Ghosts of Black Diamond

In the Shadow of Diablo #3

by Dan Hanel

Wedding plans for high school teachers Harrison Barrett and Celeste Scott are put on hold after finding a murder victim’s cryptic message scrawled on a pioneer cemetery headstone. As the couple investigates the mysterious warning, Celeste becomes inescapably linked to a centuries-old legend rooted in Pythagorean philosophy and a sinister quest for power. Harrison and Celeste’s search for answers draws them into the historical accounting of Nortonville, a 19th century coal mining town set among the Mt. Diablo foothills. The untimely deaths of some townsfolk have a few prominent residents fearing the misfortunes are more than tragic accidents. What ancient secret lies hidden among the Welsh immigrants and their toil for lucrative black diamonds? Follow Harrison and Celeste on their epic and often precarious journey traversing secret societies, mystic symbols, and medieval legends. Will they discover Celeste’s connection to the profound mystery before it’s too late? The answer can only be found where past meets present, fact meets fiction, and mystery meets romance . . . in the Shadow of Diablo.

Genres: Fiction

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 8, 2018

About the author

Dan Hanel is the author of the historical mystery series, IN THE SHADOW OF DIABLO, including Mystery of the Great Stone House, Death at the Healing Waters, and Ghosts of Black Diamond.

He has been an educator for over 30 years and was named the Distinguished High School Science Teacher for the State of California. Dan grew up in Richmond, CA and graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Biology. He received a Masters in Education from Cal State University, Hayward.

Dan, his wife, and their dog, Luna, currently live in Brentwood, CA . . . in the shadow of Diablo.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just read "In the Shadow of Diablo: Ghosts of Black Diamond" by Dan Hanel. The newest of his CoCoCo based mysteries. Takes place in Nortonville and in the present. i didn't know Nortonville had a huge Welsh population or anything about secret societies, like Hanel's other two books you end up smarter about the county that when you first opened the book. The book has a lot of photos of Nortonville. One quibble w/the book - when he refers to the Bible the word Bible is in lowercase, personal choice of the author or editor i imagine.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read a local story and learn about the history of the area and the Welsh people that came to work in the mines, my grandfather immigrated to work in the Pennsylvania coal mines in early 1900’s.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to see I won this title from a Goodreads giveaway! I really enjoy this series and may find the writing extra special because they take place in my own backyard. In this particular suspense story, the setting is the Rose Hill Cemetery outside the Black Diamond Mines. Rose Hill Cemetery is especially near and dear to me as it was the place my husband and I got engaged! I've always felt the grounds were sacred and have heard the ghost tales throughout the ages. I love how the author uses real characters and history to weave into his tale of mystery. The flow of the story is unique as the chapters switch from present day to the past, highlighting connections from history to the current mystery and characters at hand. The story is fast flowing and as a reader, it was very hard to put down. There are so many fun and historical places in our area to highlight - I know we have more fun to look forward to in the future with this author!

[Mary Burks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe my favorite of the three books. Probably because of the fact I've explored Black Diamond Mines and the Rose Hill Cemetary which are the settings for this book. Another interesting twist was how Welsh people were part of this mystery. I enjoy the modern day twist to it, also. The local teachers who figure out the mystery.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept my interest throughout

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little local history.

[Deb Roby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author needs an editor.

[Cyndi Hagerty · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not the best writing, the stories are fascinating for local Bay Area history enthusiasts!