The Canyon of Bones: A Barnaby Skye Novel

There's a certain snobbery that easily dismisses westerns, which is a pity actually, because the genre is rich with history, storyline, and action/adventure the likes of any good thriller writer can envy. Such is the case with THE CANYON OF BONES by Richard S. Wheeler. With this Barnaby Skye continuation we find him getting older and wondering if he should take a second Indian wife. We also find him taking on a Sir Richard Burton kind of figure who wants to record the significance of the Canyon of Bones, and of course, the trouble and danger that goes along with it. It's easy to see why Wheeler is a five-time Spur Award winner just as it is easy to see that he's a talented writer whose work transcends genre. This isn't hack writing or a simple plot or storyline. No, this is real talent and the kind of book that aspiring writers need to be reading if their goal is to become a professional writer worthy of the title. You want something original? It's here. You want action/adventure? It's here too! You want history, romance, and a look into the complicated human condition? Then open the book and start reading. The next time you're in a bookstore stop and open a few books in the 'western' section and see what I mean. Grab a handful of books by different authors, Wheeler among them, and see if they don't measure up to anything that's on the popular racks today. If you start with Wheeler and his Barnaby Skye series you're in for a long treat. Good stuff here.

I don't typically read Westerns. However, I am attracted to books with titles that I like. I decided to take this one home and give it a shot. I was absolutely amazed at Mr. Wheeler's abilities to combine very real characters with the descriptions of their actions and surroundings. Barnaby Skye is a rich and quirky hero, his wives make for a fabulous trio and interesting portrait of the melding of cultures in pre-Civil War America.