Stardust Trail

Nate Ross #1

by J.R. Sanders

2021 Spur Award Finalist (Best Western Historical Novel)2021 Silver Falchion Award Finalist (Best Investigator)Against his better judgment, Hollywood-hating private investigator Nate Ross takes on a Tinseltown case in the spring of 1938. It sounds like a milk run; find an alcoholic screenwriter whose absence is stalling production on Republic Pictures' latest Western.But when the missing rummy turns up dead, and Nate learns that somebody's going to lethal lengths to keep Stardust Trail from being made, his simple case becomes far more complex, and deadly. He finds himself traveling in unfamiliar the world of the B-movie cowboys, and the lines between the "reel" West and the real West begin to blur as Nate wrangles a twisted case of murder and sabotage pointing back nearly forty years to a bloody, real-life, "Wild West" crime.

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 24, 2020

About the author

Award-winning author J.R. Sanders is a native Midwesterner and longtime denizen of the L.A. suburbs.

His nonfiction articles appear in such periodicals as Law & Order and Wild West magazines. His books include Some Gave All, which gives true accounts of forgotten Old West lawmen killed in the line of duty.

J.R.’s first Nate Ross novel, Stardust Trail - a detective story set among the B-Western film productions of 1930s Hollywood - was a 2021 Spur Award Finalist (Best Western Historical Novel) and Silver Falchion Finalist (Best Investigator). His second Nate Ross novel, Dead-Bang Fall, won the 2023 Shamus Award (Best Original PI Paperback). The third novel, Bring the Night, was a 2024 Shamus Award Finalist (Best Original PI Paperback).

Reviews

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

PI Nate Ross is a rarity in 1938 Hollywood – someone who lives in the LA area but isn’t that interested in the movie industry. Still, he’s willing to take on a case for one of the smaller studios. The writer of a picture they are hoping will propel them into a more respected part of the market has gone missing, and they need him for rewrites. As Nate begins investigating, he learns of other issues the film has been having, and soon he’s looking into the sabotage, too. Are the two things connected?

I bought this book when the author gave a talk at my local library a few months back. I’m glad I did. As always, I enjoyed the Hollywood setting, but I especially enjoyed the scenes that took Nate to the area I live. Granted, it has changed a lot since the time when the book was set. The story itself is strong with plenty of action to keep us engaged. I had a few things figured out, but I missed some other clues that Nate used to solve things. The characters are engaging, as well. This has the feel of a classic PI novel, so it has a bit more content than I would typically read. It also means that Nate’s sense of humor made me laugh as I was reading. Fortunately, I already have the sequel since I’m looking forward to visiting Nate again soon.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Terrance Layhew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gumshoe novel which avoids feeling feeling stale and pre-chewed. It manages to give enough noir elements, but changes up the Hollywood cliches by giving attention to the Western film of the time.
Books like these live and die on the backs of their detectives. Nate Ross avoids being too hard boiled, but remains tough. His outlook is appropriately dark, but hopeful and realistic. He’s got a good sense of dry humor and makes the best of the business he’s in.

[Jane Botkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! J. R. Sanders’s The Stardust Trail reads just like old movies I watched in my youth, complete with an ex-cop detective, corrupt police, cigar-smoking movie moguls, and seedy-eyed cowboys. Throw a 1930s plot onto some old California movie sets, decked out with Republic Pictures’ actors, and this noir detective novel brings back some warm memories from the good ole days. Even John Wayne makes an appearance! As a lover of words, I especially enjoyed Sanders’s use of the day’s jargon. The villain leaves “no clean sneak,” as hero Nate Ross does a great job of “gumshoeing!” All in all, a swell book.

[Jennie Rosenblum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those wonderful reads where you can hear the character's voice as it pours out of the pages. I was totally entertained! Never thought I was a western reader - but this book tells me I am!

[Joe Nicholl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stardust Trail (2020, $5.99 Kindle) by J.R. Sanders is an excellent Detective novel...I enjoyed reading it very much. It takes place in old Hollywood around 1938. The plot follows P.I. Nate Ross as he investigates the death of a low-life "B" cowboy film screen-play writer who was murdered in the near-by desert hills of Los Angles. P.I. Ross's case leads him through the world of "B" cowboy movie production of the '30's including; the competitive film companies, the Hollywood bars they drink at, on-site film productions, the Stars (no spoilers), the crew's (directors, actors, grips, gaffers, cow-poke stunt horsemen), and of course the hangers-on. It's a very interesting back-drop to the book...Detective Ross is a L.A. city-boy who has a history that puts him odds with both the LAPD & Sheriff's Dept. When Ross is out in the wild he is out-of-his element...but he rules when in town and he's not afraid to use his trusty .380. [By the way, the .380 is the best concealed carry gun one can use...small & packs a punch...just saying...]. The plot also takes you back in time to Texas around 1900 for a case-with-in the case. Stardust Trail is an easy, quick read...I completed it in three consecutive evenings...I rate it PG due to violence but it is free & clear of any profanity which I found refreshing (I counted three "Shit"'s, and not one F-bomb]. Yeah, this is a good Detective novel, I liked it very much and I hope Mr. J.R. Sanders will write a follow-up!

[Paula Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in 1938 Hollywood, Stardust Trail reads like a dip into a favorite vintage detective show. As I read, the scenes played out in my head in black and white and the gravely voice of a noir detective rang in my ears. It was a fun ride!

Nate Ross, former L.A. police detective turned PI is a great main character, and the mystery was compelling. I really enjoyed the way the author sprinkled in the slang of the era and of the Hollywood cowboys without making it feel over the top. The book was action packed with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. I'll be passing it on to my husband and ordering the next in the series soon.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love PI novels and this one is set in historic Los Angeles in the movie business - featuring westerns.

What a delight to see our hero Nate Ross is friends with Duke Morrison, AKA John Wayne, who assists with this investigation into sabotage on the set.

Hired to find the missing writer, Nate runs into your typical Hollywood characters, including an excentric director and some "bad guys". There is also a romance angle with a singing sisters act at the local bar and on set.

There are behind the scenes movie filming and hardcore Los Angeles living.

Well written, I have already ordered book two.

I purchased a copy since it is not available from my public library.

[Michael Tower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a book more than Stardust Trail. Action packed and fast-paced as it is, it is also chock full of interesting facts and tales of L. A. as the city was in the 1920s to the 1940s. The descriptions of the movie industry exhibits a level of detail that could come about by massive research. I'm really looking forward to the next Nate Ross book.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite enjoyed this. Has the quick fire, wise-cracking PI character down pat. Knows his LA and Hollywood, too. The western movie background proves to be fertile ground for a plot, and the reader can tell the author loves his subject and does it justice.

There's plenty of action, and complete, fully-realized characters. J.R. Saunders has a winner in Nate Ross and Stardust Trail.

[Matthew Cost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nate Ross is a PI in LA in the best noir fashion who navigates the streets and Hollywood with similar style. He is black and white with no bend and when he gets involved in a missing person case, the complications multiply faster than a naked mole rat. Ross weaves his way deftly through with sardonic wit as he enters the glitz and the backrooms of tinsel town. Great fun and highly recommended.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. The author nailed the setting and mood of the times. The greatest complement I can give is that I was reminded of Stuart M. Kaminsky's Toby Peters series of mysteries. I'm looking forward to reading more of Nate Ross from J. R. Sanders.

[J.B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first novel of this genre I have read. I found myself picturing the story as an old Bogart or Cagney black and white film. Enjoyable story and look forward to reading more from Mr. Sanders.

[Bree S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and exciting. Really brought you into the time period. Comedic and likeable protagonist. An entertaining mystery to unravel. Would love to read the rest of the series!

[Theda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this book. Not a fan of P.I.s or westerns or noirish 1930's books - but took a chance after hearing author speak at an event. Glad I did.

This was just such a good tale (better than a story), and I'm just feeling so satisfied and happy after reading it. Even though it wasn't really a happy story. The writing was superb, and so many sentences and phrases jumped out at me with how apt and evocative they were for what was going on.

The characters were well-written and described, and I loved having Duke Wayne such an integral part of the story. The good guys were good, the bad guys were bad, but not over the top. There were great plot twists, and the old crime was well-woven into the new ones. The descriptions of locations and terrain made me feel like I was there, and the bits of movie-making were fun.

And, most of all, I loved the ending with Mickey.