Bone Walker: Book III of the Anasazi Mysteries [Mass Market Paperback]

Kathleen O'Neal Gear (Author), W. Michael Gear (Author)

Book Description

Series: Anasazi Mysteries | Publication Date: October 13, 2002

W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear, award-winning archaeologists and international bestselling authors, break extraordinary new ground in the riveting sequal to their bestselling The Summoning God. Bone Walker is more than a murder mystery, it is a psychological thriller filled with the action that have made this the dynamic duo of the historical. They have breathed life into the vanished world of the Anasazi, bringing out the spirit, the loves, and a mysterious world where mystery and horror lurk in every shadow, behind every door, sometimes right before you. The Gears invite you to follow them down the dark labyrinth of the serial killers mind in Book III of the Anasazi Mysteries.

Eight hundred years have passed since the Mogollon holy man was murdered in Flowing Waters Town. The threads of evil spun by Two Hearts are drawn across time to ensnare modern archaeologists Dusty Stewart and Maureen Cole. The "Wolf Witch" has killed archaeologist Dale Emerson Robertson, and Dusty and Maureen must unmask the murderer before he strikes again. But in so doing, Dusty will root out disturbing secrets about his own past that will cast his father's suicide in an unsettling light. With so many skeletons in the closet, even a bone expert like Maureen can be baffled...and the Wolf Witch is two steps ahead of them, drawing them relentlessly into his trap...

From the national award-winning archaeologists and international bestselling authors of The Visitant and The Summoning God comes a novel of unforgettable terror about a murder in America eight hundred years ago...and a power that transcends time.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Nearly a millennium ago, the Anasazi ruled the cliffs and canyons of New Mexico with a rich, vibrant culture that disappeared as mysteriously as it arose. The link between the 800-year-old murder of an Anasazi holy man and the ritual death of archaeologist Dusty Stewart's beloved mentor drive this rich tapestry of a novel, which moves almost seamlessly between the past and the present to its riveting conclusion. But long before that happens, the reader is drawn into the hunt for a wolf witch that resonates down the centuries, unearthing not only the secrets and relics of an ancient world but also those of Dusty's past--his father's suicide, his mother's desertion, the existence of a sister he never knew, and the reappearance of the woman whose tangled love life set a series of bloody crimes in motion. Archaeologists themselves, the authors bring the past to life with skill and verisimilitude in this terrific story. --Jane Adams --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

In their third cleverly constructed Anasazi mystery (following The Visitant and The Summoning God), the Gears continue the saga of Browser, Catkin, Stone Ghost and the rest of their small group as they seek to ensure their survival by ending the bloody strife that's tearing apart the various villages within the Anasazi territory. Paralleling the past story is a present-day murder mystery involving archaeologist Dusty Stewart, his family, friends and colleagues. The two narratives intertwine and interconnect in ways sometimes effective and sometimes irksome. The Gears' qualifications as archaeologists have given this series a strong foundation, and although this volume adds no new insights, the background is again superbly drawn. Browser's desperate attempts to form alliances and to hunt down and slay the evil Two Hearts give the war chief a chance to display his great cunning and bravery. And Dusty is forced to confront a great many personal demons as he struggles to solve a witchcraft-related murder that could lead to more deaths. Browser's resourcefulness makes him a truly engaging character, while the identity of the witch/murderer Dusty seeks remains well hidden to the end. The Gears' extensive bibliography provides documentation for their use of witchcraft, cannibalism and the rise of conflicting religious beliefs, as well as the more mundane aspects of 12th-century Native-American life in New Mexico. (Jan. 3)and modern stories occupy the same geography but employ different names.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (October 13, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812589823
• ISBN-13: 978-0812589825
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,571 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating mystery, November 17, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bone Walker: Book III of the Anasazi Mysteries (Hardcover)

In the thirteenth century, the once majestic Anasazi Empire is in a rapid state of decline. A nasty drought has led to a food shortage, which exacerbates the religious disputes and inter-clan genocide becomes the norm. War chief Browser and his trusted aide Catkin want to kill the witch Two Hearts, who burned their home to the ground. Two Hearts covets an amulet Browser wears because the witch believes that will extend his life.

At the same location, but in the twenty-first century, the FBI asks archeologists Dusty Steward and Maureen Cole to help on a homicide investigation. Someone killed a mutual friend Dr. Dale Emerson in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico with the evidence pointing towards a witch. Dusty and Maureen have the knowledge to see what the Feds might miss because the proof lies outside their belief system.

The alternating chapters between the thirteenth and twenty-first centuries keeps the readers on full alert as they try to connect the link between the eras. There are many fascinating mysteries contained within BONE WALKER, but it is the vibrant and perceptive panorama on the Anasazi culture that makes this novel stand out amidst the crowd of archeological who-done-its. The audience feels the decline of this mighty civilization and wonders if history will repeat itself with the United States.

Harriet Klausner

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful mystery series, April 14, 2002

By 

S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bone Walker: Book III of the Anasazi Mysteries (Hardcover)

This is a great series, and I think this will be the last in this particular trilogy. This is a great series because it melds the past and the present so seamlessly. There are two entirely different stories, but they are both connected by the past and the book weaves in and out so effortlessly. I really enjoyed the story, and the mystery (both past and present) was also gripping. The characters are so real(even the ones from the past). There is no other mystery series out there like this one, and all lovers of mystery and folklore should read this series.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bone Walker is Scary, August 21, 2002

By 

Tribute (Earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bone Walker: Book III of the Anasazi Mysteries (Hardcover)

"Bone Walker" is much scarier than "Summoning God" and "The Visitant." It also puts Dusty and Maureen in peril, which didn't allow much advancement in fleshing out supporting characters like Steve, Magpie and Sylvia who were so engaging in the other books. Still, it's great to see the Dusty/Maureen relationship flourish, and with additions of new characters I imagine this isn't the last we'll see of Dusty, Maureen, Browser and Catkin. I don't recommend reading this book without first stocking up on nachos, salsa and burritos because in between the scares there are many detailed descriptions of delicious Mexican food that will make your mouth water.
This book brings Browser to the forefront by putting many of the scenes from the 13th century in his POV. Browswer wishes to revenge the wrongs done to him by the "Summoning God" and "Visitant." No longer a brooding War Chief, Browser is now the one who needs to lead Catkin and Stone Ghost out of harms way. The action in this book is more vivid and disturbing than the first two, but it also requires you puzzle out intricate plots both in the 13th and 22nd centuries.
It's well worth reading, and I hope there will be another in this series.