A Ton of Gold

Crystal Moore Suspense #1

by James R. Callan

Crystal Moore stands on the brink of losing everything-her only family, her self esteem and her career. Because of a long-forgotten folktale, murders, arson, kidnapping, and firebombs besiege Crystal. And while she struggles to sort out the mystery, the man who nearly destroyed her emotionally reappears. This time, he can end her career. Crystal will need all the help she can get from a former bull rider, her street-wise housemate and Crystal's feisty grandmother. Early Reader Comments: ...Your heart will go out to Crystal Moore, who must not only combat attacks on her only living relative, but must also figure out who her enemies are. And, at the heart of her struggle, there is the lure of a ton of gold. Callan draws genuine, sympathetic characters that pull you in... Jory Sherman author of The Baron Decision James Callan is a master at understanding human conflict and the raw emotions... In A Ton of Gold, he magically weaves a story in the midst of folk tales and murder that are haunting, mysterious, and guaranteed to remain with you long after the final page is read. Caleb Pirtle III Editorial Director at Gallivant Press About the Author: JAMES R. CALLAN took a degree in English, intent on writing. When writing didn't support a family, he went to graduate school in mathematics, then pursued a career in mathematics and computer science. But writing was his first love. He has published a number of books and picked up some awards along the way. Callan lives with his wife in east Texas and Puerto Vallarta. They have four grown children and six grandchildren.

274 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

JAMES R. CALLAN took a degree in English, intent on writing. When writing didn’t support a family, he went to graduate school in mathematics, then pursued a career in mathematics and computer science. He has received grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the Data Processing Management Association. He has been listed in Who’s Who in Computer Science, and Two Thousand Notable Americans.

But writing was his first love. He has published a number of books and picked up some awards along the way. Cleansed by Fire, the first of the Father Frank mystery series, and Murder a Cappella, another mystery which Callan wrote with one of his daughters, Diane Bailey, were both published in 2012.

Callan lives with his wife in east Texas and Puerto Vallarta. They have four grown children and six grandchildren.

Reviews

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crystal Moore gets involved into danger when her somewhat eccentric grandmother calls and tells her someone is trying to kill her. Why would anyone want to kill a 76 year old lady? Crystal has her doubts until her grandmother is in an accident, which she says was no accident. What is going on here? Her grandmother is sure someone wants to take her home away from her. But why? You will need to read the book to find out the reason. This book is very entertaining. The characters, especially the grandmother shoots from the "lips" and doesn't care who she is talking to. Then there is the sheriff and the news reporter. Crystal has "history" with one of them, and I am not going to tell you which one. Can they figure out the reasoning for the attempts on grandmother's life?

[Amber Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this Book

I really enjoyed this book engage in the storyline was consistent I like the technology even though I didn't understand all of it iPhone question for the offer computers that can scan stuff and cell phone so I can do stuff like talk to computer and turn lights on and off why didn't they take a picture with their cell phone a couple times like for the license plate with the truck? Anyway I digress that's not the important part the important part was I love the plot and the characters I definitely recommend this book to anyone who might think they're interested in thatall in all a great read by an author that I will buy again highly recommend this book

[Lorna Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. The protagonist, Crystal, is complex. However, I found her obsession with a past unfair situation excessive and not as believable as the rest of the plot. Nana Eula is the best character in the book. She is surrounded by colorful and interesting friends--including the sheriff and newspaper reporter. Some of the actions of the characters seemed a bit questionable, and why don't any of them carry cell phones? I found myself wondering exactly when this story took place. Despite some minor reservations, I enjoyed the book. It kept me interested to the end.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Ton of Gold has a super intriguing plot and just the right amount of suspense. It is never too late to stumble across a great book! Even more amazing than Crystal is her feisty grandmother. I love these characters including Crystal's housemate, her boss and his wizard of gadgets friend. It will take all of these people to keep up with the arson, murders, attempted murders, kidnapping and Crystal's sleaze of aa advisor. With plenty of plot twists and some awesome database search programs, I was kept reading until the wee hours because I could not put this mystery down!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A folk tale about gold leads to murder and mayhem in the first Crystal Moore book "A Ton of Gold".
It was slow in parts, and I have to admit that I found Crystal a little annoying at times, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable mystery. Crystal's grandmother especially is enjoyable. I will definitely be reading the next in the series.
I received this free from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. When Crystal's grandmother thinks someone is trying to kill her Crystal and her co-workers set out to find what is happening and why. Nana Eula is a character in herself. The plot kept me interested the whole way through. I can see this as a movie.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is trying to stop people killing her grandmother. She is then drawn into a dangerous world as she tries to protect her. Life is about to get very interesting and complicated. What secrets are being hidden? Will she be able to keep her safe? Follow their adventures

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the novel's suspense. The story moved at a fast pace and held my interest to the very end. A great cast of interesting and memorable characters. I liked the computer detail, the connection to an old legend, the east Texas setting, and how everything, including the characters' work, fit together to create a well-developed story.

[Jacqueline Ellison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by James R. Callan. I thought it was a good read but not really suspenseful enough for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Govno Nichevo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was a good read. For me, it was a bit better than the average mystery adventure. I found it to be engaging and entertaining, with the technology aspects of the story done quite well.

[Dave Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enthralling thriller from cover to cover with lively characters, full of action, with a frantic chase for gold. Highly recommended!

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery, danger and family all wrapped up in a great story.

[DelSheree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once a promising young student, Crystal Moore is now struggling to leave her past behind and build a successful career. The problem is, not only her past in coming back to haunt her, but myths of decades past are stirring up trouble as well. In the midst of big projects at work, Crystal finds herself in the middle of a hunt for gold, complete with bullets and dangerous criminals.

The first chapter is set back in the time, but the rest of the story is set in modern day. The first chapter serves a very important purpose. It sets up the mystery of the gold, the gold that throws Crystal's entire life into total chaos. The aspect of the gold was a great part of this book. I enjoyed the story behind the interest in the gold and the way it was researched. I also enjoyed the characters trying to figure out what was going on, the villains, and the action the search for the people behind the attacks on Crystal and her grandmother created. I stayed interested in the plot the whole time.

Crystal works in information retrieval, and her work plays a huge role in the development of this story. Callan blends the technical side of this story with the fast paced adventure seamlessly. The pacing was well done throughout the whole book. There was a good balance of action and reflection. The fast paced scenes kept me interested and I was able to follow the action easily. The moments spent with Crystal as she contemplates her past and her future was equally interesting. I felt connected with her as a character and wanted to see her face her past and the current events making life a mess.

All of the characters, even the side characters, were quite enjoyable. Callan took the time to develop an intricate story for each one. Crystal struggles with events in her past, and those events have changed who she is. Coming back from her problems is a major struggle for her and it affects her choices throughout the book. Mark, Crystals boss, was also a great character. He was a good addition to both the action scenes and the mystery. I was hoping for a little more of a romantic side to this book, because I'm a sucker for a good romance. There was potential for something more to develop, but Callan held off on making it a focus. I would have preferred the relationship had played a bigger part, but other readers may prefer to not have the action and mystery clouded. Overall, this was a very enjoyable book and I look forward to reading more from James Callan.

Check out my other reviews a The Edible Bookshelf

[Martha Cheves · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Ton of Gold - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of: Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

The men were struggling with the wagon, its large wheels barely moving. "Come on, Cookie. Let's give 'em a hand." The cook, well over two hundred fifty pounds, and Rip added their muscle to the task. Now, with all eight men straining, the wagon wheels turned a bit faster. It reached the point where the ground began to slope toward the cliff and the wagon began to move on its own, slowly picking up speed. The men gave a last push, then straightened up to watch the wagon tumble off the cliff. It splashed into the water sending a ripple all the way across the narrow lake. In only seconds, the wagon and its heavy cargo (a ton of gold) sank out of sight.

This took place in 1834. Was it the truth or just a folklore?

Crystal Moore works for IRS - Intelligent Retrieval Systems. The program she designed will allow the state police to enter descriptions of vehicles, partial plate numbers and even makes and colors to narrow down the possible identification of a vehicle they may be searching for. Her seventy-six year old grandmother lives in Wooden Nickle, Texas in a house she and Crystal's grandfather built in the middle of 50 acres. So, when she gets a call telling her that her 'Nana' had been in an accident she left Dallas and went straight to her aid. Her Nana wasn't hurt badly but told Crystal that this was the 2nd attempt on her life. Of course Crystal had doubts, that is until the 3rd attempt occurred and a body was found. Why would anyone want to harm a little old lady that never hurt anyone?

The Author, James R. Callan, has written a book that I simply loved! I actually read the full book in 3 nights, staying up a bit late just to read 'a little more.' He ties the events from 1834, the attempts on Nana's life, the retrieval program and some of its employees into a story that had me wanting more. A Ton of Gold - Crystal Moore Suspense is book one. I'm now looking forward to book two which is now out and titled A Silver Medallion. Can't wait! If you like a good light-heart mystery with a touch of humor, don't miss this series. I'm glad I didn't.

Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat

[Mary Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in modern day Dallas and the east Texas area, this story still has plenty of old west excitement, along with some Texas style characters. Eula Moore is a feisty, east Texas grandmother who knows someone is out to kill her before anyone else will believe her. Her granddaughter, Crystal, doesn't exactly take after Eula but therein lies her opportunity to grow through the story. Crystal has her own issues, between worrying about her grandmother's safety, getting ready for a critical presentation at work, and learning to deal with her lack of confidence when others try to use her as a doormat.
Although Crystal is the main character, Eula may be my favorite. Her friend, Melva and Crystal's roommate, Brandi, vie for second favorite. But Crystal comes through with some shining moments as well.
I enjoyed the suspense and definitely wanted to keep turning pages. This is a very enjoyable, fun story.

[Patricia Gligor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Ton of Gold" by James R. Callan hooked me on the first page of the Prologue and kept me eagerly turning the pages through the last word of the Epilogue. The plot was beyond intriguing and the characters were so well developed that I felt as if I knew them by the time I finished reading the book.
Without giving away the story because you'll want to experience it for yourself, I will only say that it was a great read and I highly recommend it.

[Neena Christianson Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The past meets the future via technology

Crystal Moore works for an information retrieval system, and has a grandmother that insists someone is trying to kill her. What follows is a good book full of drama, comedy, murder, and an over one hundred year old mystery. I will definitely be reading more in this series.

[James Callan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read. An old Texas folk tale comes to light in today's world and causes havoc for Crystal Moore and her grandmother. The book has several unforgettable characters, and more than one villain.

[MARILYN HOLLINGSWORTH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ton of Pig Iron

The book is well-written and suspenseful. There were enough twists and turns to satisfy the mystery buff, however, as a male author, he does not write women well. Nana was a horrible ole witch and Crystal was so wishy-washy she could easily go from from a puddle of goo into a wall of steel in 30 seconds flat. I didn't like the characters, but the theme of the book was a B-

[Cheryl Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good plot but Characterization not strong

The plot and storyline kept me interested so I continued reading every chance I got. Without giving spoilers I will state main character Crystal and Mark seemed stoic and unbelievable to me. Nana Eula, her friend and Crystal's roommate were more I interesting than Crystal. When people work closely together as in this story there is usually some emotions, some comments, some feelings that surface especially with a blooming romance. Mark never showed any interest in Crystal that I could see. I have worked with several engineers and logical computer types so I know it is possible to see their personalities better thhis book did. All that said, the plot was fantastic.

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had lively characters, suspense, action and adventure! A unique premise about a search for gold that turns into so much more of a book.