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Hugh Davoren #1
Lone Creek
After a failed career and marriage in California, Hugh Davoren is back in Helena, Montana, as a construction hand at the old Pettyjohn Ranch, home of many childhood memories—including the seemingly accidental death of his teenaged first love, Celia. Hugh is just trying to get through another long workday on the ranch when he discovers two dead stallions. A further probe into the matter only pushes Hugh into dangerous corners, as he finds that the ranch's slick new owner, his beautiful wife, and even old Mr. Pettyjohn have terrible secrets to keep.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
9 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Neil McMahon
26 books20 followersaka Daniel Rhodes.
Neil McMahon grew up in Chicago, holds a degree in psychology from Stanford, and has lived in Montana since 1971. His wife, Kim, coordinates the annual Montana Festival Of The Book. Along with writing, he spent many years working as a carpenter. He has published ten thrillers in addition to co-authoring, with James Patterson, the #1 New York Times bestseller, TOYS. His first three novels, horror thrillers NEXT, AFTER LUCIFER; ADVERSARY; and CAST ANGELS DOWN TO HELL, are newly released for the first time since their original publication 1987-90.
Neil McMahon grew up in Chicago, holds a degree in psychology from Stanford, and has lived in Montana since 1971. His wife, Kim, coordinates the annual Montana Festival Of The Book. Along with writing, he spent many years working as a carpenter. He has published ten thrillers in addition to co-authoring, with James Patterson, the #1 New York Times bestseller, TOYS. His first three novels, horror thrillers NEXT, AFTER LUCIFER; ADVERSARY; and CAST ANGELS DOWN TO HELL, are newly released for the first time since their original publication 1987-90.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 22, 2021
"The ranch was about ten miles northwest of Helena, up against the foothills of the Rockies. The view went on forever. This time of year, the larches were turning yellow, big bright splashes on the bottle green slopes. There were no buildings in sight, no sounds in any way human. All in all, it was like the kind of magazine cover that made dentists in Omaha go out and buy a couple thousand dollars’ worth of trout fishing gear."
There are two ways you can look at a novel like LONE CREEK, a crime novel set in and around Helena, Montana.
One is to look at it through a conventional critic's lens, and LONE CREEK suffers a bit from that approach. The plot is composed almost entirely of shopworn characters and plot parts, many of which stretch plausibility. Particularly tired are the one-note snarling villain, a rich carpetbagger who is not only a jerk but a sociopath and a smuggler; the villain's wife, who somehow manages to be a madonna and a whore all at once; and the off-the-rack dark-half sidekick, an American Indian and Vietnam veteran named Mudbird who pops up at precision-stage-managed intervals to lend help, gravitas, murderous glares and gravel-voice wisdom to our hero. (This might have been a marginally fresh move when the novel was published in 2007; it's beyond cringe-inducing now. Consider lines like this: "Madbird had opened his great fierce heart to me, been my guide and protector, taken huge risks, for no reasons that logic could touch—just his odd liking for me and the joy of being a guerrilla Indian. I was a child there. I needed him again, this time not for tangible help, but for some form of blessing.") Read that and consider this: Why don’t the Madbirds of the crime-fiction world ever get to tell their own stories?
The settings, however, are nicely nuanced, and fed steadily by all manner of working them-vs.-us animosities, of the stripe you often see in small-town, Southern and Western crime fiction. The themes of change, for generation to generation, from analog technology to digital, and so forth, are plain without ever seeming to be pushed in the reader's face. And the main hero, Hugh Davoren, despite some ridiculous conceits (somehow he was a country-raised ex-county fair boxer who also went to Stanford), has some nice Everyman characteristics, and never swaggers or seems sure he'll get past the seemingly ceaseless splatter of messes he's stepped in, or been backed into. He's resourceful but never cocky about his resources coming through for him; by far his most appealing quality is his unsureness that he'll ever get clear of his nightmare.
Another way to look at LONE CREEK is an approach I rarely see. Is it enjoyable? That it unquestionably is. Passage to passage, page to page, LONE CREEK perks steadily on a smooth flow of pleasurable uncertainty, coaxed along by a breezy style despite the black matter, and despite the fact I believe everything above, I pushed happily ahead, and the calories I was consuming along the way were far from empty. Somehow, without every stepping wrong,
Neil McMahon writes with a contagious confidence that keeps you going despite some eye-sprain rolling, staying out of the way of LONE CREEK's story but steadily infusing it with subtly cut-above prose in a drawling, laconic style that suits its setting. ("I made a point of locking up the pistol inside the cabin again before I started for town, and promised myself I wasn’t going to do anything stupid. But I was getting more in the mood" is one good example.) That's nothing to take for granted in a genre increasingly populated with hardboiled-to-the-point of parody or histrionically breathy, fluttery prose in which physical reactions seem to substitute for storytelling.
There are two ways you can look at a novel like LONE CREEK, a crime novel set in and around Helena, Montana.
One is to look at it through a conventional critic's lens, and LONE CREEK suffers a bit from that approach. The plot is composed almost entirely of shopworn characters and plot parts, many of which stretch plausibility. Particularly tired are the one-note snarling villain, a rich carpetbagger who is not only a jerk but a sociopath and a smuggler; the villain's wife, who somehow manages to be a madonna and a whore all at once; and the off-the-rack dark-half sidekick, an American Indian and Vietnam veteran named Mudbird who pops up at precision-stage-managed intervals to lend help, gravitas, murderous glares and gravel-voice wisdom to our hero. (This might have been a marginally fresh move when the novel was published in 2007; it's beyond cringe-inducing now. Consider lines like this: "Madbird had opened his great fierce heart to me, been my guide and protector, taken huge risks, for no reasons that logic could touch—just his odd liking for me and the joy of being a guerrilla Indian. I was a child there. I needed him again, this time not for tangible help, but for some form of blessing.") Read that and consider this: Why don’t the Madbirds of the crime-fiction world ever get to tell their own stories?
The settings, however, are nicely nuanced, and fed steadily by all manner of working them-vs.-us animosities, of the stripe you often see in small-town, Southern and Western crime fiction. The themes of change, for generation to generation, from analog technology to digital, and so forth, are plain without ever seeming to be pushed in the reader's face. And the main hero, Hugh Davoren, despite some ridiculous conceits (somehow he was a country-raised ex-county fair boxer who also went to Stanford), has some nice Everyman characteristics, and never swaggers or seems sure he'll get past the seemingly ceaseless splatter of messes he's stepped in, or been backed into. He's resourceful but never cocky about his resources coming through for him; by far his most appealing quality is his unsureness that he'll ever get clear of his nightmare.
Another way to look at LONE CREEK is an approach I rarely see. Is it enjoyable? That it unquestionably is. Passage to passage, page to page, LONE CREEK perks steadily on a smooth flow of pleasurable uncertainty, coaxed along by a breezy style despite the black matter, and despite the fact I believe everything above, I pushed happily ahead, and the calories I was consuming along the way were far from empty. Somehow, without every stepping wrong,
Neil McMahon writes with a contagious confidence that keeps you going despite some eye-sprain rolling, staying out of the way of LONE CREEK's story but steadily infusing it with subtly cut-above prose in a drawling, laconic style that suits its setting. ("I made a point of locking up the pistol inside the cabin again before I started for town, and promised myself I wasn’t going to do anything stupid. But I was getting more in the mood" is one good example.) That's nothing to take for granted in a genre increasingly populated with hardboiled-to-the-point of parody or histrionically breathy, fluttery prose in which physical reactions seem to substitute for storytelling.
January 19, 2008
My first McMahon read -- it won't be my last. Set in Montana, it is a noir romance with mysteries buried in the past and a man on the run. James Crumley gave it a glowing cover blurb, too -- if you like Crumley, you stand a good chance of enjoying this one. Note to self: add McMahon's other books to the to-read list...
December 1, 2009
I like good mystery novels especially when they are set in country that I am familiar with. This one is set in the Helena, Montana area near where my brother-in-law used to live. I picked this one up in Missoula last September and couldn't put it down. No hidden messages or deep meaning - just a fun book.
September 8, 2022
A new Montana author for me. The C. J. Box blurb on the back cover describes it as a « postmodern contemporary western noir «. With strong characters and a vivid sense of place (mostly in Helena and the Big Belt mountains ), I am looking forward to reading the next Hugh Davoren installment, Dead Silver.
June 20, 2019
Thriller/mystery set on a ranch in Montana. Hugh finds mutilated horse carcasses which snowballs into a deadly cat-and-mouse game. Reminded me of a Nora Roberts novel but with a male lead. Quick fun read.
August 18, 2020
It has moments where it feels like the author is finally on the right track, but sadly, it just does t work. The author seems to go down every rabbit trail, and spends too much time on things that really don't affect the plot. All in all, not good.
October 11, 2017
Rather ordinary tale of a cowboy-loser-personality muddling through life with good friends and evil influences.
February 8, 2021
Strong writing. Engaging story and well-crafted characters. Reminded me of Longmire.
January 31, 2022
DNF, at 67%
Writing's a bit too lazy and cliché for my own liking.
Writing's a bit too lazy and cliché for my own liking.
May 20, 2010
RATING: 4.5
Hugh Davoren is a former journalist who is now working in construction in an isolated area of Montana. He's lived most of his life in this place. Currently, he is working on the Pettyjohn Ranch. Its owners, Wesley and Laurie Balcomb, are new to the area and raising thoroughbred horses. One evening when Hugh is finishing up on the job, he goes to the area where he dumps the construction debris. He makes a horrible discovery, two dead horses who have not just died but obviously been murdered. From that point on, his life is in a downward spiral, even though he tells no one of what he's seen. Wesley Balcomb does everything he can to have Hugh disgraced and removed as a threat. Just what is it that he has to hide?
Perhaps it has something to do with his wife. Laurie. She seems terrified of Wesley and makes Hugh into her ally. Initially cautious, he finds himself wanting to protect her and care for her. She reminds him of his first love, Celia Thayer, who broke his heart when he was a teenager. She died under suspicious circumstances. As it turns out, those echoes from the past have great relevance to the events of today.
LONE CREEK is a beautifully written book that is satisfying on just about every level. The characters on these pages are all flesh and blood, although most of them are a tad eccentric. Hugh is probably the most "normal" one of the bunch; yet, he's suffering profound loneliness in his daily life. Most of the people he respects are a bit off kilter. There's his best friend, Madbird, an Indian who has some strange ways but who is loyal no matter what is asked of him. He easily joins the pantheon of memorable sidekicks in crime fiction. There's another group of folks who are stupid or manipulative or mean. The one person who seems genuinely warm-hearted is Hugh's former girlfriend, Sarah Lynn Olsen, but her portrayal is almost tepid in comparison to the rest of the crew. Their relationship was a weakness for me, but that was a minor piece of a much bigger story.
The plot was ingenious, complex, surprising and riveting all at the same time. The diabolical machinations of Wesley Balcomb are inspired—the way that his mind works is fascinating in all its evil. I was fooled more than once by the events in the book, but McMahon always used fair play. There were some action scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. McMahon also used the setting in ways that contributed to the atmosphere of the book. Some of the most exciting scenes are set in remote areas of the Montana landscape.
I highly recommend LONE CREEK. It takes real talent to have such a good balance between characterization and plotting, although I was vaguely disappointed by the resolution. McMahon is the real deal and LONE CREEK one of my favorite recent reads.
Hugh Davoren is a former journalist who is now working in construction in an isolated area of Montana. He's lived most of his life in this place. Currently, he is working on the Pettyjohn Ranch. Its owners, Wesley and Laurie Balcomb, are new to the area and raising thoroughbred horses. One evening when Hugh is finishing up on the job, he goes to the area where he dumps the construction debris. He makes a horrible discovery, two dead horses who have not just died but obviously been murdered. From that point on, his life is in a downward spiral, even though he tells no one of what he's seen. Wesley Balcomb does everything he can to have Hugh disgraced and removed as a threat. Just what is it that he has to hide?
Perhaps it has something to do with his wife. Laurie. She seems terrified of Wesley and makes Hugh into her ally. Initially cautious, he finds himself wanting to protect her and care for her. She reminds him of his first love, Celia Thayer, who broke his heart when he was a teenager. She died under suspicious circumstances. As it turns out, those echoes from the past have great relevance to the events of today.
LONE CREEK is a beautifully written book that is satisfying on just about every level. The characters on these pages are all flesh and blood, although most of them are a tad eccentric. Hugh is probably the most "normal" one of the bunch; yet, he's suffering profound loneliness in his daily life. Most of the people he respects are a bit off kilter. There's his best friend, Madbird, an Indian who has some strange ways but who is loyal no matter what is asked of him. He easily joins the pantheon of memorable sidekicks in crime fiction. There's another group of folks who are stupid or manipulative or mean. The one person who seems genuinely warm-hearted is Hugh's former girlfriend, Sarah Lynn Olsen, but her portrayal is almost tepid in comparison to the rest of the crew. Their relationship was a weakness for me, but that was a minor piece of a much bigger story.
The plot was ingenious, complex, surprising and riveting all at the same time. The diabolical machinations of Wesley Balcomb are inspired—the way that his mind works is fascinating in all its evil. I was fooled more than once by the events in the book, but McMahon always used fair play. There were some action scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. McMahon also used the setting in ways that contributed to the atmosphere of the book. Some of the most exciting scenes are set in remote areas of the Montana landscape.
I highly recommend LONE CREEK. It takes real talent to have such a good balance between characterization and plotting, although I was vaguely disappointed by the resolution. McMahon is the real deal and LONE CREEK one of my favorite recent reads.
August 3, 2008
Wow. The dust jacket said something about it being reminiscent of a Raymond Chandler novel, but in this one the main character wears a tool belt and lives in Montana. That got my interest.
The main character, Hugh Davoren is a great character. He's competent, but flawed. Highly educated, but working and living a simple life as a carpenter.
I'd liken this more to a Robert B. Parker book (or Robert Crais), because like Spenser (or Elvis Cole) Hugh has a bad-ass friend who helps him out - Madbird, an American Indian electrician and former marine. The interaction between the two of them is very well handled and fun to read.
The story is a solid who done it. Lots a twists and turns without being cutesy or confusing.
I'll say that this is one of the best books I've read in a long while. I'm going to look for the sequel next.
PS - I saw this book described as "noir" and "western". I'd say that "western noir" hits it square.
The main character, Hugh Davoren is a great character. He's competent, but flawed. Highly educated, but working and living a simple life as a carpenter.
I'd liken this more to a Robert B. Parker book (or Robert Crais), because like Spenser (or Elvis Cole) Hugh has a bad-ass friend who helps him out - Madbird, an American Indian electrician and former marine. The interaction between the two of them is very well handled and fun to read.
The story is a solid who done it. Lots a twists and turns without being cutesy or confusing.
I'll say that this is one of the best books I've read in a long while. I'm going to look for the sequel next.
PS - I saw this book described as "noir" and "western". I'd say that "western noir" hits it square.
September 17, 2008
This was an okay read, though I didn't find it that great. There were a lot of plot holes and I would've liked a little more background into his past, but not a lot was given.
Hugh leaves California after a failed marriage to try life again in Montana where he grew up. After stumbling across some weird things on the ranch where he's working, Hugh is thrown into an undercover world he knew nothing about.
The language was a little strong and there were some phrases I'd rather not read in the book, but can be expected from ranchhands in Montana, I guess. Not knowing much about ranching, maybe I'm totally off the path. In any case, eh is my final word.
Hugh leaves California after a failed marriage to try life again in Montana where he grew up. After stumbling across some weird things on the ranch where he's working, Hugh is thrown into an undercover world he knew nothing about.
The language was a little strong and there were some phrases I'd rather not read in the book, but can be expected from ranchhands in Montana, I guess. Not knowing much about ranching, maybe I'm totally off the path. In any case, eh is my final word.
December 27, 2013
Great characters and a real sense of Montana. You can almost feel the beauty as McMahon describes it. Hugh is a very real but flawed hero and you will want to read more about him when you finish this book.
February 8, 2008
A true western in the sense of place, action and where the good guys stand with the law. It's well paced, suspense filled, with enough love in all the right places.
October 7, 2008
Interesting mystery. More kind of "westernish" for my true tastes, but okay read. I think there is a sequel but I probably won't read it.
August 25, 2008
Interesting enough to finish, not interesting enough to start. Montana ranch-hand finds himself the victim of circumstance. Hide / seek / confrontations ensue.
September 7, 2009
Enjoyed it b/c of the local significance, but also it was a very good story, if you can get past all the F words!!
March 22, 2012
Just ran across this on the library shelf and checked it out. Very good writing with a moral center, interesting characters and set in beautiful Montana.
Read
April 26, 2014Great story.....loved the narrative. Liked this book.
May 21, 2014
Great mystery. Montana author, book set in and around Helena area. I enjoyed this book and would recommend other titles by this author also.
July 1, 2008
A solid mystery, a fast pace, and I love the Montana setting.
July 6, 2008
Good book. predictable but a good quick read. Very entertaining.
September 12, 2008
plot and story was good, but I could have done without of terrible language.
November 24, 2008
The first in the series, better than Dead Silver
May 31, 2015
Not exactly High Noon, more like High Anxiety.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews