GRAVEL GOLD

A story of gold mining in the Colorado of 1856 gains color and depth with this author's ability to create solid characters in an authentic, many-leveled background. The kernel of plot tells of young Will Eaton and a friend Jay Skeele who persuade Will's merchant brother in law Ben to leave his Kansas establishment and with his family, go on to Jay's digglug in Colorado. There is Ben's former employee Fred, who schemes to trick them before justice and gold, are won. But through it all there is the tangy flavour of real conversation, and a well described historical setting that lifts the story above the average.