First line: On the afternoon of the last day of Lindy Abraham’s life, she stood leaning against an old Jeep Cherokee, once red, now faded to kind of a dusky umber, tapping her heel impatiently against a tire.
From the back cover: Inspired by actual events, The Bone Trail is the story of investigative journalist and horsewoman, Kate Wyndham, who is sent to northern Nevada to do a story on the disappearance of two wild horse advocates. When Wyndham attempts to gain information from the FBI and local authorities she is stonewalled. She turns to Jim Ludlow, a local rancher who lives on an Indian Reservation near where the advocated disappeared. Ludlow, a Shoshone Indian horse “whisperer” agrees to try to help Wyndham and they begin a search for answers that may cost them everything they hold dear – it may even cost them their lives.
My thoughts: I have always had a fascination with horses and so when I saw this book, I jumped at the chance to read and review it. While it is written as fiction, it is based on what is happening to the American Mustang out west. Not knowing much about this, I was at times appalled to see the treatment that was occurring to these wild horses. The passion Nell Walton has for them pours off the page. The descriptions of the settings are breathtaking – I felt as if I was right there along with Kate and Ludlow as they traveled along the reservation looking for the missing advocates. The love story between Kate and Ludlow was evident from the moment they met, yet Nell takes her time building the relationship between the two. This is a story that is filled with mystery, suspense, historical detail and romance. I had a hard time putting the book down once I started it, yet I didn’t want to see it end. I felt like I had come to know these characters as the story went on and I hope one day to be able to revisit them in a sequel.
About the author: Nell Walton is an avid horsewoman and also owns two wild horses, both of which came from a herd near Elko, NV. She is also the founder and managing editor of the online equestrian news magazine, The AllHorses Post. She has degrees in journalism and biology from the University of Arkansas, spent many years as a professional journalist and worked as an intern for former President Bill Clinton when he was governor of Arkansas. She lives in East Tennessee on a small horse farm with her husband, four horses, one donkey, two cats and two dogs. The Bone Trail is her first novel.
Visit these sites for more information:
Blogs: All Horses Post and The Bone Trail
Twitter: nellwal
Facebook: AllHorses Post
I received a complimentary copy of The Bone Trail by Nell Walton from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour.
Thanks for this great review. Too few people know what is happening with our wild horses! -Nell
I love great character reads and so happy that you enjoyed this one!
@ Nell: Thanks for writing a great book!
@ Felicia: It was fantastic!
I came across another book, recently, non-fiction though, that told of mustangs and the terrible treatment and the hunts that take place to rid areas of them. It really is sad what is happening to the wild mustangs. I wish they could be protected like the wild horses on Sable Island.
@Shirley It really is a travesty. Do you remember the name of the book you came across?