The Steel City Affair: A Val Buchanan Investigation Book One

by James Dargan, Majes Nagrad (Illustrator)

The Steel City Affair (A Val Buchanan Investigation Book 1)

A Pinkerton detective. A nation divided. A case that could shatter his oath.

1910, Pennsylvania. The coalfields burn with strikes and suspicion, and Val Buchanan is sent to keep order where there is none. Raised in the smoke of Pittsburgh's mills, he knows both sides of the fight—the men who sweat in the shafts and the owners who profit from their labor. But in the valley of steel and coal, every step uncovers deeper corruption.

As violence simmers and loyalties clash, Buchanan must decide whether justice means loyalty to his badge—or betrayal of it.

The Steel City Affair launches the Val Buchanan Investigations **, a gripping series of historical crime thrillers steeped in America's violent labor wars. Perfect for readers of James Ellroy, Dennis Lehane, and Caleb Carr.**

Step into the shadows of history and meet Val Buchanan—a detective bound by oath, haunted by conscience.

102 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2025

About the author

Writer, Raconteur, Blogger

For more detailed information on the latest news on my books and blog posts, please visit: jamesdargan.com

Reviews

[Constance M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this book from the author through Book Funnel.

The author has done a wonderful job with the words and descriptions. It says more in this short story than some books can say in a huge volume. The language is colourful and descriptive. It was a joy to read.

This is a tough one to review. It was well written, and the descriptions were done wonderfully, but I still am at a loss as to what to say.

It is a disturbing theme, and I got involved in the story. it certainly is not a typical investigation type book, and that is actually good. It leaves the reader wondering how the main character will continue with his life/job, actually.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The word play in this book is something special. Just an example “Sleep came like a man who doesn’t want to stay, and when it left he didn’t know if it had ever sat down.” This book was a page turner. How would he resolve being caught between two hard sides and not belonging to either? And the end was not an end but a possible new beginning. Waiting for the next.

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

[Rich Meyrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Dargan has a wonderful way with words. From the first page, he wraps the reader up in the feeling of the time, in this case 1910. The descriptions in The Steel City Affair (which is actually called The Iron City Affair in the copy I read) are so vivid you can almost taste the coal smoke. The story is fascinating and believable. The metaphors and similes are clever and well conceived (although perhaps a little thick on the ground). I look forward to Val Buchanan’s next case.