Miranda's Gold: Murder on the Santa Fe

by Nick West

A search for Spanish gold, plus love and murder on the banks of North Florida's Santa Fe River Set in the turbulent 1960s, Miranda’s Gold follows a young man named Charlie who is riveted by his uncle Joe’s story of Spanish gold buried near one of the springs along Florida’s Santa Fe River. His quest for the gold will take Charlie from a murder on the river in the 1930s, to meeting a beautiful, mysterious Spanish girl in high school, to the despair of Vietnam, to the Archives in Seville, and back to where it all began—with another murder in his uncle’s stilt house on the Santa Fe. Charlie’s life will be forever changed due to his pursuit of Miranda’s Gold.

190 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 25, 2021

Reviews

[Sara Dagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to Nick West in the most unexpected way—while on vacation in St. Augustine, my husband set out to track down a source of construction noise in our condo complex and ended up meeting the author in the unit above us. (His condo, as it turned out, was not the source.) When I joined them, I had the chance to ask about his work and writing journey, and he generously shared his insights along with a copy of Miranda’s Gold.

The novel turned out to be a wonderful place to begin. Set in locations familiar to me, the story brings those places to life in a way that makes them central to the narrative rather than simply scenic. That sense of authenticity, combined with engaging characters and touches of historical intrigue, drew me in from the very first page.

Miranda’s Gold is an absorbing, page-turning read that left me eager to follow the series further. If you enjoy stories where setting plays a meaningful role and history is woven into a compelling narrative, this is well worth picking up.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fiction with some north central florida history

Many scenes brought me back to my youth and placed me in areas I'm familiar with. Nick West is a great storyteller and has a knack for keeping you turning the pages. This book does a great job of describing a difficult time in our history, blending it with the excitement of youthful adventures and young love. He spices it up with danger and several unexpected turns.

[Denise J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miranda’s Gold is a captivating blend of mystery, adventure, and historical fiction. Nick West does an excellent job weaving together murder, buried treasure, romance, and the emotional impact of the Vietnam era into one compelling story. The Florida river setting feels vivid and atmospheric, while Charlie’s journey keeps readers engaged from beginning to end. A great read for fans of suspenseful treasure-hunt stories with strong historical elements.

[Korona Skipper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Loved the story of Charlie and Miranda. Hope there is more to come. What great history. A must read book.