The Devil's Gate
Vickie BrittonRomantic suspense
Available from Whiskey Creek Press
ISBN: 978-1-60313-091-2
January 2008
| Anna Haspura, Ivan, and Brad were childhood playmates at the Devil's Gate ranch in Nevada. Her childhood fantasy of a life with Ivan was shattered when he married another woman. Escaping to Reno she tried to put the place where she grew up out of her mind. When Brad called to say Tavas, the man who raised her is dying she returns to intrigue and both her childhood friends asking her to marry her. Do they want her or do they just want the ranch Tavas willed to her? One of them may be a killer.
Vickie Britton weaves a wonderful suspense that has us guessing about the identity of the bad guys throughout the tale. She builds a great case against almost everyone at the ranch. Anna has to sort through her feelings about her childhood friends and how they have all changed. Devil's Gate is an apt name for a ranch where a childhood specter of a great he goat called Akerra seems to have a cult practicing rituals of sacrifice that harkens back to an ancient Basque heritage. This is a story rich in scenery, characters, and dialogue that keeps us intrigued throughout. Colleen, Ivan's young wife, seems to be the small town floozy who uses her looks and charm to find someone who can help her gain riches if Ivan himself won't. Anna, Guillermo and Victor seem like good guys but even they are wrapped into the storyline as possible villains. Anna doubts everyone around her and we do too as we try to figure out who could hide their evil nature the best behind their public personas as would be lovers, loyal ranch hands, lawyers and other potential suspects. This is an easily read, action filled suspense that I was sorry to see end.
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Dee Dailey |
