occurs, the wild horses that roam the land are relocated, while some may go to ranches for adoption, most are sent to slaughter houses to be sold as meat overseas where it is considered a delicacy.

Lindy and Julia have had enough and decide to do some investigation of their own. What they find appalls and dismays them when they stumble upon an enclosure filled with wild horses in different states of death. They film the horrific events on video, hundreds of horses are either dead or dying however, before they can share with the world what the BLM is allowing to happen, they go missing.

Kate Wyndham, investigative journalist and horsewoman, is asked to find out what happened to the two women. With great apprehension, she had recently lost her own horse and her pain was unbearable, she begins her research and follows the clues to the events that lead to the disappearance of Lindy and Julia. Along her journey she enlists the help of Jim Ludlow, a local rancher and a Shoshone horse whisperer, a recovering alcoholic whose marriage recently disintegrated. Together the two uncover the truth and find love along the way.

I like how the author, Nell Walton, used humour in the story. The blend of both the horror of the situation and the chuckle humour dispersed throughout the book gave The Bone Trail a natural balance. I liked that there wasn't a lot of play between Jim and Kate before they came together, many books get bogged down with that interaction and if I wanted it, I would pick up a Harlequin, in life, instant attractions almost never drag out. I would've liked to have seen more from the mining company and BLM officials, I think adding some of their seediness to the book would have given it an extra edge that would of only given more credit to the issue of Wild Horse advocacy. The Bone Trail is heavy in expletives and the horse scenes may be disturbing for some but the book is a great read and I would recommend to anyone who has a love of horses.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE BONE TRAIL by Nell Walton is a mystery/thriller with a little romance set in Nevada desert. The plot is well written.The characters are engaging and believable.It has corruption,deceit,intrigue,mystery,romance,western,wild horses,land conservation issues and love. Two journalist go missing,while investigating the state of the wild horses and the issues of with the Bureau of Land Management. What they find is not only horrific scenes,but while have video on the travesty of the wild horses but also the mis management of them.Then they go missing before they can share their discovery with the world.So investigative journalist and avid horsewoman, Kate, is enlisted to found out what happened to the two woman.Kate enlists the help of Jim,a local rancher,who happens to be Shoshone Indian.a horse whisperer,a recovering alcoholic whose marriage is disintegrated fast. Together,Kate and Jim find the truth and happiness. This is a blend of some actual facts,the horror the the wild horses,some humor,and a budding romance between Kate and Jim as they search for truth.This is the story of a sassy city girl whose meets the sexy Indian rancher who happens to be a horse whisperer..I would recommend this book to any and all avid horse readers,mystery,thriller,and romance readers.This book was received for the purpose of review from Library Thing and the publisher and details can be found at Createspace and My Book Addiction Reviews.

[Calvin Hecht · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Bone Trail by Nell Walton is a well-crafted mystery novel marred by a scattering of f-bombs, “Jesus Christ” profanities, references to excrement, and an instance of masturbation, none of which added to the story, but indeed detracted from what is otherwise a compelling page-turner by a gifted writer. This reader got the impression that the gutter language was more an expression of I am Woman, Hear Me Roar than anything else. However, in every instance of crass verbiage another choice of a lesser crudeness would have worked as well with less jarring to the sensibilities of readers who do not cotton to such verbal assault in everyday life, much more in recreational reading. Readers should be prepared also for an undertone of anti-establishment a la the hippie and yuppie movements of the Sixties and Seventies of the last century. Toss in a bit of PETA-like horse love, the disappearance of two women, a journey of self-discovery by a big city journalist who investigates the disappearance, the blossoming romantic entwinement of the journalist and a male hero in the form of a handsome and sensitive Native American soul-mate, a bit of Native American mythology, a satisfying ending, and you have the story. It was good. Very good. It could have been better.

[Dean Fetzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nell Walton’s book the Bone Trail felt like coming home. Her tale set around the Shoshone Reservation in Nevada has similar resonances with Tony Hillerman for me, whose books I’ve read for a number of years. Centered around the illegal roundup of the wild mustangs on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, the reporter heroine and the Shoshone hero work very well as an investigative duo searching for the truth behind the disappearance of two wild horse activists. Walton does a great job of evoking the landscape and spirit of the Nevada setting while setting out the plight of the wild horses entrusted to the care of the BLM - I really enjoyed this and am looking forward to her next venture. Go read it! (One small niggle: I’d rather the factual information about the plight of the wild mustangs on BLM land was after the story, personally. Then it could be well-placed as a call to arms to write your congressman, sign a petition, more information available, etc.)

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story. Two women are trying to find out more about BLM roundup of wild mustangs and disappear. Kate is reporter working out of washington when her boss sends her because of an old friend to look into the disappearness. than it goes in to a section about jim and his experiences in washington and how he became acholic and over. than shows them working together to find out why no one was really looking into the ladies disappearance really well. It goes back and forth in a good way and shows life on the reservation the good now and bad earlier. tells a little about wild mustangs. Its a pretty good story and i enjoyed all the characters.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. I really enjoyed reading it. It is a mystery about two women wild horse activists who go missing. The story follows a journalist as she is assigned to try to find out what happened to them. The book has a refreshing look at Native Americans and shows them in a positive light. The book also looks into the mental illness of alcohol addiction. It shows how cultures can clash and how they can be strong and work together. The characters are real. I will read more by this author.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story. I can't believe how many worlds and story lines were woven seamlessly into this great book. I loved the story and characters. What a joy to read.