Stagecoach Station: Santa Fe
by
Hank Mitchum
(D.B. Newton)
When Clay Reiner, chief field agent of the Hanlon Stage Line, guides a westbound stagecoach from Kansas to Santa Fe, he expects danger. But nothing prepares him for the deadly journey ahead. Battling mountain storms, hostile warriors, and ruthless outlaws, Reiner must keep his passengers alive through one crisis after another. Among them is Beth Hanlon, the spirited daughter of the stage line’s owner, returning home to her father and the man she hopes to marry. When her fiancé, Frank Darby, unexpectedly joins the coach, Beth is delighted but totally unaware that he is a fugitive on the run. Desperate to hide a brutal murder committed to cover up his theft from her father’s company, Darby will do whatever it takes to escape justice. As suspicion grows and Darby’s plans begin to unravel, every passenger aboard becomes a potential victim. With danger closing in from all sides, Reiner must uncover the truth, protect the innocent, and stop a desperate killer before the road to Santa Fe turns into a trail of blood. In a land where survival is never guaranteed, justice may come at a deadly price.
What begins as a routine stagecoach journey to Santa Fe soon turns into a desperate fight for survival. Along the way, the travellers face hostile Indians, rescue a troop of soldiers only to have those same soldiers turn against them, battle fierce storms, and contend with a ruthless murderer determined to reach his destination at any cost, protecting the secret cargo he carries.
I've now read a few books by D.B. Newton, although most have been from his Bannister series rather than the Stagecoach Station books. While this was an enjoyable read, I didn't feel it quite matched the standard of the Bannister stories, which remain my personal favorites. That said, this may simply come down to preference, so don't let that put you off giving it a try.
As always, Newton's writing is strong and engaging, making for an entertaining Western adventure. The book is available from December 16 through Amazon and Piccadilly Publishing. 4/5.
