Perilous Pursuit on the Santa Fe Trail

Inez Ross
Ashley House (2005)
ISBN 9780966433753
Reviewed by Joanne Benham for Reader Views (4/06)

Private investigator Sheila James and her assistant, Dora Watling, were on vacation when they received a call for help from Helen Stoner, who fears that her stepfather, Dr. Sydney Roylott, (Sherlock Holmes fans will recognize the Roylott name) may attempt to kill her before her 21st birthday in November. The basis for this fear is the will her wealthy mother wrote shortly before she died, leaving Helen a sizable estate. If for some reason Helen does not live to see her 21st birthday, the money goes to Dr. Roylott.

Dr. Roylott had always made treasure hunts for Helen and her sister when they were growing up, and now he's made up a doozy of a hunt, sending Helen, with James and Watling to provide protection for her, down the Santa Fe Trail from Missouri to New Mexico. Along the way, they meet all manner of interesting characters, including farmers, ranchers, ghosts, snakes and one particularly interesting group headed up by a character called the Trail Boss. Watch out for this group!

Until I read this book, I was not aware that you could actually walk the Santa Fe Trail, following the ruts made by the great wagon trains as they forged this new country. This book is filled with fascinating trivia and the historical references are woven in very neatly, so neatly in fact that you don't even realize you're learning a big slice of American History 101.

I really enjoyed reading this book, which was fast paced and engrossing. I especially enjoyed trying to figure out whether the person being introduced was a real, living person or a fictional character.

I highly recommend “Perilous Pursuit on the Santa Fe Trail.”

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