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The Drift
The Drift blends a tale of Cripple Creek, Colorado mining history with a thrilling contemporary story of the search for the head of a powerful crime organization and a 500 year-old family treasure legend. When a chance encounter with a small-time crook begins to expose a giant criminal enterprise, Federal agent, Jack Bannister, and his team start to unravel the mystery one layer at a time. the chase is on through miles of ancient, abandoned gold mines and through the history of the Cripple Creek mining district.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2012
About the author
Bert Entwistle
12 books3 followersBert Entwistle is an award-winning journalist, photographer, and author of 10 books including: historical fiction, westerns, murder mysteries, and sagas set against the rugged landscapes of the American West. He has been a feature writer and Western history columnist for Working Ranch Magazine for more than 20 years.
Over a career spanning decades, Bert has published more than 450 articles in regional and national magazines, bringing the same eye for detail and authentic voice to his books that earned him recognition in print journalism.
His three book historical fiction series, "Leftover Soldiers," follows four ex-Civil War Soldiers left without a future when the shooting stops. The series is a gritty, immersive saga of duty, survival, and loyalty on the frontier. Whether crafting a fast-paced mystery or an epic historical narrative, Bert writes characters who feel real because they are drawn from real history.
Book #1 of the series starts with the last battle of the Civil War near Brownsville, Texas, and ends near Cheyenne, Wyoming with the completion of the Trans-Continental Railroad.
"Leftover Soldiers" has won numerous awards including the NIEA Book of the Year Award in 2019.
A Colorado resident for over 50 years, Bert makes his home in Colorado Springs with his wife, Nancy. He is the proud father of two sons and grandfather to 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, a family as big and bold as the stories he tells.
If you love sweeping historical fiction or mysteries with a Western edge, start with Book 1 of the Leftover Soldiers series and join thousands of readers already on the trail.
Over a career spanning decades, Bert has published more than 450 articles in regional and national magazines, bringing the same eye for detail and authentic voice to his books that earned him recognition in print journalism.
His three book historical fiction series, "Leftover Soldiers," follows four ex-Civil War Soldiers left without a future when the shooting stops. The series is a gritty, immersive saga of duty, survival, and loyalty on the frontier. Whether crafting a fast-paced mystery or an epic historical narrative, Bert writes characters who feel real because they are drawn from real history.
Book #1 of the series starts with the last battle of the Civil War near Brownsville, Texas, and ends near Cheyenne, Wyoming with the completion of the Trans-Continental Railroad.
"Leftover Soldiers" has won numerous awards including the NIEA Book of the Year Award in 2019.
A Colorado resident for over 50 years, Bert makes his home in Colorado Springs with his wife, Nancy. He is the proud father of two sons and grandfather to 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, a family as big and bold as the stories he tells.
If you love sweeping historical fiction or mysteries with a Western edge, start with Book 1 of the Leftover Soldiers series and join thousands of readers already on the trail.
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January 8, 2022Past and present collide in this history of Colorado’s mining industry. Led by Jack Bannister, this series kick-off promises to offer a rich, action packed, and thrilling ride. Presenting a rag-tag team of professionals, Jack Bannister seeks to uncover the mysteries of the drifts in this aptly named first novel, “The Drift.”
As a child, I was obsessed with rocks. Rocks at museums, in the yard, sold at stores, it didn’t matter, I loved them all. I also love Colorado, the skiing, hiking, being outdoors, the views, there is so much to enjoy in Colorado. “The Drift” seamlessly combines these two adorations into a treasure hunting, mine exploring, water polluting, thrilling and suspenseful read.
The acknowledgements pages of “The Drift” indicates this is the author’s first novel. This surprised me, as the book read like that of a seasoned writer. This story’s lead, Jack Bannister, is the perfect hero to carry a series of books. Bannister offers action, a rag-tag team at his disposal, and a countryside of rock, mystery, and bad guys waiting to be taken down.
“The Drift” captivates readers as it toggles between two storylines. Present day, Jack Bannister seeks to uncover a case of polluted water in Cripple Creek, CO. Given the miles and miles of unexplored drifts between the mines, this threatens to be an impossible task. Putting together a team of locals, experts, and his proven trusted associates, Jack sets out to solve the case.
The second timeline is woven against Jack’s love interest who curates the local museum. After receiving a trunk of letters full of correspondence from a Russian immigrant settling in Cripple Creek, Jack’s experience in Russian is sought to translate the history. These letters transport readers back to the 1800s during the gold rush in Cripple Creek as a young husband and father seeks a new life for his family. Both timelines are gripping as readers are left at the edge of their seats awaiting the next series of events.
Ultimately, these stories collide in unimaginable ways, taking the reader on a thrilling ride through Colorado’s mining enterprises, with enjoyable banter along the way. Despite having no prior experience in mining, and just an elementary love for rocks, “The Drift” fascinated me with the history and richness of the land, and the terror, commitment, and dedication of the mining business.
As a child, I was obsessed with rocks. Rocks at museums, in the yard, sold at stores, it didn’t matter, I loved them all. I also love Colorado, the skiing, hiking, being outdoors, the views, there is so much to enjoy in Colorado. “The Drift” seamlessly combines these two adorations into a treasure hunting, mine exploring, water polluting, thrilling and suspenseful read.
The acknowledgements pages of “The Drift” indicates this is the author’s first novel. This surprised me, as the book read like that of a seasoned writer. This story’s lead, Jack Bannister, is the perfect hero to carry a series of books. Bannister offers action, a rag-tag team at his disposal, and a countryside of rock, mystery, and bad guys waiting to be taken down.
“The Drift” captivates readers as it toggles between two storylines. Present day, Jack Bannister seeks to uncover a case of polluted water in Cripple Creek, CO. Given the miles and miles of unexplored drifts between the mines, this threatens to be an impossible task. Putting together a team of locals, experts, and his proven trusted associates, Jack sets out to solve the case.
The second timeline is woven against Jack’s love interest who curates the local museum. After receiving a trunk of letters full of correspondence from a Russian immigrant settling in Cripple Creek, Jack’s experience in Russian is sought to translate the history. These letters transport readers back to the 1800s during the gold rush in Cripple Creek as a young husband and father seeks a new life for his family. Both timelines are gripping as readers are left at the edge of their seats awaiting the next series of events.
Ultimately, these stories collide in unimaginable ways, taking the reader on a thrilling ride through Colorado’s mining enterprises, with enjoyable banter along the way. Despite having no prior experience in mining, and just an elementary love for rocks, “The Drift” fascinated me with the history and richness of the land, and the terror, commitment, and dedication of the mining business.
January 11, 2022
Past and present collide in this history of Colorado’s mining industry. Led by Jack Bannister, this series kick-off promises to offer a rich, action packed, and thrilling ride. Presenting a rag-tag team of professionals, Jack Bannister seeks to uncover the mysteries of the drifts in this aptly named first novel, “The Drift.”
As a child, I was obsessed with rocks. Rocks at museums, in the yard, sold at stores, it didn’t matter, I loved them all. I also love Colorado, the skiing, hiking, being outdoors, the views, there is so much to enjoy in Colorado. “The Drift” seamlessly combines these two adorations into a treasure hunting, mine exploring, water polluting, thrilling and suspenseful read.
The acknowledgements pages of “The Drift” indicates this is the author’s first novel. This surprised me, as the book read like that of a seasoned writer. This story’s lead, Jack Bannister, is the perfect hero to carry a series of books. Bannister offers action, a rag-tag team at his disposal, and a countryside of rock, mystery, and bad guys waiting to be taken down.
“The Drift” captivates readers as it toggles between two storylines. Present day, Jack Bannister seeks to uncover a case of polluted water in Cripple Creek, CO. Given the miles and miles of unexplored drifts between the mines, this threatens to be an impossible task. Putting together a team of locals, experts, and his proven trusted associates, Jack sets out to solve the case.
The second timeline is woven against Jack’s love interest who curates the local museum. After receiving a trunk of letters full of correspondence from a Russian immigrant settling in Cripple Creek, Jack’s experience in Russian is sought to translate the history. These letters transport readers back to the 1800s during the gold rush in Cripple Creek as a young husband and father seeks a new life for his family. Both timelines are gripping as readers are left at the edge of their seats awaiting the next series of events.
Ultimately, these stories collide in unimaginable ways, taking the reader on a thrilling ride through Colorado’s mining enterprises, with enjoyable banter along the way. Despite having no prior experience in mining, and just an elementary love for rocks, “The Drift” fascinated me with the history and richness of the land, and the terror, commitment, and dedication of the mining business.
As a child, I was obsessed with rocks. Rocks at museums, in the yard, sold at stores, it didn’t matter, I loved them all. I also love Colorado, the skiing, hiking, being outdoors, the views, there is so much to enjoy in Colorado. “The Drift” seamlessly combines these two adorations into a treasure hunting, mine exploring, water polluting, thrilling and suspenseful read.
The acknowledgements pages of “The Drift” indicates this is the author’s first novel. This surprised me, as the book read like that of a seasoned writer. This story’s lead, Jack Bannister, is the perfect hero to carry a series of books. Bannister offers action, a rag-tag team at his disposal, and a countryside of rock, mystery, and bad guys waiting to be taken down.
“The Drift” captivates readers as it toggles between two storylines. Present day, Jack Bannister seeks to uncover a case of polluted water in Cripple Creek, CO. Given the miles and miles of unexplored drifts between the mines, this threatens to be an impossible task. Putting together a team of locals, experts, and his proven trusted associates, Jack sets out to solve the case.
The second timeline is woven against Jack’s love interest who curates the local museum. After receiving a trunk of letters full of correspondence from a Russian immigrant settling in Cripple Creek, Jack’s experience in Russian is sought to translate the history. These letters transport readers back to the 1800s during the gold rush in Cripple Creek as a young husband and father seeks a new life for his family. Both timelines are gripping as readers are left at the edge of their seats awaiting the next series of events.
Ultimately, these stories collide in unimaginable ways, taking the reader on a thrilling ride through Colorado’s mining enterprises, with enjoyable banter along the way. Despite having no prior experience in mining, and just an elementary love for rocks, “The Drift” fascinated me with the history and richness of the land, and the terror, commitment, and dedication of the mining business.
July 30, 2015
The reason I liked this book so much is that as a geologist with some experience in the Cripple Creek area, I know that Entwistle was right on and told a compelling story. Mixing the research on a 19th century Russian emigrant miner with the contemporary mystery story made it even more interesting.
Many authors have said "write what you know". Entwistle has done that and very well.
If you are looking for some historical perspective and a very good story, give this a try. This is his first novel, and I am looking forward to many more.
Bruce
Many authors have said "write what you know". Entwistle has done that and very well.
If you are looking for some historical perspective and a very good story, give this a try. This is his first novel, and I am looking forward to many more.
Bruce
December 15, 2012
This book is so comfortable you don't want it to end !! Jack Bannister is similar to a Harrison Ford in Raiders Of The Lost Ark. Real down to earth, reminds you of someone you already know. Love the lightness of the book but still was very interesting. I also like learning about the mines in Cripple Creek. Great Book I would highly reccommend it!!
April 17, 2013
i was bored
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews