Danger at Mormon Crossing

Sandy Steele Adventures #2

by Roger Barlow

Sandy Steele was delighted to accept the invitation of Make Cook and his father to accompany them for a month of camping and hunting. Their trip turned out to be a lot more exciting than they had bargained for.

The boys had to learn to ride the roaring rapids. They were, however, saved the trouble of going after a mountain lion - he came after them instead. And their most dangerous hunt concerned three Crows - and a hidden cave. It was a month of high adventure.

191 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Roger Barlow is a pen-name used by publisher Simon and Schuster. Authors who wrote books under the name include: Robert Leckie (Black Treasure and Fire at Red Lake), John Ott (Danger at Mormon Crossing), Jack Pearl (Stormy Voyage and Secret Mission to Alaska), and John Stephen Doherty (Troubled Waters).

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a series of six Sandy Steele Adventure books that were written for the YA crowd back in the late-1950s. The publisher Simon & Schuster contacted with a few established authors, who wrote under the pen name Roger Barlow for this series. Very similar in style and tone to the Hardy Boys Mysteries, Danger at Mormon Crossing was book two in the Sandy Steele Adventure series ... and it was a another delight. This series is a throwback to simpler times ... it is not a Harry Potter series or a Hunger Games or Divergent-type of futuristic/dystopian book. That said, this little tale was very entertaining.

This tale is about a group, with Sandy and his friend Mike, going west to hunt in the mountains ... specifically in the Lost River Range in Idaho. The narrative gives the reader a wonderful look at the rough and tumble country out west, and breathes life into rafting across rock rapids, fly fishing, cave spelunking, and the like ... so you get a history lesson also. Written in the 1950s, the narrative is not politically-correct all the time but is never offensive in touching on a bit of Indian culture, hunting for wild game, and some general knowledge about the Old West. Throw in some surprises along the way and you have the makings of an engaging storyline. All in all a nicely produced little tale.

[Rhys Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Sandy Steele adventure. I found the read fast and simple, appropriate for young adult readers. The mystery is thin and solved more by luck than deduction. However, it is entertaining and paced for a fast adventure.