Murder on the San Juan Express

FBI Agent Nelson Paine Murder Mysteries #1

by K.C. Sivils

Was Johann Mueller’s death a tragic accident or was he a victim of murder?

Mueller, A German born physicist who immigrated to the United States in the 1930s to escape Hitler and the Nazis, was a scientist for the U.S. Department of War. Traveling on the Denver & Rio Grande Western’s famed San Juan Express, Mueller dies under mysterious circumstances.

With World War II raging and foreign spies operating in the United States, FBI Special Agent Nelson Paine is assigned the sensitive task of uncovering the truth about Mueller’s death.

Forced to retrace Mueller’s last hours of life, Paine finds himself riding the same passenger train through the open, arid lands on the border of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. One bit of evidence after another leads Paine to believe Mueller’s death is neither an accident nor a murder of opportunity. Suspecting espionage, Paine continues Mueller’s journey, seeking to discover why the scientist was murdered. Paine soon discovers things are not what they seem as spies, danger, and uncertainty abound.

Join Agent Paine as he travels the narrow gauge rails of the Denver & Rio Grande Western and the Rio Grande Southern railroads in an effort to solve the Murder on the San Juan Express.

Influenced by the actual history of the times and two famous narrow gauge mountain railroads, fans of murder mysteries, spy stories, and history alike will enjoy unraveling the multiple mysteries presented in Murder on the San Juan Express.

Genres: Historical, Crime

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 2021

About the author

Science fiction and classic crime novels have long been favorites of author K.C. Sivils. A fan of past noir masters such as Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, Sivils also enjoys the current generation of storytellers like Matt Abraham, Renee Pawlish and Alex P. Berg.

The combination of film noir and science fiction in director Ridley Scott’s adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s sci-fi classic Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep into the masterful Harrison Ford vehicle Blade Runner encouraged him to consume as much of both genre’s as possible.

When not working at his real job, Sivils enjoys his family, his dogs, writing and rocking out to classic rock bands like the Rolling Stones, New Wave rockers The Cars, and the Godfathers of Punk, the Ramones.

Follow Author K.C. Sivils on BookBub at https://www.bookbub.com/profile/k-c-s...

Reviews

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder On The San Juan Express - a review by Rosemary Kenny

FBI Special Agent Nelson Paine is the hero and MC, of K.C. Sivils' latest adventure novel, Murder On The San Juan Express, with either himself (in first person) or characters acting as narrator.

Paine's sent by his boss Callaghan, (who's being pressured for a quick result by his superiors) to investigate the unexplained death of Johann Mueller, a research scientist for the US Government, that Paine soon establishes as murder.
Other characters are gradually introduced to the plot, and each one has part of their backstory revealed. Death soon strikes again in quick succession, as spies and enemies fall out.
What's so important about 'yellowstone'?
Who's the mysterious tall Mexican man, who guards his luggage so jealously on the railcar?

Paine successfully completes his investigation and hands his detailed report to Callaghan, who's pleased by the outcome - until his superior complains that Paine got too close for comfort to other matters, which he wasn't supposed to be aware of. What difference will that make to Paine?

A fascinating murder-mystery with a difference, set in a bygone era, with superbly detailed information about routes, trains, landscapes and other relevant and interesting facts, expertly woven by K.C. Sivils into an intriguing story, that keeps you guessing til the end.

Get your copy of Murder On The San Juan Express today and enjoy the ride along with Special Agent Nelson Paine, on a journey to adventure, you'll love!

[Disney14604 · Rating 5 out of 5]

RANT! RAVE! RANT! RAVE! 'TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!'

What can I say! I am speechless!!!! This is a must read for everyone!

There is something for all. You like trains? It has trains, even wonderful historic pictures of them, that are woven into the story. It has history , war time, besides the trains, for those history buffs - which I am not in general. The best part, for me at least, it has a mystery and no, not the murder. It has a puzzle to figure. What is not to love!!!!

All this is woven into a story that is hard to put down. Author has done a fantastical job with it all. As stated above, I never think I am history person and would shy away from a history story. Not this one! Always amaze myself how much I like it. The research into the war era and the trains is very apparent!! There are even references for further information, in a fiction book!

I have read other works by this author and I have to say that this ranks right up there with his Sci-Fi Noir series with Sully , Sarah, and the rest of the gang. It might even be better than his other new series that was just introduced in an multi-author set.

I am anxiously awaiting the next book. I especially want to find out the significance of Seattle and the three letters on the paper.

RANT! RAVE! RANT! RAVE!....MUST READ FOR EVERYONE!!!

This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive a Beta/ARC book.

[Philip Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

WW II mystery in Colorado is not just for railroad buffs - 4 stars

At the start of the second world war, there were spies who wanted to know what was going on. This story concerns yellowcake, a uranium ore that was extracted in mineral-rich Colorado.

The FBI sent agent Nelson Paine to investigate. His just-the-facts approach and general support from the community provide a view of America that most people who are currently alive have not experienced. The train travel, everyone looking at everyone else's business and attitudes are nicely portrayed.

Part of the mystery is laid out as intentionally keeping the primary characters partially in the dark; they are only told what to do and information is withheld. One mystery is left for the reader to investigate. Send your solution to the author for confirmation of your conclusion.

The railroad people and equipment play an outsized role but you don't have to be an enthusiast to appreciate the lore and challenge of the manual work and thought processes. This is an unusual book in that respect. There are period pictures of the engines. Some of the equipment is still operating in 2021.

[Terry M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A murder mystery, which Paine, the FBI agent, is sent to solve, although he hasn’t been told everything he needs to know. He is very methodical and after other murders occur, he solves the crime following unusual and co-incidental events. Good, solid characters unfold, providing a decent murder mystery. Information about routes and trains are very informative and this story would be especially interesting for train buffs. His attention to detail is excellent and the story is well written.

[William S. Flowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an fun read with plenty of surprises. I really enjoyed the history lesson on narrow gauge railroads. K. C. Sivils even left the reader with a couple of mysteries to solve at the end of the novel.
Great historical fiction that could have really happened.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story by K. C. Sivils is an exciting look at the narrow gauge rail that connected many small mining communities in Colorado and New Mexico in the latter part of the 1800s, towns that would have been completely isolated for much of the year without those trains. And while the story is compelling with much in-time background and captivating characters - I am especially fond of Agent Nelson Paine - the afterward sections and photographs are without a doubt the gold hiding in plain sight. Though the 1873 devaluation of silver shuttered many of the Colorado and New Mexico mountain mines, there were many more diggings, often with a fair return for your time, of alternate minerals and gemstones that managed to keep alive many mining villages well into the 20th century.

A touch of western history not often encounter in western literature, this is a book I will add to my research shelf and gift to friends.
Kindle
Reviewed on March 7, 2021, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo. Not available for review on GooglePlay.

[Werner Kroebig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read!

I enjoyed this little book. Railroads and intrigue, what’s not to like. The short history of the narrow gauge circle is a nice bonus.

[Manfred · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting mystery set during WWII along the railroads in the US.
Unfortunately I couldn't solve the hidden mystery .....

[Michael Nethery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read! A great deal on the history of trains, their territories and their purpose.
All this is wrapped into a great plot of the war efforts of the 1940's.
Characters are beautifully created and perfectly presented.
I loved this book. Sivils does a great job writing! I did a great job reading !

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johann Mueller (German, physicist) hopped aboard the San Juan Express # 478 (Harz Mountain Railway) & entered the Alamosa parlor car.
The US War Department had hired & paid him well for his services.

FBI SAC James Callahan (Denver) was discussing the 1938, Duquesne case (Nazi spy ring)
with FBI SA Nelson Paine (WW I vet).
Johann Mueller had fallen off a train somewhere along the border of southern Colorado-northern New Mexico.
FBI SA Nelson Paine boarded the Colorado Eagle.
Alamosa, CO. Walsh Hotel. FBI SA Nelson Paine spoke with the coroner.
The mail clerk saw something fall off the train. He alerted the engineer who stopped the train.
The conductor & brakeman found the body.
The railway cop (cinder dick) I’d the body.
FBI SA Nelson Paine boarded the San Juan Express # 478 (Harz Mountain Railway).

The train stopped for FBI SA Paine at Milepost 305.5 where the incident happened.
Montezuma County, CO. McPhee company town. Carina Nilsson (Swedish) toured the town, the Montezuma Lumber Co. (timber) mill, & stayed the night at Karl Nilsson’s (Swedish, aka cousin) house.
She was doing an investigation also.
FBI SA Paine listened to Mr. Andrew Johnson’s (geologist, regular passenger) story about Johann.
Carina got what she came for.
Deputy Sheriff Williams arrived at the crime scene.
FBI SA Paine met/rode the Rio Grande Southern train with Bill (Wilson” (engineer, fireman, brakeman, conductor).

Will the murder mystery get solved & someone brought to justice?

I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written crime thriller book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a large description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini-TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an extremely easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; BookFunnel; Amazon Digital Services LLC. Kindle Mobi; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story. Plenty of intrigue. Lots of railroad images. The setting is pretty easy to imagine. Special Agent Paine is to be admired for his determination and resourcefulness. His boss Callahan is hard to figure out, but I guess he is beholden to his own higher-ups.

The reason for the murder of Johann Mueller seems pretty obvious to any student of history, but of course the story is unfolding in real time. It is fascinating to put yourself in the shoes of someone who is learning things for the first time.

The author is a very good storyteller. It's to bad he didn't benefit from a careful proofreader. The misspellings, missing or duplicate words and strange phrasing were a needless distraction when trying to follow along a somewhat complicated narrative. Not a bad read, however. And actually a quick one at that.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical fiction mystery

I am not a great history student but wrap it in a mystery fiction setting and I love it. Agent Paine is an interesting and observant bonafide G-man, oops, Special Agent. Meticulously following his leads thru Colorado. I sacrificed a star for what I felt was a shortened ending to the book. Agent Paine might have called it a lucky break but I felt it cut the story short. I do not want to spoil the ending therefore I will just say there was an unfinished issue at the end that was a serious issue in the beginning of the story. Great book for train enthusiasts,which the author is, but I kind of got lost in the train numbers. Sheldon would love it!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not what I expected. Not really a good story. No suspense or magic. My husband and I love narrow gauge trains and have ridden the two mentioned in the story. Th Silverton train has the most spectacular scenery. The seats are narrow and hard on the backs of modern people who sit cramped. We actually held onto the belt of a traveler from Europe who hung so far out the window we were afraid he would slip and end up in a very long fall to the bottom of a very long drop. The all day trip on the second trip is broken up at what was a working stop for repairs. A very good lunch was prepared for the trains going both directions. The scenery was not as great but it was such a fun day and meet some interesting people. Recommend the book and taking both train rides.

[Ralph Phares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining Mystery Thriller on The Rails

How do you solve a murder when you're given little information and deliberately mislead by your superiors? If you are FBI Agent Nelson Paine you go where the crime was committed. Then you start with observations, then questions, then you add onside visits. And when that yields little, you start digging, quietly at first. You're not sure what will break loose but, something always does. And Nelson is a patient investigator. He'll ask anybody just about any question. This is wartime and some of the information that Nelson is getting is starting to bother him in a national security sort of way. And he's not the only one getting antsy!

[Kate Wells · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok my pet peeve in ebooks is the use of a spellchecker instead of a real person to proofread lead to annoying mistakes like discrete instead of discreet and peel instead of peal (bells). This book did not appeal to me - the minutiae of railway engines etc was like wading through mud trying to find the story contained within. I am sure railway enthusiasts would love it though. I was sent a free book and am voluntarily leaving this honest review

[Norman Hirschman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story with action , mystery, and if your are a train buff, plenty of interesting facts prsented by the author. In additon to many historical facts, the whole story centers around the actions of G-Man or rather an FBI agents with plenty of smarts but trying to find out if a person working for the War Department was murdered or had an accident.But maybe too many for his supervisor.If murdered, the agent find his man or woman or will he return empty handed. Well worth reading

[Steven Howes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite the book I expected. While the story included references to Southwest Colorado and narrow gauge railroading - both of which are dear to my heart, I thought the plot was a bit lame. Leaving part of the mystery unsolved and asking the reader to try to solve it was disappointing. When I finished the book, I was ready to move on.

[MGB · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story. The author leads the reader on a tour of small gauge railroads. This tour occurs while a mystery unfolds. The mystery involves a murder, as the title tells us. The murder draws in spies, national security, the FBI, and a county Sheriff.

This is a must read for those who love mysteries and following the clues.

[Lou Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing way of telling a tale

As a train buff I was intrigued about this novel and was well rewarded. The author blends history with fiction and includes historical pictures along the story line which brings the tale to life. What a great way to tell a story. Bravo. Very enjoyable read.

[Lonnia · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot of information abouts trains which I found interesting. The area the story is set in has uranium. There are possibly other countries interested in the uranium and several people are murdered trying to steal samples.

[Marti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry; I couldn’t read past 23%. Almost every chapter is about a different person. I assume they will converge at some point, but the book bored me. There are also still a number of editing errors which irritated me.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining

Quite entertaining and informative. I was and am intrigued and wiser for the train information. Very well researched by an obvious train buff.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riding the Rails

Great Read ! FBI agent searching for spies in 40's Colorado. Fascinating look at traveling on trains out west, and mining for the war effort

[Rosie Ehrsam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

Interesting read, obviously written by a lover of the rails. Well written, great characters, easy to follow story line...........scrappy ending!

[Mailmanr5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this whodunit while learning about the Colorado railroads during WW2. I lived in CO and was unaware of it. Good characters and lively dialogue.

[Christmas Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A not-to-be-missed story of intrigue, murder, FBI agents, spies, and railroad history at their best.
Original and exciting. Highly Recommended.

[patricia sendelbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

The murder is the back story. The focus is on the train engines. The author must love those antique steam engines that ran on narrow gauge rails.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but a lot of typos.

[Bonnie🥗 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical novel.

[Constance M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know it's short, but I cannot get into it enough to care how it ends.