The Great Liquor War

De: D. M. McGowan

Narrado por: David M. McGowan

The year is 1885. Hank James has been in Canada several months panning gold from a stream near Roswell, British Columbia. When he hears a prizefight will be held in town, he attends, along with everyone for miles around. With a little help from the fight referee, he wins big betting on the fight.

Having realized that the life of a miner isn’t nearly as romantic or rewarding as he expected, and with advice from the policeman who helped him win money on the fight, Hank goes to Farwell to haul freight with pack horses for contractors building the transcontinental railroad.

The railroad’s security, a detachment of North West Mounted Police, have maintained across the West that no liquor be allowed one mile on either side of the rail bed. Provincial authorities disagree.

Hank James believes in honoring and repaying his debts, but that doesn’t mean he should be involved in a war between the BC Provincial Police and the North West Mounted. He and his partners have trouble enough running their freight business, they don’t need to be caught between competing policemen. They are already stuck between Canada’s transcontinental railroad people and the contractors doing the actual construction.

While the police are fighting one another, who is looking for criminals, particularly those stealing Hank’s horses?

About the Author:
Despite a variety of jobs, D.M. McGowan is now retired from work as a commercial driver and lives near Mile "0" of the world-famous Alaska Highway. His stories bring Canadian history to life. "I believe in seeing morality and societal responsibility rewarded. Too much of today’s fiction seems to lead into the dark instead of the light."

©1998, 2015 David M.. McGowan / Precision Book Publishing (P)2023 David M. McGowan

Wild West, Railroad, and More!

Hank James is many things including an entrepreneur with a head for business and luck and a man of honor. After exploring several different ventures, he settles on raising pack horses in Canada. He quickly recognizes the value of this business since the transcontinental railroad construction workers will require pack horses to finish the railroad. The battle between the North West Mounted Police and the BC Provincial Police over alcohol is but one battle James must contend with as the other is horse thievery – from him!

The author, David M. McGowan, captures and presents vividly Canadian history during the 1800s. McGowan skillfully weaves history with social and moral values, creating characters with complex depth and vibrant personalities that enrich the narrative. McGowan is a masterful storyteller as he maintains a smooth narrative flow, making the intense and complex story easy to follow.

As the narrator, David M. McGowan projects the personalities, situations, and actions vividly and authentically. He maintains the story’s momentum with a consistent pace, effectively portraying interactions and accurately conveying emotions.

This is a very well-written and captivating book. It is clear the book was well-researched. I highly recommend this audiobook.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.