A riveting, relentless ride through danger and deception.
Schoonmaker delivers a richly layered historical adventure that blends frontier hardship with an intriguing mystery and a thoughtful coming-of-age narrative. In 1856, Sid Johnson and his family leave Santa Fe with a wagon train headed for California. Their route takes them towards the Jornada del Muerto, a ninety-mile desert crossing where water is scarce and survival far from certain. Meanwhile, a puzzling letter, a stolen shipment of silver, and the arrival of several strangers give Sid plenty to worry about. Someone among the travellers may be hiding more than a troubled past.
Schoonmaker knows how to make a wagon train interesting. There are quarrels over seemingly trivial matters, children getting into trouble, exhausted animals, and families who must somehow get along despite their differences. The historical details are plentiful, particularly those concerning New Mexico’s people and traditions, but the story remains firmly rooted in Sid’s experiences. Sid is a likeable boy with a habit of jumping to conclusions. His mistakes are often as revealing as his discoveries, especially when he must reconsider people he has already judged. Dorcas Payne, the wagon company’s Black schoolteacher, is a memorable presence, bringing intelligence and quiet authority to a community where prejudice remains deeply entrenched.
The mystery develops at a measured pace, with clues emerging from conversations, chance encounters, and details easily overlooked. Schoonmaker also finds room for Shakespeare, friendship, and the ordinary pleasures that make a difficult journey bearable. The result is a story that gives its young characters real problems to solve without making the adults irrelevant.
A lively, well-researched frontier mystery with an appealing young hero and plenty to discover along the trail.
***
Auctus Publishers
Coming soon
