Smoke Tree Burning

by Gary J. George

Two arsonists are at work in Smoke Tree. One is a slick professional; the other is an evil pyromaniac using fire to settle old scores. One would be bad enough, but two? Captain Carlos Caballo, commander of the Smoke Tree substation of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, is fighting to save the town he loves.

Also, illegal drugs are showing up in Smoke Tree, including at Smoke Tree High School. A motorcycle gang, Satan’s Spawn, operating out of the river bottom on the Arizona side of the Colorado River, may be the source.

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 19, 2022

About the author

Gary George spent his teenage years in Needles, California, and his Smoke Tree novels are set in the Mojave Desert of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Gary was blessed with a long and happy marriage to his beloved, Ginny Boyd, author of the book "Birdy Bird." When Ginny died in January 2018, Gary could not write for a while. However, during a seventy-mile backpacking trip across the desert from the Colorado River to the middle of the Mojave National Preserve in May of that year, he began to come to terms with her death. When he returned home, he discovered that immersing himself in his writing allowed him a few hours of relief from sadness, and he began work on "The Carnival, The Cross, and the Burning Desert."
In 2024, Gary was diagnosed with four severely blocked arteries in his heart and underwent open-heart surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He wrote a book about his experience and recovery, "Out of the Cabbage (CABG) Patch," while concurrently working on the twelfth novel in the Smoke Tree series, "Mojave Desert Jezebeth," which was published in July of 2025. The thirteenth book in the Smoke Tree Series, "Desert Resurrection," was published on April 2, 2026.

Reviews

[Molly Whitebear · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Happy To See My Smoke Tree Family Back Again!

I didn't realize how much I had missed my Smoke Tree Family until I started reading this latest book.

I always learn new things everytime I have read the Smoke Tree books and this time was no exception. I found the fire investigation information to be so very interesting.

After Joe's conversation with Woman of the Desert Moon, it seemed as though there may be a new direction (or dimension, maybe?) certain members of this Smoke Tree Family will be headed into? It really piqued my curiosity and started the wheels of imagination inside my head turning!
I can hardly wait for the next Smoke Tree book to hopefully get further into this!

All in all, I loved this latest Smoke Tree book and I believe many other readers will feel the same, so go for it!!

[Robert J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another George Masterpiece

It took me just a few pages (paper book analogy) to be reminded how much I enjoy the Smoke Tree series. I can come at it from a number of angles, but what to me stands out the most is the great characters and the way a number of supporting characters last seen one or more books prior can appear and fit in the plot so well. What it adds up to is that George puts us in the town of Smoke Tree and surrounding areas in such a way that it makes you beg for more and feel that you know this town and want to travel 50 or so years into the past to see it for yourself. What a rich family of novels!

[Eleanor L. Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always great

Anyone who loves the desert and reading about genuine people, people you would like to know, these books are for you. I have read them twice except for the new one and will probably read them again. My daughter has also read them. We will wait impatiently for the next one.

[Jon Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each one gets better!

Thanks for another great adventure! Your understanding of the great Southwestern desert, native American culture, Korean and Viet Nam wars, small town life and law enforcement render your novels compelling. Also, I really enjoy having GOOD people win!!

[Thomas J. Harper Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series

When I read about the people and the land I feel as if I'm in the Mojave a magical place I miss greatly if I stay away too long.

[Erick davidson]

Happy New Year

Thanks for the new story. I really enjoy your books. I also love in the desert near these places.
Thanks

[Fred A. Hines · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growing on me

I have read most of these Smoke Tree mysteries, but hesitated to write a review since I did not like the first one, but I thought there was room for character development. The more books I read, the more the author improved his product. The early books were botanical wordy and didactic descriptions of living in a desert environment. Gradually, the characters developed into people with complex diversity, with different cultures, but instead of preaching, the stories emphasized individual freedom and pursuit of happiness although sometimes life is not fair and evil or misfortune disrupt lives. I recommend reading these Smoke Tree mysteries. You will be rewarded with what life is. I am reminded of what I learned as a small boy in the 1950s watching Dragnet on a black and white tv and seeing for the first time how ordinary people choose to do what is right or do what is evil. You will be impressed with the ordinary effort of police work leading to solving ordinary crimes.

[Jayne Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

a smoke tree series novel

An excellent series to read.
I enjoyed the story line from the beginning because this was the era I grew up and could relate to the characters and the time line. All though I grew up in pacific northwest my mother loved the desert in Arizona so we always drove through the areas of which the story and time period happened.
I could relate to all the happenings.
GREAT READ!

[Kristoffer Jost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating Story Telling!

I love this series of novels set in the Mohave Desert! The author has created a wonderful cast of characters that entertain and inspire. The plot-lines and storytelling are topnotch and original. I’ve read each book and can’t wait to begin the next in the series!

[J Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

This series continues to grow in depth and breadth. Historical insight into the Vietnam era, as well as fascinating detail of police procedure in tracking and capturing the deranged criminals. This series is as captivating as the wonderful Posadas County Mysteries series by Steven F. Havill, but delves even deeper emotionally.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not this one

I have enjoyed each one of the books from the Smoke Tree series that I have except this one. I just did not enjoy the storyline or the plot. I think the next one is the last one in the series until a new one is released. I hope it will be better. I still love the series and the characters.

[Ljvaganov · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Happened To The Seven Snow Character?

Loved this new book. But need help, Aeden Snow is mentioned but I can't remember what happened to the character.

[Lorraine Linder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying this series in-between the "heavy lifts"