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Bone Walker: A Native American Historical Mystery Series
From New York Times bestselling authors W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear comes part four in their compelling mystery series packed with ancient myth.Archeologist Dusty Stewart and Anthropologist Dr. Maureen Cole are still swept up in an eight-hundred-year-old murder mystery that’s been pleading with them to solve it—both literally and figuratively. With their only goal being to bring peace to all the victims left behind, they see no end in sight—until the unimaginable happens.Hearing faint voices of the dead whispering through the darkness of the gravesite and afraid they’re no longer alone, the dig team works faster, finally uncovering tribal stories that say the deceased are the work of an ancient witch of unimaginable power.Across time, a ruthless murderer desperate to restore his wealth and power begins taking villagers one by one. As Stone Ghost finds himself immersed in a bitterly divided and terrified community, the infamous Two Hearts becomes more legend than human, and the question How does anyone track a myth? But when the pieces of the puzzle start falling into place, it becomes clear that those who appear the bravest may actually possess unimaginable darkness.Will Dusty and Maureen finally solve this ancient crime and put innocent souls to rest before the past collides with the present?Step into the past, where ancient secrets unravel and the past’s chilling grip tightens…or welcome an unfathomable terror into the present.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
420 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2023
129 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
W. Michael Gear
181 books730 followersW. Michael Gear was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on the twentieth of May, 1955. A fourth generation Colorado native, his family had been involved in hard-rock mining, cattle ranching, and journalism. After his father's death in 1959, Michael's mother received her Master's degree in journalism and began teaching. In 1962 she married Joseph J. Cook, who taught tool and die making, and the family lived in Lakewood, Colorado, until 1968. At that time they moved to Fort Collins so that Joe could pursue his Ph.D.. During those years the family lived in the foothills above Horsetooth Reservoir.
It was there that Mike developed a love of history, anthropology, and motorcycles. They would color his future and fill his imagination for the rest of his life. During summers he volunteered labor on local ranches or at the farm east of Greeley and landed his first real job: picking up trash at the lake and cleaning outhouses. It has been said that his exposure to trash led him into archaeology. We will not speculate about what cleaning the outhouses might have led him to. On his first dig as a professional archaeologist in 1976 he discovered that two thousand year old human trash isn't nearly as obnoxious as the new stuff.
Michael graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1972 and pursued both his Bachelor's (1976) and Master's (1979) degrees at Colorado State University. Upon completion of his Master's - his specialty was in physical anthropology - he went to work for Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs as a field archaeologist.
It was in the winter of 1978 that he wrote his first novel. Irritated by historical inaccuracies in Western fiction, he swore he could do better. He was "taking retirement in installments," archaeology being a seasonal career, in the cabin his great uncle Aubrey had built. One cold January night he read a Western novel about a trail drive in which steers (castrated males) had calves. The historical inaccuracies of the story bothered him all night. The next morning, still incensed, he chunked wood into the stove and hunkered over the typewriter. There, on the mining claim, at nine thousand feet outside of Empire, Colorado he hammered out his first five hundred and fifty page novel. Yes, that first manuscript still exists, but if there is justice in the universe, no one will ever see it. It reads wretchedly - but the historical facts are correct!
Beginning in 1981, Michael, along with two partners, put together his own archaeological consulting company. Pronghorn Anthropological Associates began doing cultural resource management studies in 1982, and, although Michael sold his interest in 1984, to this day the company remains in business in Casper, Wyoming. During the years, Michael has worked throughout the western United States doing archaeological surveys, testing, and mitigation for pipelines, oil wells, power lines, timber sales, and highway construction. He learned the value of strong black coffee, developed a palate for chocolate donuts, and ferreted out every quality Mexican restaurant in eight states. He spent nine months of the year traveling from project to project with his trowel and dig kit, a clapped-out '72 Wonder Blazer, and his boon companion, Tedi, a noble tri-color Sheltie.
That fateful day in November, 1981, was delightfully clear, cold, and still in Laramie, Wyoming. Archaeologists from all over the state had arrived at the University of Wyoming for the annual meetings of the Wyoming Association of Professional Archaeologists. It was there, in the meeting room, way too early after a much too long night, that Mike first laid eyes on the most beautiful woman in the world: Kathleen O'Neal Gear. The BLM State Archaeologist, Ray Leicht, introduced him to the pretty anthropologist and historian, and best of all, Ray invited Mike to lunch with Kathleen. It was the perfect beginning for a long and wondrous relationship.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/wmicha...
It was there that Mike developed a love of history, anthropology, and motorcycles. They would color his future and fill his imagination for the rest of his life. During summers he volunteered labor on local ranches or at the farm east of Greeley and landed his first real job: picking up trash at the lake and cleaning outhouses. It has been said that his exposure to trash led him into archaeology. We will not speculate about what cleaning the outhouses might have led him to. On his first dig as a professional archaeologist in 1976 he discovered that two thousand year old human trash isn't nearly as obnoxious as the new stuff.
Michael graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1972 and pursued both his Bachelor's (1976) and Master's (1979) degrees at Colorado State University. Upon completion of his Master's - his specialty was in physical anthropology - he went to work for Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs as a field archaeologist.
It was in the winter of 1978 that he wrote his first novel. Irritated by historical inaccuracies in Western fiction, he swore he could do better. He was "taking retirement in installments," archaeology being a seasonal career, in the cabin his great uncle Aubrey had built. One cold January night he read a Western novel about a trail drive in which steers (castrated males) had calves. The historical inaccuracies of the story bothered him all night. The next morning, still incensed, he chunked wood into the stove and hunkered over the typewriter. There, on the mining claim, at nine thousand feet outside of Empire, Colorado he hammered out his first five hundred and fifty page novel. Yes, that first manuscript still exists, but if there is justice in the universe, no one will ever see it. It reads wretchedly - but the historical facts are correct!
Beginning in 1981, Michael, along with two partners, put together his own archaeological consulting company. Pronghorn Anthropological Associates began doing cultural resource management studies in 1982, and, although Michael sold his interest in 1984, to this day the company remains in business in Casper, Wyoming. During the years, Michael has worked throughout the western United States doing archaeological surveys, testing, and mitigation for pipelines, oil wells, power lines, timber sales, and highway construction. He learned the value of strong black coffee, developed a palate for chocolate donuts, and ferreted out every quality Mexican restaurant in eight states. He spent nine months of the year traveling from project to project with his trowel and dig kit, a clapped-out '72 Wonder Blazer, and his boon companion, Tedi, a noble tri-color Sheltie.
That fateful day in November, 1981, was delightfully clear, cold, and still in Laramie, Wyoming. Archaeologists from all over the state had arrived at the University of Wyoming for the annual meetings of the Wyoming Association of Professional Archaeologists. It was there, in the meeting room, way too early after a much too long night, that Mike first laid eyes on the most beautiful woman in the world: Kathleen O'Neal Gear. The BLM State Archaeologist, Ray Leicht, introduced him to the pretty anthropologist and historian, and best of all, Ray invited Mike to lunch with Kathleen. It was the perfect beginning for a long and wondrous relationship.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/wmicha...
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 27, 2024
Amazing story telling
This is the best of the series so far. The authors make the characters come alive in the stories of both the Anasazi and modern day people.
This is the best of the series so far. The authors make the characters come alive in the stories of both the Anasazi and modern day people.
November 26, 2023
Bone Walker: A Native American Historical Mystery Series (The Anasazi Mysteries Book 5)
by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear
This is the fifth book of the re-release of the Anasazi mystery series.
This may be the darkest story of the gears many books on the First North Americans, focused on the chapters within this edition.
The modern era of the book is plagued with its own darkness. As secrets and stories are coming to light after the passing of the beloved character Dale. The cross over of the series is more evident in this part of the story as the prehistorical events are affecting and changing the modern history. Witch craft is not limited to European history, and the Native American form is very convoluted and frightening.
The Prehistorical story, shows the desperation on all sides of the conflict. As the draught has taken resources from all parties. The War and political infighting has created an atmosphere of distrust, and violence. The most peaceful of characters are at the most risk. Even children are not immune to the darkness, and witchcraft that is floating around.
April 1, 2024
This is a good addition to the Anasazi Mystery series. This is the 5th in a series of 6 books. Current day archeologists are excavating a site in the American Southwest. They uncover a mass grave that is centuries old. The book also describes the Anasazi people whose remains have been found. I really enjoy how the authors take true archeological finds from the region and incorporate them into the narrative. Both the present day and the old-time Anasazi stories are interesting. The book is not a "stand alone" novel. One must read the previous books to be able to grasp the current plot, and the ending of the current volume leaves one wanting more. In my opinion, the previous book in the series did not provide much new and interesting material to the overall story. This is not the case with the current volume. Tee present book moves along well and merges the two time periods and two story lines well. I am enjoying the series and look forward to reading the final book in the series. Overall, good historical fiction about the American Southwest.
December 13, 2023
BONE WALKER blenda the present day archeology dig with the early New Mexico Anasazi Indians that occupied the site. It has present day intrigue and action as well as the actions of the early Anasazi Indians. This is the fifth book in the series and they are all well written. It gives you an insight to the lives of the early indians and their beliefs. It keeps your interest and has many incidents the keep you reading to see the outcomes. I really enjoyed this book. Although it is fiction it is based on the real lives of the early Anasazi. This book would really interest those with a desire to understand the very early New Mexico indians.
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February 13, 2024The evil reaches further into the present from centuries past...
Murders and madness continue to reach across the centuries and nowhere is safe or secure against the evil of Two Hearts.... The past remains shrouded in mysteries that threaten the very existence of descendants hundreds of years in the future....
Fascinating and frightening....
Murders and madness continue to reach across the centuries and nowhere is safe or secure against the evil of Two Hearts.... The past remains shrouded in mysteries that threaten the very existence of descendants hundreds of years in the future....
Fascinating and frightening....
January 13, 2024
Great book!
The mystery continues. Someone close to Dusty is murdered. Has the wolf witch of the ancient Anasazi done this? The look into the past is riveting, as it is somehow tied to the events of the present.
The mystery continues. Someone close to Dusty is murdered. Has the wolf witch of the ancient Anasazi done this? The look into the past is riveting, as it is somehow tied to the events of the present.
March 7, 2024
If this genre is one you enjoy, then read this series! Nice blend of new and old, science and mysticism. This is the next-to-last volume of the set. Read 1-4 first!
May 20, 2024
This one was awesome!
What a amazing series! Each book gives so much to make it brilliant! Secrets begin to reveal themselves, can't wait for the next book!
What a amazing series! Each book gives so much to make it brilliant! Secrets begin to reveal themselves, can't wait for the next book!
September 14, 2024
riveting
This fifth book in the series has kept me turning pages!! Sitting on the cliff of anticipation for the ending!!!
This fifth book in the series has kept me turning pages!! Sitting on the cliff of anticipation for the ending!!!
January 7, 2025
Great series. Start at the beginning and you won't be able to stop. Lots of interesting indian tid-bits too.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews