Canyon of Death

Book 3 in the Jake Silver series.

By Jere D. James

Moonlight Mesa Associates, 2011

U.S. Deputy Marshal Jake Silver heads into Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains in search of his nemesis, Johnny Geiger. The marshal is thirsty for revenge after Geiger’s kidnapping and brutal beating of Silver’s fiancée. The shoot-out is more than the marshal bargained for, however, and if not for the assistance of the renegade Apache, Nantan Lupan, the marshal’s outcome would be fatal.

The last book in this series ended with the kidnapping of Betsy, Silver’s fiancée, leaving readers desperate for the publication of this book so they could find out what happened next. As expected this story begins a short time after the excellent cliff-hanger ending of the previous book.

Although there is plenty of action this story is very much a study of human feelings and how people react to them. Silver promises to stay with Betsy and immediately leaves to track down, and kill, Geiger. Betsy then starts to question her relationship with Silver, this being further complicated as a new man starts to show an interest in her. Silver himself begins to have doubts about being tied down in marriage, and the reader will soon be wondering if Betsy and Silver will still be an item by the end.

Nantan Lupan was introduced in the previous book and he too struggles with questions to which path his life should follow. He wants a new life but can he break away from his strong bonds of friendship with Silver? Maybe after the deadly shoot-out in the Canyon of Death this can be resolved, if either of them are still alive?

These questions and many others, along with Jere D. James superb storytelling, hooked me instantly. Answers to some questions came quickly, often leading to more. With Betsy giving up hope for Silver’s return, she agrees to marry another. Silver,  unaware of this heads for home, will he arrive in time to bring a halt to this marriage? Will Betsy still want him if he does get home safely? What of the new man in Betsy’s life? Will he accept losing her gracefully or will guns be drawn in anger?

This book does bring to a conclusion a number of story threads that link this book with the first two in the series, and, although not ending with such a dramatic cliff-hanger as the previous book, does leave the reader wanting to see where the next story will take the surviving characters, Jere D. James having neatly planted the seed for the next with mention of a man known as the High Country Killer (which is the title of the next book). Let’s hope it isn’t too long before that book is published!

The book also contains a number of black and white photographs taken by Jere D. James of the location the book is set in and these really help the reader visualise the harsh, yet stunning beauty of the Chiricahua Mountains.

Apache

by Jere D. James

Moonlight Mesa Associates, 2010

The second book to feature Jake Silver has had its publishing date brought forward due to demand, and like the first book, Saving Tom Black, this proves to be an excellent read too.

Jere D. James has a wonderful talent of making the reader care about the people he writes about, even those who could be seen as the bad guys. The story’s main character is a woman, Sophy. A woman with a heartbreaking past that sees her living with an evil man, a man she is saved from by an Apache.

It is the relationship between Sophy and Nantan Lupan, the growing love between them, that brings forth the books main message of racial prejudice and hypocrisy, the latter something Jake Silver will battle with as he fights to end this relationship before it goes too far, and if that means having to kill the Apache to do so then so be it, even if this also risks destroying his own bond with his sister Sophy.

Having Jake Silver’s sister in the story allows Jere D. James to fill in more about Silver’s past, tell a little about his childhood and parents.

As Silver attempts to return his sister to civilization he will find himself struggling with doubts about his own relationship with Betsy, his growing feelings of being trapped giving rise to an anger that will see him picking fights. When the Apache kidnaps Sophy – the only way Natan Lupan belives he can be with the woman – Silver finds himself on a deadly hunt in the desert.

Jere D. James packs this tale with exciting and gripping situations that grab the readers attention from the word go, making the book very difficult to put down before the end. And even as the tale comes to a close Jere D. James has one more surprise to spring, one that will have the reader very eager for the next book in the series, Canyon of Death, to be published, something that in my opinion can’t come fast enough!

Saving Tom Black

 A Jake Silver Adventure

by Jere D. James
Moonlight Mesa Associates, 2009

Escaping from an Orphan Train, teenager Elizabeth DuBonnet sets out to find her mother and sister. With only a little stolen money her determination to succeed is her only strength. As the hopelessness of her task starts to take it’s toll, Elizabeth, with the help of Thomas Jefferson, becomes Tom Black, hoping that disguised as a young man she’ll attract less attention as she continues her search.

Jake Silver is the new U.S. Deputy Marshal whose path keeps crossing that of Tom Black, and like most everyone else who meets Black, sees straight through Elizabeth’s disguise which leads to some very humorous exchanges of dialogue and situations. Silver takes Elizabeth under his wing and promises to help her in her quest. Of course Silver has his own business to attend to and cannot stay with Elizabeth all the time and she once more sets out alone to find her mother.

Elizabeth soon discovers that life on the trail is full of dangers, heartbreak and the confusing emotions of chasing dreams and falling in love. Jake Silver attempts to ward off those feelings of attraction and love, whilst taking on a group of land-grabbers and murderers whilst investigating missing girls that may, or may not, be linked to a local Mormon community.

Jere D. James has written a book that grabs the readers’ attention from the opening paragraph and doesn’t let go until the final word. His smooth flowing prose is easy to read and he paces the story beautifully. There are many heart-warming scenes and others that sadden. There’s plenty of action as both Elizabeth and Silver find themselves fighting for their lives. The book is filled with memorable characters that are portrayed expertly, making it easy for the reader to share their pain and joy.

And does Elizabeth find her mother and sister? Does she find love and happiness with Jake? Sorry that’s not for me to reveal here, you’ll just have to buy the book to find out for yourselves, and hopefully enjoy the journey to those answers as much as I did.

Saving Tom Black will be officially released in late October and will "debut" at Mesa's Old West Days Festival, November 7th and 8th, in Mesa, Arizona. To find out more, and to order the book go here.

A second Jake Silver novel, Apache, is scheduled to appear in 2010.