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Smoke Tree Mystery #1
The House of Three Murders
In the fall of 1960, the lives of four young people collide at The House of Three Murders in the middle of the vast Mojave Desert. The encounter alters all of their lives in different ways, but none of them will ever be the same. The novel follows the four: three white teenagers and a young Mojave Indian, as their lives spin off in different directions. A deputy sheriff, a liquor store owner and a woman living a marginalized life are part of the unfolding story. The narrative provides a look into small-town life in an isolated desert railroad town. A member of the Mojave Tribal Council, her wheelchair-bound son, a politically ambitious school superintendent, a lonely man grieving his wife, and a mysterious, wealthy family play prominent roles in the novel.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 13, 2013
About the author
Gary J. George
43 books99 followersGary George spent his teenage years in Needles, California, and his Smoke Tree novels are set in the Mojave Desert of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Gary was blessed with a long and happy marriage to his beloved, Ginny Boyd, author of the book "Birdy Bird." When Ginny died in January 2018, Gary could not write for a while. However, during a seventy-mile backpacking trip across the desert from the Colorado River to the middle of the Mojave National Preserve in May of that year, he began to come to terms with her death. When he returned home, he discovered that immersing himself in his writing allowed him a few hours of relief from sadness, and he began work on "The Carnival, The Cross, and the Burning Desert."
In 2024, Gary was diagnosed with four severely blocked arteries in his heart and underwent open-heart surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He wrote a book about his experience and recovery, "Out of the Cabbage (CABG) Patch," while concurrently working on the twelfth novel in the Smoke Tree series, "Mojave Desert Jezebeth," which was published in July of 2025. The thirteenth book in the Smoke Tree Series, "Desert Resurrection," was published on April 2, 2026.
In 2024, Gary was diagnosed with four severely blocked arteries in his heart and underwent open-heart surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He wrote a book about his experience and recovery, "Out of the Cabbage (CABG) Patch," while concurrently working on the twelfth novel in the Smoke Tree series, "Mojave Desert Jezebeth," which was published in July of 2025. The thirteenth book in the Smoke Tree Series, "Desert Resurrection," was published on April 2, 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
January 27, 2020
Even though this is the first book in Gary J. George's Smoke Tree series it is the second one I have read. There is just something about them that appeals to me. He writes about a time and place that might as well be the moon to me, desert country California in the early 1960's, but his people are genuine, and the town of Smoke Tree could be a real place.
The troubles people get into are hard troubles, and Sheriff's Lt. Carlos "Horse" Caballo, is a good man who does his job with a heart.
The troubles people get into are hard troubles, and Sheriff's Lt. Carlos "Horse" Caballo, is a good man who does his job with a heart.
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December 11, 2020TheFussyLibrarian
August 2, 2013
There are universals to small town life that extend even to urban neighborhoods, the shared knowledge of people living in close proximity, for example, where no one is ever really a stranger and a secret is never really a secret. But George has captured elements here that are unique to those remote, rural small towns where escape is across miles of open country rather than city blocks, where a restrained tension smolders beneath the surface, and a connection to the land surrounding you is close and undeniable.
Smoke Tree, California in 1960 is hard by Route 66, America’s highway to the west, and the Santa Fe Railroad. The nearby Colorado River is slowly being captured and corrupted by progress,the town embraced uncomfortably and sometimes unwillingly by the Mojave Indian Nation. It’s a place where a teen’s years are as important as any anywhere and the author has drawn his characters with sensitivity and clarity: Johnny Quentin the school’s football star; his pal Ade, a young man more wise than his years; Judy McPhearson, Smoke Tree’s own Estella Havisham, a cold, hard beauty. Their lives, along with that of a young Mojave man of the Pipa Aha Macav tribe will converge, drawn to a calamity that will prove to be more an awakening than tragedy.
Told primarily in the first person voice of Ade, George clearly has an affinity and knowledge of the landscape, bringing it to life in, often, vivid detail as Ade and Charlie Merriman traverse the wild hills about them in their separate quests, each in search of their own truths. Circumstance proves to be a guiding force as George builds tension and pace, bringing each character’s life closer to its destiny. Courtroom scenes are fast moving and told with the knowledge of an experienced hand. There is much here to grab you, to hold you, and to compel you onward. The House of Three Murders is a terrific story told with clarity and yet, there is much under the surface. Astute readers will be gratified with more.
Smoke Tree, California in 1960 is hard by Route 66, America’s highway to the west, and the Santa Fe Railroad. The nearby Colorado River is slowly being captured and corrupted by progress,the town embraced uncomfortably and sometimes unwillingly by the Mojave Indian Nation. It’s a place where a teen’s years are as important as any anywhere and the author has drawn his characters with sensitivity and clarity: Johnny Quentin the school’s football star; his pal Ade, a young man more wise than his years; Judy McPhearson, Smoke Tree’s own Estella Havisham, a cold, hard beauty. Their lives, along with that of a young Mojave man of the Pipa Aha Macav tribe will converge, drawn to a calamity that will prove to be more an awakening than tragedy.
Told primarily in the first person voice of Ade, George clearly has an affinity and knowledge of the landscape, bringing it to life in, often, vivid detail as Ade and Charlie Merriman traverse the wild hills about them in their separate quests, each in search of their own truths. Circumstance proves to be a guiding force as George builds tension and pace, bringing each character’s life closer to its destiny. Courtroom scenes are fast moving and told with the knowledge of an experienced hand. There is much here to grab you, to hold you, and to compel you onward. The House of Three Murders is a terrific story told with clarity and yet, there is much under the surface. Astute readers will be gratified with more.
February 28, 2019
Sweet meandering mystery!
My sister recommended this series to me and after reading book one, I will complete the series. I loved the slow meandering style of the characters, it captures life in the late 50’s, early 60’s at the dawn of the Vietnam war. Life was different. The description of the land is superlative, the stillness of the desert, the beauty, the heat, the cold. The integrity of the characters and their story is real.
My sister recommended this series to me and after reading book one, I will complete the series. I loved the slow meandering style of the characters, it captures life in the late 50’s, early 60’s at the dawn of the Vietnam war. Life was different. The description of the land is superlative, the stillness of the desert, the beauty, the heat, the cold. The integrity of the characters and their story is real.
March 23, 2017
I picked this book up thinking it would be a murder mystery something like the mysteries by Tony Hillerman. It isn't exactly that, although it does have some of that (murder, Native American culture, description of life in the Southwestern desert, narrative relating the life of the investigators and witnesses). It also has a healthy dose of coming-of age story, and Deer Hunter-style story of lives destroyed by the Vietnam War. Overall I found the book riveting, at least the main character's reactions to the murder and its effects on their lives; the descriptions of the land, and more. By the way, it isn't much of a mystery, since the author brings us into the murder showing us everything that happened along the way It turns out that the book isn't about solving the murder (that part turns out to be easy) but rather picking up the pieces. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will definitely be looking for other books by this author.
May 10, 2015
I don’t often write book reviews. They are, in fact, one of my least favorite things to do, but when I picked up The House of Three Murders by Gary J. George, I knew I couldn’t avoid sharing this really good book!
It was a breath of fresh air after reading several of those books classed as “literary fiction,” where everybody rattles on ad nauseam about their inner feelings and subconscious urges. The last of those was the worst; it started out as an engaging story and then once the author apparently felt duty-bound to include the main character’s diary, it degenerated from there. The main character (a 27-year-old male) started acting and thinking like a 15-year-old girl. Ugh!
So the main thing I appreciated about The House of Three Murders was its honesty. It’s a story set in the fictional town of Smoke Tree, on the California side of the Colorado River not far south of where Bullhead City sits on the AZ side. All the action happens in 1960, and the author did a good job of keeping his time period straight, mostly avoiding inserting 21st Century mores into it, which I appreciated.
The characters are well-drawn and quite real. I live in Yuma, quite a bit farther south on the river, and I can sometimes still see the ghosts here of some of the attitudes of 50 years ago. Things have changed quite a bit. The story could not have happened the way it did in today’s cellphone-connected world.
I really don’t want to say too much about it because I’m afraid I’d 1) go on far too long, and 2) give away some vital detail that would be a spoiler. I will say, though, that a rousing good story was exactly what I needed, and I have high hopes that the author has a few more like this lurking on his hard drive. Heck, I’d pay full hardcover price for those books!
Anybody that lives on or near the river, or anywhere in the region they call the Desert Southwest should read this book. You WILL enjoy it! Other reviewers have drawn parallels between George’s work and that of Tony Hillerman or J.A. Jance, but I haven’t read any of their books, so I can’t comment there.
It was a breath of fresh air after reading several of those books classed as “literary fiction,” where everybody rattles on ad nauseam about their inner feelings and subconscious urges. The last of those was the worst; it started out as an engaging story and then once the author apparently felt duty-bound to include the main character’s diary, it degenerated from there. The main character (a 27-year-old male) started acting and thinking like a 15-year-old girl. Ugh!
So the main thing I appreciated about The House of Three Murders was its honesty. It’s a story set in the fictional town of Smoke Tree, on the California side of the Colorado River not far south of where Bullhead City sits on the AZ side. All the action happens in 1960, and the author did a good job of keeping his time period straight, mostly avoiding inserting 21st Century mores into it, which I appreciated.
The characters are well-drawn and quite real. I live in Yuma, quite a bit farther south on the river, and I can sometimes still see the ghosts here of some of the attitudes of 50 years ago. Things have changed quite a bit. The story could not have happened the way it did in today’s cellphone-connected world.
I really don’t want to say too much about it because I’m afraid I’d 1) go on far too long, and 2) give away some vital detail that would be a spoiler. I will say, though, that a rousing good story was exactly what I needed, and I have high hopes that the author has a few more like this lurking on his hard drive. Heck, I’d pay full hardcover price for those books!
Anybody that lives on or near the river, or anywhere in the region they call the Desert Southwest should read this book. You WILL enjoy it! Other reviewers have drawn parallels between George’s work and that of Tony Hillerman or J.A. Jance, but I haven’t read any of their books, so I can’t comment there.
March 15, 2014
A decrepit old house, The House of Three Murders, sits ominously in a thicket in the middle of the Mojave Desert. The site of a gruesome mutilation years before, the house sits almost forgotten until the lives of five people intersect with it on a November night in 1960.
Gary J. George’s The House of Three Murders takes the reader on a wild journey through the lives of these five, mainly from the point of view of Charlie Merriman, a young Mojave Indian, and Aeden Snow, a high school student. George uses an interesting technique to tell his tale – Merriman’s story is told in third person, while we hear directly from Snow. Instead of being disruptive, as such point of view switches often are, this method of telling the story helps to heighten the tension as George adeptly weaves the threads of two disparate lives together to bring the story to a satisfactory conclusion.
The author does a remarkably effective job of painting small-town life, and his dialogue is spot on in pulling us into the narrative. The House of Three Murders is a tale well-told.
Gary J. George’s The House of Three Murders takes the reader on a wild journey through the lives of these five, mainly from the point of view of Charlie Merriman, a young Mojave Indian, and Aeden Snow, a high school student. George uses an interesting technique to tell his tale – Merriman’s story is told in third person, while we hear directly from Snow. Instead of being disruptive, as such point of view switches often are, this method of telling the story helps to heighten the tension as George adeptly weaves the threads of two disparate lives together to bring the story to a satisfactory conclusion.
The author does a remarkably effective job of painting small-town life, and his dialogue is spot on in pulling us into the narrative. The House of Three Murders is a tale well-told.
February 12, 2016
Superb character development
A slow start leads to well defined characters and a plot that could have been turned into two novels. Fascinating descriptions bring the reader into the feel of the lowlands on the Colorado river in a way that equals what Edward Abbey did for the desert years ago.
A slow start leads to well defined characters and a plot that could have been turned into two novels. Fascinating descriptions bring the reader into the feel of the lowlands on the Colorado river in a way that equals what Edward Abbey did for the desert years ago.
January 6, 2017
4 1/2 Stars
Well written book. It brought back so many memories of growing up in the 1960's-1970's, my father's deployment to Vietnam, our loss of innocence. The characters were well portrayed, the plot was interesting and the ending was surprising. I'm going to read the next in this series.
Well written book. It brought back so many memories of growing up in the 1960's-1970's, my father's deployment to Vietnam, our loss of innocence. The characters were well portrayed, the plot was interesting and the ending was surprising. I'm going to read the next in this series.
December 29, 2013
Good book, nice writing, good balance between action and non-action, even the ruminative writing (which in general I detest) was pretty good, a tour de force of the human habitat in the eastern Mojave. Characters were mostly decent people just trying to get thru life. I appreciate that in a book.
October 2, 2015
Possible to taste the desert sand
The descriptions of the desert add depth to a novel about youth,loyalty, friendship and mentoring that will appeal to readers of all ages, furthermore to those who have lived in and loved the desert.
The descriptions of the desert add depth to a novel about youth,loyalty, friendship and mentoring that will appeal to readers of all ages, furthermore to those who have lived in and loved the desert.
January 12, 2015
Good boook
Loved reading about the small town I spent my summers at. Remember hearing about the legend. It brought back all the things I loved about the town.
Loved reading about the small town I spent my summers at. Remember hearing about the legend. It brought back all the things I loved about the town.
July 17, 2023
So I had rated this with a nother account that I have with this app. Yes I still give it 5 stars. I love this series and this time around when I did a reread of this book, I read a lot of it out loud to a friend who grew up in Goffs California during this time. The author did a excellent job of describing surrounding areas to Smoke Tree.
Every now and then my friend would get this look on his face, kinda dreamy eyed, especially when the author would describe Smoke Tree. Yeah it was a treat all right. He would start talking about his childhood during that time. Yes sometimes he recognizes some description of a place but doesn't remember it being were the author said. But he also tells me that he spent most of his young years in The Old Woman Mountains with his dad, who had a mining claim there, so maybe he is not remembering it right. But still talking with him about this was a real treat. Oh yeah, he enjoyed the book too, even though he didn't read it. Gonna be mid August before I get the chance to read the next book to him.
As much as I would like to say something about the book, the story, I'm really bad at that kinda thing. I just really like this book and couldn't wait for a chance to read it to a family friend who enjoyed it very much himself, and he grew up in "Smoke Tree". He told me to keep it a 5 stars for him too.
If you read my review all the way through, YOU REALLY NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.
Every now and then my friend would get this look on his face, kinda dreamy eyed, especially when the author would describe Smoke Tree. Yeah it was a treat all right. He would start talking about his childhood during that time. Yes sometimes he recognizes some description of a place but doesn't remember it being were the author said. But he also tells me that he spent most of his young years in The Old Woman Mountains with his dad, who had a mining claim there, so maybe he is not remembering it right. But still talking with him about this was a real treat. Oh yeah, he enjoyed the book too, even though he didn't read it. Gonna be mid August before I get the chance to read the next book to him.
As much as I would like to say something about the book, the story, I'm really bad at that kinda thing. I just really like this book and couldn't wait for a chance to read it to a family friend who enjoyed it very much himself, and he grew up in "Smoke Tree". He told me to keep it a 5 stars for him too.
If you read my review all the way through, YOU REALLY NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.
October 29, 2024
Whew-A journey I'm still thinking about
The past five years I've read may good books, even some great and memorable ones. This lands squarely on top of the mountain. I'm not a reviewer in general but I feel I Owe Gary J George a sincere thank you and I owe you all my urgent recommendation to read this book. The author pealed back the layers of the good days and the painfully brutal times of the 50's and 60's. Of the haves and have nots and the members of both who were troubled, gifted and blessed with gratitude and loss. I didnt think I could enter the minds and hearts of small town high school boys, get excited over football, appreciate the pain of tribal prejudice or even the polarized emotions I felt here of Mexican examples. In this a good centered desert lawman and remorseless evildoer. I fell asleep in the open spaces of the Mohave and woke to the softly rising sun along the riverbed and beautiful mountains. I witnessed the abundant life of the desert I once thought was barren and felt the life drain from the dead and the living as well. Just read this book. Let it pry away the shell and open your soul.
The past five years I've read may good books, even some great and memorable ones. This lands squarely on top of the mountain. I'm not a reviewer in general but I feel I Owe Gary J George a sincere thank you and I owe you all my urgent recommendation to read this book. The author pealed back the layers of the good days and the painfully brutal times of the 50's and 60's. Of the haves and have nots and the members of both who were troubled, gifted and blessed with gratitude and loss. I didnt think I could enter the minds and hearts of small town high school boys, get excited over football, appreciate the pain of tribal prejudice or even the polarized emotions I felt here of Mexican examples. In this a good centered desert lawman and remorseless evildoer. I fell asleep in the open spaces of the Mohave and woke to the softly rising sun along the riverbed and beautiful mountains. I witnessed the abundant life of the desert I once thought was barren and felt the life drain from the dead and the living as well. Just read this book. Let it pry away the shell and open your soul.
June 25, 2024
This is the first in the Smoke Tree Mystery series. I had already read a few of the books from this series and thought I would go back to start at the beginning. This is set in Smoke Tree in the Mojave Desert adjacent to Route 66. The big employer for most in this small town is the Santa Fe Railroad. There was not the usual mystery in the other novels in the series. This follows a couple of teenagers and parallel to their story, two Native American Mojave teenagers. They do intersect and we see the racial prejudice especially in the judicial system, at this time. Also, Lieutenant Carlos Caballo, aka Horse is introduced, and we see in him a lawman of honor and fairness. This small town is very adequately captured and human nature, being what it is, the universal problems across all towns, are played out here too. I found the political discussions quite interesting and the discussions around the Vietnam War. This is extremely well written but kind of a sad book in a way due to the injustices and circumstances beyond their control.
July 20, 2018
I almost didn't read all of this book. When it got to talking about a lot of football. ( not a fan at all) But I am so glad I did. A good book but some sad things at the end. Charlie an Indian who got hooked up with Sixto a bad bad man. Things happened and Sixto got killed and Charlie was tied up by him before, he died. Three teens decided to go to this empty house were Charlie and Sixto was. They thought they were alone. They accidently sit the house on fire. Charlie managed to get out. So did the teens. but down the line the police charged Charlie with armed robbery. In a town where the judge didn't like Indians or Mexican. Charlie case didn't look so good. The army was involved in the story as some of the young men ended up joining the service. Kind of like different parts of the story taking off in their own way.
March 18, 2021
I admit this book got off to a slow start, but it built a steady momentum. I enjoyed the way the author gently exposed the cultural foundations of faith in traditions, including the tradition of systemic racism. The way these traditions intertwine throughout the story brings an understanding rarely achieved in such a powerful way. I highly recommend this book.
I didn't think I would like this book. I'm glad Mr. George changed my mind. As an Onwkehonweh reader I was impressed by the author's ability to depict both the subtle nuances and the overt oppression of systemic racism and it's roots in American history and traditions kept alive today. He did a beautiful job of portraying the beauty of the desert and the people who love it and belong to it. I will definitely share this book.
I didn't think I would like this book. I'm glad Mr. George changed my mind. As an Onwkehonweh reader I was impressed by the author's ability to depict both the subtle nuances and the overt oppression of systemic racism and it's roots in American history and traditions kept alive today. He did a beautiful job of portraying the beauty of the desert and the people who love it and belong to it. I will definitely share this book.
June 28, 2019
I almost gave this book two stars but I went with three. It's well written but in a nutshell.....kind of boring. It's not a book that will keep you up at night because you can't put it down. In other words it's not a "page turner". If you want to read a pleasant book with not many twists and turns this is for you. Also, the Ade character is totally unbelievable. He is just to nice especially to his parents. As someone who raised four boys and an uncle to seven others I can assure you teenage boys do not treat their parents and authority figures as Ade does throughout the book. By far the best part of the book are last twenty or so pages. They say a lot about life, expectations and the passage of time.
January 12, 2023
Definitely a "Must Read First" before getting into this "Truly Great" series
This was a Great Read just as all of Gary J. George's books in his " Smoke Tree" series. I was however left with one great regret! I had stared reading this series midway through and not in any certain order. That was a "Big" mistake! By not reading these books in their proper order I had missed the important insights into better understanding how these boys became the men that they turned out to be. Don't get me wrong, the author does a pretty good job making each book a stand alone but to really enjoy this series it should be best to read them All in order.
Richard Ballasch
This was a Great Read just as all of Gary J. George's books in his " Smoke Tree" series. I was however left with one great regret! I had stared reading this series midway through and not in any certain order. That was a "Big" mistake! By not reading these books in their proper order I had missed the important insights into better understanding how these boys became the men that they turned out to be. Don't get me wrong, the author does a pretty good job making each book a stand alone but to really enjoy this series it should be best to read them All in order.
Richard Ballasch
March 9, 2019
Engrossing
I had no idea where this many layered story would go, but it's twists and turns melded with a sad symmetry into an all too accurate depiction of coming of age in the sixties. Grow up in a small, remote desert town. Deal with high school's demands, Friday night football, racial and economic prejudice. Throw in a senseless crime and mix with the intricacies of multi-state jurisdiction. Top it off with the saga of Vietnam. This story is a casserole not to be missed. I was deeply touched.
I had no idea where this many layered story would go, but it's twists and turns melded with a sad symmetry into an all too accurate depiction of coming of age in the sixties. Grow up in a small, remote desert town. Deal with high school's demands, Friday night football, racial and economic prejudice. Throw in a senseless crime and mix with the intricacies of multi-state jurisdiction. Top it off with the saga of Vietnam. This story is a casserole not to be missed. I was deeply touched.
September 5, 2019
Thought-provoking Author
Not your average mystery, this... Well-developed, relatable characters, and a general sense of intelligent young adults leaving childhood rather abruptly behind and beginning to come to terms with their own limitations and those of the people and society around them. Not stuffy or preachy, but more thoughtful than most.
Beautiful descriptions of that particular desert environment and the people who love it. Am delighted to be introduced to this writer; so glad it's a series!
Not your average mystery, this... Well-developed, relatable characters, and a general sense of intelligent young adults leaving childhood rather abruptly behind and beginning to come to terms with their own limitations and those of the people and society around them. Not stuffy or preachy, but more thoughtful than most.
Beautiful descriptions of that particular desert environment and the people who love it. Am delighted to be introduced to this writer; so glad it's a series!
January 28, 2021
A truly multi-layered book......
Part coming of age story, part mystery book, part philosophy story and part ecological story and totally teriffic story. Not my usual type of reading but once I got past the first couple of chapters I couldn't put it down. It starts out with 3 high school seniors in November 1059 and ends 10 years later. A commentary on some of the most important years in our nation's history. Well written with very few errors, none of which very very major.
Part coming of age story, part mystery book, part philosophy story and part ecological story and totally teriffic story. Not my usual type of reading but once I got past the first couple of chapters I couldn't put it down. It starts out with 3 high school seniors in November 1059 and ends 10 years later. A commentary on some of the most important years in our nation's history. Well written with very few errors, none of which very very major.
November 5, 2025
Good book
This is the first book of the Smoke Tree series for me. I always like to read any series in the order written. The storyline started off slow for me, but then I couldn't put it down. Turned out to be a darn good book. I appreciate how the author completed the story line, I also appreciated the respect with which the characters were treated and there was no gutter, sewer language to wade through. I am of the same generation the main characters were so I could relate to the storyline easily. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was life.
This is the first book of the Smoke Tree series for me. I always like to read any series in the order written. The storyline started off slow for me, but then I couldn't put it down. Turned out to be a darn good book. I appreciate how the author completed the story line, I also appreciated the respect with which the characters were treated and there was no gutter, sewer language to wade through. I am of the same generation the main characters were so I could relate to the storyline easily. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was life.
January 30, 2018
Extraordinary Well Crafted Story; Exposed the the Viet Nam effect on the men that experienced it
Amazing story, exceptionally well crafted tale of life in the 1960's. Highly recommend to anyone. Gary George combines a strong story line with exceptional detail to background and environment. His description of the Mojave desert and surrounding mountains is surreal. Can't wait to read next book in series, though this one is stand alone complete.
Amazing story, exceptionally well crafted tale of life in the 1960's. Highly recommend to anyone. Gary George combines a strong story line with exceptional detail to background and environment. His description of the Mojave desert and surrounding mountains is surreal. Can't wait to read next book in series, though this one is stand alone complete.
April 5, 2025
This book started out a bit slow for my tastes but I simply couldn't put it down. I'm very glad I stuck with it. The writing is superb, almost lyrical. The characters are well drawn, with depth and very memorable--tough but sensitive and thoughtful. At times the desert itself becomes a character it's so well drawn--and I speak as a resident of the Mojave desert.
This beautifully written book already inspired me to get the next few in the series.
This beautifully written book already inspired me to get the next few in the series.
September 25, 2019
Loved this book
Thought at first it was going to be a hard book to read but before I knew it I could not put it down. teens learning how quickly lives change, finding out that as adults it is still the same, just more serious changes, but life goes on and everybody needs to do what they have to do to continue.
Thought at first it was going to be a hard book to read but before I knew it I could not put it down. teens learning how quickly lives change, finding out that as adults it is still the same, just more serious changes, but life goes on and everybody needs to do what they have to do to continue.
January 13, 2022
Such a fabulous writer
I read the first book last and was so sad to come to the end of the series. The characters are ones to cherish, so real and so rich. The Mojave desert setting is captivating and so vividly described it is as if you are living in it. I never want any of these books to end.
I read the first book last and was so sad to come to the end of the series. The characters are ones to cherish, so real and so rich. The Mojave desert setting is captivating and so vividly described it is as if you are living in it. I never want any of these books to end.
March 23, 2022
Interesting story!
I grew up not far from many of these places, hunting trips with family to the New York mountains, and enjoying gathering cattle with family near Kingston Peak so it made this story extra special. I can't say I liked the ending, but it brought back memories of several wonderful men who came home from there just as broken.
I grew up not far from many of these places, hunting trips with family to the New York mountains, and enjoying gathering cattle with family near Kingston Peak so it made this story extra special. I can't say I liked the ending, but it brought back memories of several wonderful men who came home from there just as broken.
September 14, 2022
Smoke Tree aka Anywhere
The story starts slowly. Gathers details and then the inevitable twists of life begin. What first appeared as youth novel turns into an adult convolution of more than local events. As one who lived in the era is this story I can relate to the final chapters and the ending. Well done.
The story starts slowly. Gathers details and then the inevitable twists of life begin. What first appeared as youth novel turns into an adult convolution of more than local events. As one who lived in the era is this story I can relate to the final chapters and the ending. Well done.
October 18, 2022
Fantastic
I could not put this book down! The woven and drama of the teenagers life, the life of Charlie, the description of the Mojave, the love of football and how it was put on pedestal rang so true of my small town experience. I absolutely loved this book, I relived my high years.
I could not put this book down! The woven and drama of the teenagers life, the life of Charlie, the description of the Mojave, the love of football and how it was put on pedestal rang so true of my small town experience. I absolutely loved this book, I relived my high years.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews