Sun Dance (Sam Keaton Western Mystery Series Book 3)

Most of the time, I think of murder mysteries as an escape from life and a way to test my skills as an armchair detective. This novel offers so much more than that. Set in the old west, the hero of the series returns to his seriff's office one day to find a man dead on his desk. Thinking that was supposed to be him, he investigates. Soon, however, he is taken away from town on an expedition to find a safe passage around Indian territory. Then people on the expedition begin dieing. Their bodies are found with arrows in their backs. Soon, innocent Indians have been massacred as has most of the expedtition. There is a war cry coming from both the Indians and the Army, and to end the blood bath, Sam must get sober again and find out the real reason for the deaths.As a fan of murder mysteries, I have grown used to people dieing. This book, however, has over 50 deaths. It does deal realistically with the issues of Indian/Settler relatons in the early west. It is well written. I give it a 3 because it is so serious. When I had finished it, I was truly depressed. This is not light reading. It is not like the others in the series, so I recommend reading it in order and being ready to start the next as soon as you're done.

Received the book in great condition. Good read, good story line. Can stand on its own, but would recommend reading it in the order of the series. Good history, the reality of the toughness and joys of life.

Recommend the series,great story

The Sam Keaton Mystery series is really a great read. Can't wait to read more.

The whole series is very well written and has some humor along with some dangerous villains.

Most of the time, I think of murder mysteries as an escape from life and a way to test my skills as an armchair detective. This novel offers so much more than that. Set in the old west, the hero of the series returns to his seriff's office one day to find a man dead on his desk. Thinking that was supposed to be him, he investigates. Soon, however, he is taken away from town on an expedition to find a safe passage around Indian territory. Soon, however, the people on the expedition begin dieing. Their bodies are found with arrows in their backs. Soon, innocent Indians have been massacred as has most of the expedtition. To make matters worse, Samuel, our hero, is torn from his girlfriend by these events. There is a war cry coming from both the Indians and the Army, and to end the blood bath, Sam must get sober again and find out the real reason for the deaths.As a fan of murder mysteries, I have grown used to people dieing. This book, however, has over 50 deaths. It also features a sad breakup between Sam and his girlfriend. It does deal realistically with the issues of Indian/Settler relatons in the early west. It is well written. I give it a 6 because it is so serious. When I had finished it, I was truly depressed. This is not light reading.