Official Review: Diamonds of Devil's Tail by A.W. Baldwin
Posted: 02 Aug 2020, 19:42
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Diamonds of Devil's Tail" by A.W. Baldwin.]
Relic was in an ancient pueblo built into a cliff in Canyonlands National Park when he observed a man coming towards him, carrying a ladder. Suspecting him of thievery because people were frequently trying to steal artifacts from the pueblos, Relic pushed his ladder over while the man was climbing up. Spooked, the thief left to attempt to find other ancient dwellings in Devil’s Tail Canyon to rob. Relic hurried to get there first to thwart his plans.
Brayden accompanied his uncle, Henry, co-worker Dylan, and several other previously unknown people on a white-water rafting trip in Canyonlands National Park. The group camped at Devil’s Tail Canyon and hiked up to a waterfall area. Dylan noticed a small trail that led from the waterfall up an incline where it disappeared. He decided to see where it led, and Henry, being extremely competitive, followed him. When Brayden came upon them, he saw Dylan stretched out on the ground beside a small stream, and his uncle was on his knees beside him. Dylan had a head injury and was dead. Henry showed Brayden diamonds that had been discovered in the stream, and more jewels were seen in the water.
Meanwhile, Relic, hearing noises, had come upon the scene but had stayed out of sight, trying to ascertain what was going on. As Henry and Brayden were talking, they looked up and saw two men coming toward them with a gun. They took off running in different directions, and the two men split up to give chase. Brayden ran into Relic, and the two raced off together.
What happened to Dylan? Who are these men, and why are they pursuing them with a gun? Why are there diamonds in the water?
When I saw that Diamonds of Devil’s Tail by A.W. Baldwin was available, I seized the chance to review it. This is book four of the Relic series but is a standalone novel with all the questions answered by the end. I read books two and three and loved both of them, but this was my favorite. A.W. Baldwin is becoming one of my preferred authors. Told from the third-person point of view, the book jumps right into the action at the beginning and transports the reader on a rollercoaster ride of adventure, with multiple twists and turns, until the captivating end. This is my favorite aspect of the novel. Mr. Baldwin’s descriptive prose is straightforward and thrilling, with humor intermixed in the dialogue. His descriptions paint a vivid picture of Canyonlands National Park and will compel readers to want to visit there and possibly even go white-water rafting. His portrayal of the different people's behavior after the discovery of the diamonds demonstrates both the worst and best in humans.
Relic is one of my all-time favorite characters. Being a gin-brewing recluse and a descendant of the Hopi and Scottish clans, he lives and wanders around the cliffs, streams, and canyons of Canyonlands National Park. Although possibly looking like an uneducated vagrant, he is clearly intelligent, occasionally quotes Gandhi, and possesses a sense of humor. Relic is passionately interested in preserving the ancient archeological sites and conserving the land and water. Although a recluse, it doesn’t prevent him from stepping in and helping people when needed. Being a maverick, he is not averse to going outside the law if it is necessary, and this has made him a target of law enforcement. They have nicknamed him “Sasquatch” because he is so elusive. Relic is a unique and intriguing character.
I found nothing to dislike in this novel, and it seems to be professionally edited. Subsequently, Diamonds of Devil’s Tail achieves a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I enthusiastically recommend it to readers who enjoy thrillers, action-packed adventure, and crime novels. Occasionally, some profanities and violence (although not gory) were encountered in the tale; therefore, it is not recommended for children and sensitive readers need to be aware of it.
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Diamonds of Devil's Tail
View: on Bookshelves
Relic was in an ancient pueblo built into a cliff in Canyonlands National Park when he observed a man coming towards him, carrying a ladder. Suspecting him of thievery because people were frequently trying to steal artifacts from the pueblos, Relic pushed his ladder over while the man was climbing up. Spooked, the thief left to attempt to find other ancient dwellings in Devil’s Tail Canyon to rob. Relic hurried to get there first to thwart his plans.
Brayden accompanied his uncle, Henry, co-worker Dylan, and several other previously unknown people on a white-water rafting trip in Canyonlands National Park. The group camped at Devil’s Tail Canyon and hiked up to a waterfall area. Dylan noticed a small trail that led from the waterfall up an incline where it disappeared. He decided to see where it led, and Henry, being extremely competitive, followed him. When Brayden came upon them, he saw Dylan stretched out on the ground beside a small stream, and his uncle was on his knees beside him. Dylan had a head injury and was dead. Henry showed Brayden diamonds that had been discovered in the stream, and more jewels were seen in the water.
Meanwhile, Relic, hearing noises, had come upon the scene but had stayed out of sight, trying to ascertain what was going on. As Henry and Brayden were talking, they looked up and saw two men coming toward them with a gun. They took off running in different directions, and the two men split up to give chase. Brayden ran into Relic, and the two raced off together.
What happened to Dylan? Who are these men, and why are they pursuing them with a gun? Why are there diamonds in the water?
When I saw that Diamonds of Devil’s Tail by A.W. Baldwin was available, I seized the chance to review it. This is book four of the Relic series but is a standalone novel with all the questions answered by the end. I read books two and three and loved both of them, but this was my favorite. A.W. Baldwin is becoming one of my preferred authors. Told from the third-person point of view, the book jumps right into the action at the beginning and transports the reader on a rollercoaster ride of adventure, with multiple twists and turns, until the captivating end. This is my favorite aspect of the novel. Mr. Baldwin’s descriptive prose is straightforward and thrilling, with humor intermixed in the dialogue. His descriptions paint a vivid picture of Canyonlands National Park and will compel readers to want to visit there and possibly even go white-water rafting. His portrayal of the different people's behavior after the discovery of the diamonds demonstrates both the worst and best in humans.
Relic is one of my all-time favorite characters. Being a gin-brewing recluse and a descendant of the Hopi and Scottish clans, he lives and wanders around the cliffs, streams, and canyons of Canyonlands National Park. Although possibly looking like an uneducated vagrant, he is clearly intelligent, occasionally quotes Gandhi, and possesses a sense of humor. Relic is passionately interested in preserving the ancient archeological sites and conserving the land and water. Although a recluse, it doesn’t prevent him from stepping in and helping people when needed. Being a maverick, he is not averse to going outside the law if it is necessary, and this has made him a target of law enforcement. They have nicknamed him “Sasquatch” because he is so elusive. Relic is a unique and intriguing character.
I found nothing to dislike in this novel, and it seems to be professionally edited. Subsequently, Diamonds of Devil’s Tail achieves a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I enthusiastically recommend it to readers who enjoy thrillers, action-packed adventure, and crime novels. Occasionally, some profanities and violence (although not gory) were encountered in the tale; therefore, it is not recommended for children and sensitive readers need to be aware of it.
******
Diamonds of Devil's Tail
View: on Bookshelves
Diamond hunting is a promising topic itself. Thank you for a great review!