Ghost Canyon

The John Decker Supernatural Thriller Series, Book 7

By: Anthony M. Strong

Narrated by: Jet Malakai

Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

In the darkness they wait - patient, hungry....

They are found huddled together in a frontier mineshaft. Three mummified corpses sitting near a vein of gold so rich it would have made them wealthy. Yet, they never tried to leave. Instead, they sat down and starved to death rather than walk out.

When Robyn Miller inherits her father's share of an old ghost town in Nevada that has been in the family for generations, she decides to pack up and make a new life by creating a one-of-a-kind wedding venue and tourist attraction.

Eager to put her plans into action, she hires a trio of geologists to survey the crumbling gold mine so that she can start offering tours. But only one of them makes it out alive, and he brings with him a tale of mummified corpses and seams of gold. He also tells of a creature deep in the tunnels. A beast with glowing red eyes that attacked them, killing his companions and almost murdering him.

The local police, unable to find answers, call in the FBI, who in turn ask CUSP for help. When John Decker arrives in the remote mining town, he finds a terrifying adversary that dates all the way back to the Gold Rush, and an ancient legend come to life.

This is book seven in the John Decker series, but it can be listened to as a stand-alone novel.

If you are a fan of James Rollins, Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, and Clive Cussler, you will love the John Decker series.

©2021 Anthony M. Strong (P)2023 Anthony M. Strong

Good idea, but bad execution and worse editing

I always find it difficult to leave reviews that are mixed like the one I am about to do. The premises sound, for the most part, the writing is solid, with a few glaring errors: the writer seems to not understand what “toward“ means. His characters are always looking toward someone or, shooting toward something. He doesn’t seem to understand that the word means “going in a direction“ like you’re heading toward home, but it’s ambiguous whether you actually make it or not. You don’t shoot toward someone, you should add someone he also doesn’t seem to know the difference between “lying “and “laying.” I don’t listen to books to find errors at nitpick so I don’t have more examples, but there are many. The narrator, is terrible. He can pronounce words OK for the most part, he can read OK, but his acting skills, just leave something to be desired, and the one example that stuck with me, is he pronounced “sewn“ as it was “soon.” If I were reading the book, of course, I know how to pronounce words because I studied English beyond high school, but when I rely on narrators, then to have to stop and try to park what he meant, it ruins the rhythm of the storytelling. I really really do not like this narrator. Because of this narrator, this book gets two stars when it might’ve gotten three or even four. I doubt I’ll continue this series because of all of these shortcomings. There are many many other books, in a similar genre that are much better written, and narrated.

Terrible idea buying another book

This book was not worthy of my time or money,, the narrator voice almost put me to sleep

Another John Decker Adventure

John Decker is back and off on another adventure hunting monsters. This time something has come out of a 19th century gold mine next to a Nevada ghost town. Throw in some Vegas mob types, an old desert curmudgeon, a couple surprisingly open minded FBI agents, and the requisite lovely female imperiled by the quite formidable creature. The creature, without going into too much detail, is drawn from native American legends, although in a kind of indirect way.

I should mention, because it stuck me as unusual, the native Americans depicted here, though few, were handled as normal everyday helpful folks. Usually authors tend to depict them as either angry or secretive or just plain jerks. Not here. Gotta say it was a nice change.

I had picked up this series on a whim, and now it's become a favorite. Very enjoyable and fun adventures. I could see this becoming a series of films or even a television series (although that last might work against the uniqueness of the storylines).

Anyway, I highly recommend this book and this series. Lots of action. Interesting characters. No swearing. No sex. A good heart. And a lot of fun.