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Bone Digger
“This Western thriller rolls . . .with ease and true grit." — Kirkus Reviews
Eons past, an ancient creature the size of a bunkhouse lived out a solitary life and died all alone in a rugged canyon. Millennia later that canyon occupied an isolated corner of C.L. McSween's Rocking S Ranch. That’s when McSween decided to dam up the canyon to provide water for his cattle…
Paleontology is a brand-new science in 1877, and when Samuel Cobsworth, a paleontologist from back east, discovers the cache of bones from this long-dead Jurassic monster, he realizes they are a priceless treasure trove. C.L. McSween and his daughter Libby don't see it that way. They're concerned only about ensuring the survival of their cattle. On top of that, McSween is a superstitious ex-mountain man. He considers the bone digger a grave robber and wants him off his ranch.
"Douglas Hirt has the rare ability to create human characters who we come to know well and deeply care about." —Frank Roderus
Eons past, an ancient creature the size of a bunkhouse lived out a solitary life and died all alone in a rugged canyon. Millennia later that canyon occupied an isolated corner of C.L. McSween's Rocking S Ranch. That’s when McSween decided to dam up the canyon to provide water for his cattle…
Paleontology is a brand-new science in 1877, and when Samuel Cobsworth, a paleontologist from back east, discovers the cache of bones from this long-dead Jurassic monster, he realizes they are a priceless treasure trove. C.L. McSween and his daughter Libby don't see it that way. They're concerned only about ensuring the survival of their cattle. On top of that, McSween is a superstitious ex-mountain man. He considers the bone digger a grave robber and wants him off his ranch.
"Douglas Hirt has the rare ability to create human characters who we come to know well and deeply care about." —Frank Roderus
- GenresWesterns
163 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2015
33 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Hirt
56 books25 followersDouglas Hirt was born in Illinois, but heeding Horace Greeley's admonition to "Go west, young man", he headed to New Mexico at eighteen. Doug earned a Bachelor's degree from the College of Santa Fe and a Masters of Science degree from Eastern New Mexico University. During this time he spent several summers living in a tent in the desert near Carlsbad, New Mexico, conducting biological baseline surveys for the Department of Energy.
Doug drew heavily from this "desert life" when writing his first novel, DEVIL'S WIND. In 1991 Doug's novel, A PASSAGE OF SEASONS, won the Colorado Authors' League Top Hand Award. His 1998 book, BRANDISH, and 1999 DEADWOOD, were finalists for the SPUR award given by the Western Writers of America.
A short story writer, and the author of twenty-nine novels and one book of non fiction, Doug now makes his home in Colorado Springs with his wife Kathy and their two children, Rebecca and Derick. When not writing or traveling to research his novels, Doug enjoys collecting and restoring old English sports cars.
Douglas Hirt is a "fabricator of armchair adventures" who also writes as Jason Elder and Doug Hawkins.
Doug drew heavily from this "desert life" when writing his first novel, DEVIL'S WIND. In 1991 Doug's novel, A PASSAGE OF SEASONS, won the Colorado Authors' League Top Hand Award. His 1998 book, BRANDISH, and 1999 DEADWOOD, were finalists for the SPUR award given by the Western Writers of America.
A short story writer, and the author of twenty-nine novels and one book of non fiction, Doug now makes his home in Colorado Springs with his wife Kathy and their two children, Rebecca and Derick. When not writing or traveling to research his novels, Doug enjoys collecting and restoring old English sports cars.
Douglas Hirt is a "fabricator of armchair adventures" who also writes as Jason Elder and Doug Hawkins.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 24, 2023
A short 155 page western set in 1877. Chad a Forman on a sprawling ranch is the father figure to Eric a teen boy. Chad had been friends for years with Eric’s mom and friend with her father that owned the ranch. Everything seemed to change when a strange befriended everyone. And then there is the bone digger who is looking for ancient bones on the property.
A really entertaining story that carried me right along. Swept me into the land and characters and held a mystery till the end.
I know Douglass Hirt has written many western tales (and others) and now I’m eager to read more. I really wish he had continued more stories with the characters in this book. I’d of liked to have read much more.
The story reminded me of the book Shane a bit, and old TV westerns of the 1960s plus books by Louis L’amour. True Grit and similar movies.
A really entertaining story that carried me right along. Swept me into the land and characters and held a mystery till the end.
I know Douglass Hirt has written many western tales (and others) and now I’m eager to read more. I really wish he had continued more stories with the characters in this book. I’d of liked to have read much more.
The story reminded me of the book Shane a bit, and old TV westerns of the 1960s plus books by Louis L’amour. True Grit and similar movies.
August 24, 2020
Decent story
Good characters, bad guys, and women out for themselves. Honey drips from their lips and their hearts are not clear. Good thing they are not all like that!
Good characters, bad guys, and women out for themselves. Honey drips from their lips and their hearts are not clear. Good thing they are not all like that!
September 29, 2020
I didn't read the Kindle edition, but the cover for the trade paperback edition I read was not among the edition choices. Nice cover steal of Randolph Scott from "Seven Men From Now."
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July 11, 2015I couldn't even finish this book. Too many "cowboy cliches" within the first 2 paragraphs I couldn't believe it. This is supposed to be about paleontology in a western setting, instead it takes seven chapters to get to the paleontology part and takes almost a full two to describe the 'main character'.
December 17, 2015
An okay read, the book did not deliver what was promised by the write-up. That, and the number of spelling errors made it a challenge to finish a very short story.
January 22, 2016
This was a decent, short read on paleontology and cowboys trying to work in the same area.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews