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Sam Dawson #1
The Pumpkin Eater
WELLBORN ARE MY CHILDREN - identical epitaphs on identical tombstones a thousand miles apart - leads photographer Sam Dawson to discover a crime, perhaps the most heinous in U.S. history. More than three-quarters of a century have passed since the undetected mass murders of young women occurred. But the tragedy lives on in this fast-paced journey of discovery. Eugene Eris, the name inscribed on the two tombstones, haunts Sam at every turn. The beautiful geneticist Blair Tennyson helps Sam understand the how and why of genetic manipulation and the dark history of America's attempt to genetically improve the human species. Sam trusts no one except small-town waitress Annie George. But, like Sam, Annie is linked to Eris. Together they race to unearth the graves of a lost cemetery and to expose the mass murders of people who were involved in an experiment much larger and more sinister than Sam envisioned. Steven W. Horn's techno-thriller THE PUMPKIN EATER weaves a story of dark secrets while challenging readers to consider politically charged social issues as the novel races toward an unthinkable ending. The Pumpkin Eater, the nightmarish evil-doer of the past, haunts the present and lingers just below the surface of the future. Who is he? What has he done? Who are his protectors? The tension mounts as Sam navigates toward the shocking conclusion
370 pages, Hardcover
First published October 27, 2013
11 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Steven W. Horn
6 books14 followersSteven W. Horn is the author of the award-winning Sam Dawson mysteries. An Iowa native and decorated Vietnam veteran, Horn earned his doctorate in Colorado. After high-ranking careers in both Colorado and Wyoming, he turned to full-time fiction writing, drawing upon his diverse educational and career experiences in crafting his stories. Horn’s critically acclaimed debut stand-alone novel was ANOTHER MAN’S LIFE. LOST & FOUND CAFE: A SAM DAWSON MYSTERY is Horn’s sixth book in the mystery series. He lives in Wyoming.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 2, 2015
Interesting thriller, labeled as a 'Sam Dawson Mystery' but seems more in the vain of Michael Crichton "science" fiction than Michael Connelly crime fiction. Hard to summarize without giving plot points away. Starts and ends in graveyards, and in between are trips back and forth between Colorado and Iowa, romance and a genetics lesson. Having grown up in Colorado, it was fun to read about familiar spots around Denver and Boulder. Kudos to Steven Horn for writing such a page-turner and making genetics and government bureaucracy so interesting and readable!
July 20, 2024
DNF @ 51%/Chapter 15- I need a book written by a Wyoming author, saw a friend read this one for the prompt, and thought I’d give this one a try. The beginning started out really well. The mystery itself is interesting and I’m still not saying I’ll never finish it, but it’s turned into a slog. I started this book in April and now it’s July. Even the slow pace wasn’t enough to totally deter me, but the romance scenes are the cringiest, creepiest, most awkward and uncomfortable things. Honestly, any time Dawson, the main character, started talking about the love interest, Blair, I just skipped until the end. The guy comes off as a perv at worst and a misogynistic, a-hole at best. All the females in the book are awful too. They all just want to have sex with him and he either objectifies their looks or uses them for plot development. Ugh-Horn needed a female to help write those characters because he clearly thinks we’re all horny idiots. In fact, the only really developed character is Sam Dawson himself which is why it’s kind of boring. I think I just talked myself out of ever finishing this. I’m moving it to the official DNF list.
April 1, 2018
I loved this book and am now a bonified SWH fan! The story was complex yet he was able to keep the reader engrossed every step of the way. My biggest takeaway from this (other than the moral issues raised) is that this author is either exceptionally smart or else has done a LOT of research! My husband thinks its a combination of both. :)
July 9, 2016
The Pumpkin Eater
by Steven W. Horn
This is Steven W. Horn’s second book, but my third review of his outstanding work. Steven W. Horn is a remarkable man, although quiet and reserved in person. His character Sam Dawson is a photographer, producing a book on forgotten Graveyards, when he runs into a mystery that is not too far from home. Dawson discovers a seventy five year old secret, about the kidnapping, rape and murder of young orphan women in the early 1900’s. During the height of the Orphan Train movement children were exploited in many ways many of them shocking to modern ideals. What he could never expect was how close to home his investigation would get, or the human cost of uncovering this decades old secret? The concept and idea of eugenics is abhorrent to the modern liberal idealism of modern society, but the idea had more support than Dawson ever anticipated. Sam places himself, his family and friends at risk to find the truth. This is an amazing story of human struggle, triumph and the will of evil me to bend the world to their own purpose. A book that should be share with young adults and college age students to remind us not to fall for the propaganda of the few to affect the many.
Steven W. Horn is remarkable in his vivid descriptions of the landscapes, whether geological or human.
by Steven W. Horn
This is Steven W. Horn’s second book, but my third review of his outstanding work. Steven W. Horn is a remarkable man, although quiet and reserved in person. His character Sam Dawson is a photographer, producing a book on forgotten Graveyards, when he runs into a mystery that is not too far from home. Dawson discovers a seventy five year old secret, about the kidnapping, rape and murder of young orphan women in the early 1900’s. During the height of the Orphan Train movement children were exploited in many ways many of them shocking to modern ideals. What he could never expect was how close to home his investigation would get, or the human cost of uncovering this decades old secret? The concept and idea of eugenics is abhorrent to the modern liberal idealism of modern society, but the idea had more support than Dawson ever anticipated. Sam places himself, his family and friends at risk to find the truth. This is an amazing story of human struggle, triumph and the will of evil me to bend the world to their own purpose. A book that should be share with young adults and college age students to remind us not to fall for the propaganda of the few to affect the many.
Steven W. Horn is remarkable in his vivid descriptions of the landscapes, whether geological or human.
November 8, 2024
My husband purchased this book for me in Wyoming because it was written by a Wyoming author and was a mystery. Although Horn was a new author for me, I found this one to be interesting enough to try the next in this series.
Photographer Sam Dawson is preparing to publish a new book about hidden cemeteries. While in Iowa, he discovers a tombstone with a picture and the woman buried there seems to be identical to his mother, who grew up in the same area and later moved to Colorado. Other stones and individuals also seem curious to Sam and he returns to Colorado to photograph other stones in his home town. Even more red flags seem to show up and he becomes curious about what he is finding.
Ultimately, this book centers around incidents and people involved, in various ways, with the eugenics movement in the 1920s-1930s. Someone(s) don't seem to want Sam to discover secrets tied up during that era, as well as looking at his own family's history too closely. Things become dangerous, even deadly, for Sam and others.
I enjoyed the basic mystery here, especially because I am interested in family history and research. At times I felt the story began to drag because of the sheer amount of scientific information shown about genetics of the early 20th century. But the rest of the story flowed easily.
I was somewhat turned off by Sam's ability to fall for two different women during a short time span, but those attractions did have some bearing on the situation.
The finale and explanations of a group's actions (think "cabal") is pretty frightening, but may sound applicable to the thinking of some present day folks. I did think of the movie "Idiocracy"; even though I definitely did not agree with actions of the eugenics group in the book.
Photographer Sam Dawson is preparing to publish a new book about hidden cemeteries. While in Iowa, he discovers a tombstone with a picture and the woman buried there seems to be identical to his mother, who grew up in the same area and later moved to Colorado. Other stones and individuals also seem curious to Sam and he returns to Colorado to photograph other stones in his home town. Even more red flags seem to show up and he becomes curious about what he is finding.
Ultimately, this book centers around incidents and people involved, in various ways, with the eugenics movement in the 1920s-1930s. Someone(s) don't seem to want Sam to discover secrets tied up during that era, as well as looking at his own family's history too closely. Things become dangerous, even deadly, for Sam and others.
I enjoyed the basic mystery here, especially because I am interested in family history and research. At times I felt the story began to drag because of the sheer amount of scientific information shown about genetics of the early 20th century. But the rest of the story flowed easily.
I was somewhat turned off by Sam's ability to fall for two different women during a short time span, but those attractions did have some bearing on the situation.
The finale and explanations of a group's actions (think "cabal") is pretty frightening, but may sound applicable to the thinking of some present day folks. I did think of the movie "Idiocracy"; even though I definitely did not agree with actions of the eugenics group in the book.
September 26, 2025
love the idea…
Very interesting eugenics theme and mystery. Some good writing. However, mostly the main character is an unlikable misogynist. I’m afraid it is an unconscious bleed through of the author. I think the sexist, disrespect for women is suppose to come off as cute and funny… even passionate (he is the holy savior in this story)… but if I was around him and he refused to answer my questions and dragged me along so he has an audience and a possible sex partner… I would have left in the first hour.
I like the author’s ideas, but not enough to hang out with “Sam Dawson” again. He wasn’t even very compassionate, empathetic to his dog— always a big red flag 🚩!!
Very interesting eugenics theme and mystery. Some good writing. However, mostly the main character is an unlikable misogynist. I’m afraid it is an unconscious bleed through of the author. I think the sexist, disrespect for women is suppose to come off as cute and funny… even passionate (he is the holy savior in this story)… but if I was around him and he refused to answer my questions and dragged me along so he has an audience and a possible sex partner… I would have left in the first hour.
I like the author’s ideas, but not enough to hang out with “Sam Dawson” again. He wasn’t even very compassionate, empathetic to his dog— always a big red flag 🚩!!
September 1, 2018
I picked this up in a local bookstore in Cody, Wyoming. I like to read “local” authors when I can. Horn lives in Wyoming, so I was intrigued!
Horn chose a topic that is interesting and misunderstood. The backstories of some of the original 120 girls could have been more well-developed. I wanted to love them more in order to feel their pain more (especially at the end).
Beyond that, I couldn’t put the book down and loved the local flavor!
Horn chose a topic that is interesting and misunderstood. The backstories of some of the original 120 girls could have been more well-developed. I wanted to love them more in order to feel their pain more (especially at the end).
Beyond that, I couldn’t put the book down and loved the local flavor!
January 4, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed Horn's book. The story moved along, no dead spots. The protagonist was a believable character. The plot had many twists and turns with a surprise ending. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
October 16, 2014
Steven W. Horn was interviewed about his book, The Pumpkin Eater on Wyoming Public Radio. The book had a deliciously twisted sounding plot. It both sounded and started as a paranormal mystery. It ended up as a very different sort of mystery.
Animal husbandry plays a large part in the novel. The main character, Sam, is a chauvinist. He thinks every woman has the hots for him, those who don't are geriatric. He's an absentee dad. After he learns his daughter has a debilitating illness he runs away to continue solving the mystery. And of course his ex-wife is a harpie. So, from a feminist viewpoint this novel rankled me. And Horn really needs to find a different description of a women's hair; the number of times women's hair is described as "spilling down her shoulders" is irritating.
In spite of its short-comings, the narrative is well-paced, and the premise is interesting. Oh, and points are added anytime my favorite author (Aldous Huxley) is mentioned in a book!
Animal husbandry plays a large part in the novel. The main character, Sam, is a chauvinist. He thinks every woman has the hots for him, those who don't are geriatric. He's an absentee dad. After he learns his daughter has a debilitating illness he runs away to continue solving the mystery. And of course his ex-wife is a harpie. So, from a feminist viewpoint this novel rankled me. And Horn really needs to find a different description of a women's hair; the number of times women's hair is described as "spilling down her shoulders" is irritating.
In spite of its short-comings, the narrative is well-paced, and the premise is interesting. Oh, and points are added anytime my favorite author (Aldous Huxley) is mentioned in a book!
January 2, 2015
I didn't much care for this book. I found the main character to be self centered and oblivious to anything beside his own agenda. He browbeat other people into doing favors for him and used his friendships to further his cause.
I thought the writing was awkward and the dialogue unnatural. I found the plot to be interesting until it all became too hysterical and cartoon balloonish in nature as the book progressed.
Probably not a series I will continue with.
I thought the writing was awkward and the dialogue unnatural. I found the plot to be interesting until it all became too hysterical and cartoon balloonish in nature as the book progressed.
Probably not a series I will continue with.
September 26, 2014
Enjoyed this book - totally different mystery than I am used to reading. Since I am from Colorado, the Denver area, this book hits all the places I've been and know, so that made it more exciting for me. This is Mr. Horn's second book and I hope he will write more. Can't really summarize the book in a way that I won't reveal too much information.
June 25, 2020
Too much technical information
The story itself wasn’t bad. However; I think it was too bogged down with technical information about genetics, splitting cells, eugenics... The story would have been much better without the college course material. Also, Sam REALLY needs to work on his game!
The story itself wasn’t bad. However; I think it was too bogged down with technical information about genetics, splitting cells, eugenics... The story would have been much better without the college course material. Also, Sam REALLY needs to work on his game!
April 18, 2016
Interesting book. The main character is Sam Dawson, who finds himself in a mystery started in the 1920's. He finds gravestones with exact names and messages in a small cemetery in Iowa and Colorado. He learns a lot about genetics and ventures into a hidden mystery. Don't read late at night!!
September 4, 2014
Liked the book - its characters and the story line. The fast paced ending was great and did not disappoint. Looking forward to reading more about Sam Dawson.
October 6, 2016
WOW...that's all I got...
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December 26, 2016Very interesting book.
January 3, 2017
Gruesome and tiresome.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews