Customer Reviews

Bone Walker: Book III of the Anasazi Mysteries

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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

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.

"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.

The Anasazi mystery series by the Gears is tremendous fun to read and teaches one a lot about archeology and the Anasazi culture. Don't start with this one. Begin with The Visitant, then The Summoning God and finish off with Bonewalker. I'm reading them for the second time which I find enjoyable due to the complexities of the mysteries and the Anasazi cosmology. If you have ever been to Chaco Canyon you'll really appreciate the detail and, like us, perhaps plan to a trip back to hunt down all the magic places referenced in the books.

I definitely would not advise anyone to start reading this series with this book. There is a lot of backstory and while the authors do a good job with weaving explanations in the text, there were times when I found myself asea about certain points dealt with in the earlier books. However, I read the two previous novels and I was delighted to find this one.

Moving in time between American Pre-history and the present, the authors touch on nearly every major controversy about the Anasazi, past and present. Vicious scholarly infighting is contrasted against the swing of war clubs. As the suspense builds, the authors do a good job at showing how the investigative skills of archaeologists are not that different from that of law enforcement (whether in the past or present)-- both are attempting to reconstruct past actions and draw conclusions about the actors.

Definitely recommended for a reading on a chilly evening with a pot of hot coffee and a few biscotti on a tray.

I absolutely love the Gear's style of writing. They make you feel as if you are right there with the characters. I can see and hear them as I am reading. I have read all of their other novels and can say that this is my favorite series of them all. I anxiously look forward to the next one. Who knows, maybe we'll see Dusty's mom again! If you have never read a book by the Gears be sure to start with the very first novel in this series. Once you meet Dusty and his eclectic group of friends you'll never look back. Enjoy!!

This was an excellent book. There were two stories interwoven within each other. Both followed right along each other. The characters were outstanding. Both of these stories had a great deal of suspense and murder and of course with the Gear's writing the excellence of past history was there for all to see. The Gears have an awesome touch of allowing the reader to see and feel the history of the Anasazi. I could not put the book down and I thoroughly recommend it for anyone who likes a good murder mystery and a love for the past.
Kathy Riley

I am a Native American and I have been a big fan of the Gears and
this series of mysteries. The Gears display a rare sensitivity to Native American values. But in this novel I find myself puzzled. From my perspective, one of the arch-villains escaped without punishment. This left me feeling that there was a loose end flapping in the wind. All of the wicked Native Americans got killed but the wicked white woman is to get a couple of years probation. In my value system she was even more evil than some of the Native Americans because she devoured people's spirits. Four stars because of this.

Just finished reading Bone Walker. This is the last of the Anasazi Mysteries. I'm assuming that there won't be anymore. Interesting, I had been thinking that this final one was a big improvement over the other two. Some editing issues seemed to be cleaned up. They learned how to spell pinon; studied southwestern cooking (although I don't think I'm going to want to eat huevos rancheros anytime soon - sick to death of them now); I think the Gears even visited Albuquerque. While it was a little hard to get into at first the pace did pick up; the flipping back and forth between centuries wasn't too bad. They even worked out the awkward Maureen-Dusty dynamic; I enjoyed the direction their relationship was taking. Catkin and Stone Ghost were brought back into the picture. Catkin was one rockin' warrior. Browser was great! Little Bone Walker was sad. Overall, it was looking like a fairly good murder mystery mixed in with the Anasazi story. But somehow they managed to drop it in the last fifty pages.

For one thing, all these new characters that were introduced without any direction whatsoever. Yvette's purpose was lost on me. She added nothing to the pace of the story. Reggie needed more page time to work but he didn't get it. We didn't even get a chance to find out what for sure happened to him. Ruth Ann was probably the most uni-dimensional character I've ever read. I didn't believe anything about her. Rupert wasn't that great either considering how important he was. Why wasn't he in more of the story? And how many elderly aunts does Magpie have left to kill off?

Then they gave away the ending to the Anasazi story way too soon. Mysteries are about suspense - you know? Then with the modern mystery I was subjected to a drawing room scene where the murderer reveals his motives. But since the story was pushing well past six hundred pages maybe the authors thought they needed to speed things up. But it was still a poor payoff for my efforts.

But then there's something that didn't occur to me until I got to page 326 of the paperback version - there were no hispanics in the section of the story that takes place in modern times except for the attendant in a parking lot who didn't even get a gender. Just mentioned as "a Hispanic". I do not understand that and it's been rubbing at me ever since. Now I'm wondering if there were any hispanics in the other two. I hate to belabor the issue but hispanics are half the population in New Mexico. You would have to make an effort to avoid them.

So there - those are my thoughts. If another one comes out I probably will read it. Too late to stop now.

I found myself in agreement with other readers in that the lives and times of Browser and Catkin are far more interesting than Dusty and Maureen's pathetic F'ed up 20th century existences.

So, to get an expansive uninterrupted narrative simply skip the chapters pertaining to Dusty's unresolved childhood issues. That would be every other chapter if you're keeping score.