Point of Law

Antonio “Ant” Burns #0.5

by Clinton McKinzie

Special Agent Antonio Burns has come to Colorado for a family reunion of sorts. He and his father plan to confront Antonio’s brother, Roberto, whose life is teetering on the wrong side of the law. For thirty years a father and his sons have shared an addiction to dangerous, extreme climbing in the world’s most beautiful places. This just might be their last dance together. On their first night in the valley, violence has erupted around the Burns men, as a bitter dispute between local activists and developers leaves a young man dead. When Roberto stands accused, Antonio knows he must find the real killer to clear his brother’s name.

Now, with a beautiful renegade environmentalist by his side, Antonio embarks on a perilous journey through the jagged peaks--where he will come face-to-face with a woman’s secrets, a man’s evil, and an amazing undiscovered treasure deep within
a hidden labyrinth of caves.

Genres: Climbing, Mystery, Fiction

448 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a long break in this series (read two of the previously) I picked up this one that had long sat on my shelf and realized how much I really liked this series. I will now need to find the others in the series. As a rock climber I, of course, am drawn to the climbing scenes, but my favorite genre are mystery/thrillers so this book is just up my alley.

The relationship of the Burns brothers is a good play off of one another. McKinzie's characters are perfect and beautiful but damaged both physically and mentally. This plot is fast-paced and full of adventure.

Entertaining arm-chair thrill ride for sure.

[Kristen Bobbitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the setting and the characters were interesting. I will check out the other novels by this author.

[crizzcroc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent.

[Kara Jorges · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a book I suspect was written first and sold second, McKinzie kicks off the Antonio Burns series. Anton is a Wyoming agent who busts meth labs, and he’s meeting his Air Force colonel father and ne’er do well brother Roberto in the Wild Fire Valley in Colorado for some mountain climbing and a confrontation of Roberto for his habits. Wild Fire Valley is a busy place when Anton and Leonard Burns arrive to wait for Roberto. A group of environmentalists is there raising a protest over the valley’s impending development at the hands of David Fast, who swapped the valley with the government for some valuable lynx habitat lands. Fast wants to turn Wild Fire Peak into a ski resort and the surrounding valleys and meadows into condominiums and strip malls. Leading the opposition to this development is one-eyed Kim Walsh, who lost her eye in the wake of a sexual assault 12 years earlier. Accompanying Kim are pretty, blonde, dread-locked Sunny and her hotheaded boyfriend Cal. As expected, David Fast, his hired thug Alf Burgermeister, and a bunch of other hired muscle disrupt the protest. When Fast’s construction site burns shortly thereafter, everyone believes Cal did it, which is why he’s found beat to death that night, and Sunny disappears, last seen driving frantically away from the scene.

The local cops, unwilling to listen to Anton’s story about Fast and his hired muscle, choose instead to arrest Roberto, on the sole grounds that he has a record. With the police unwilling to lift a finger to go after the real killers and his father called back to Washington on an urgent military matter, Anton must clear his brother’s name on his own, along with his huge dog Oso.

Kim Walsh, concerned for her friend Sunny, insists on accompanying Anton on his search to Arizona and Lake Powell, where they believe she’s hiding. Unfortunately, Fast and Burgermeister think so, too, and spot Anton and Kim. With no help from the authorities, they have to save not just Sunny and Wild Fire Valley, but a secret cave filled with Anasazi ruins, as well.

Like the other Burns novel I read, I found myself not only drawn to the beautiful places he describes, but also to the characters who make them come alive. Anton is a very likeable guy with a wry sense of humor and a soft heart. Roberto, his wild, drug-addicted brother, is the perfect foil, in some ways very much like Anton, and in others dangerously wild and prone to the unpredictable. Their relationship with their father is complex, fraught with deep respect along with a certain amount of resentment.

This was more of a thriller than a mystery, as there is no secret to whodunit. There was plenty of tense action, and a few chuckles, as well, making for a very fine series kick-off. McKinzie has created a fine cast of characters and crafted an entertaining story in which to meet them.

[M. Sprouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the reading of my second book by Clinton McKinzie. Like "Edge of Justice," this novel was an action ride set place in the new west. I'm not a climber, but as someone who enjoys the outdoors, camping, hiking and the like, it definitely fit my profile. Sure we see a very stereotypical view of both environmentalist and developers, but a good thriller needs a malicious villain.

I plan on reading the next book in the series, however it disappoints me to see there are only 3 left and that Mr. Mckinzie has not offered us any his type of solid fiction in about 13 years. A nonfiction book called "Madness: Chasing a Legendary Killer across the Last Frontier" was supposedly in the works, but I've heard nothing of it in the last ten years. After a little research, I found nothing so I won't speculate, but I hope that you, Clinton McKinzie are well and happy. Thank you for helping me escape the mundane for a while, which sharpens me when I have to return to real life.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've liked all the books in this series, but liked the first couple the best. The others told good stories, but seemed a bit far fetched. If you love the outdoors, it is wonderful to see how climbing and Wyoming and Colorado play a role in the novels. Not usually a mystery/suspense fan, but I enjoy these books. Plus the author is a friend of a friend, had a chance to see him at the Tattered Cover and talk to him a bit afterwards with friends.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Wyoming, the main character is in law enforcement and a climber. The descriptions of the landscapes and of climbing are great. The order of his books are 1. The Edge of Justice, 2. Point of Law, 3. Trial by Ice and Fire, 4. Crossing the Line and 5. Badwater. Though any of these can stand alone, they are much more fun read in order. Mr. McKinzie is an Assistant District Attorney in Colorado so he is well versed on the law.

[Brad Tallent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty sweet fiction. Ive got the next one on my shelf.