Malpais

The 1870s. As opposed to the myths of popular culture, not everybody was swaggering around with six-irons strapped down and leading lives of mayhem. But there were the exceptions--every bit as evil, bloody and deadly as legends portray. And so too, was the law that handled these outlaws. In the mold of men like Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp, M D "Shorty" Thompson is just that kind of lawman: Short on stature but tall on guts. Hand-picked by President Rutherford B. Hayes, he is one of best. And since United States Marshals of the 1870s handle desperados, this means just about everybody does seem to be using those strapped-down dragoons and wreaking havoc. For Marshal M D Thompson, its the life of a lawman. As unforgiving and harsh as the southwest can be, some of its far-flung landscapes are rich in mystery. Giving rise to such mystery is the west central New Mexico territory of the Malpais (pronounced Mal-pie). This jagged range of lava-strewn hills and mountains is several hundred miles of pines, pinions, junipier and ancient lava flows reaching farther than the eye can see. Located near Fort Wingate, the Malpais figures prominently in the mysterious disappearances of over three-dozen young women and girls. Having vanished without a trace, even the army has been unsuccessful in finding clues or plausible explanations. In "Malpais," Marshal Thompson and his long-time partner James "Buffalo" Blackburn search for missing women amid a breathtaking and unusual western landscape. Avoiding bone-crushing falls into hollow lava tubes or freezing ice caves makes riding the Malpais a strenuous effort for which the lawman and his partner are prepared. But the men didn't expect lightening striking out of clear blue skies, visitations by Indian apparitions or the specter of a mystical bald eagle that just isn't there. In fact, the Marshal isn't likely to be shooting his way out of these ghostly tribulations. Narrated in the authentically seasoned dialect of a southwestern storyteller, the Marshal Thompson series pays tribute to the thrilling and heartbreaking hardships of our nation's western history. Accurately reconstructing the sweeping landscapes of the old west, these novels document the times and historical locations largely ignored by writers who have not been there. Paul L Thompson actually has been there, and you will feel like you were there, too.