In 1876, in the snowy wilderness of San Juan County, Colorado, a miner, Eli, was viciously murdered, causing his daughter, Luster, and adopted Ute son, John, to descend on Howardsville and Silverton to unravel the mystery of their father's death and to bring the murderers to justice. Their arrival causes unexpected incidents that spark John's memory of his past, and hurl the beautiful Luster into a cauldron of unparalleled savagery. Luster and John are caught in a perfect storm of ferocious Civil War Veterans turned miners and gunmen, and natural threats in the form of avalanches, bears, wolves, and frigid temperatures. John's untamed nature and Luster's innocent grit initially are no match for the sporting mobs.

In their search the unsuspecting duo stumbles onto the secret of Dead Man's Mountain that only Eli knew and that others wanted. This revelation further makes the pair a target. The ensuing events hurl John and Luster into an interchange of pursuer and pursued, and throw them into a ferocious cycle of deception. In their quest for redemption and revenge, their search reveals the greedy hearts of evil men as well as the truth of John's past.

This adventure novel is based within actual locations in Southwestern Colorado, and has been carefully researched and authenticated. If you like reading writers Jack London and Louis L'Amour, or just enjoy studying the mining history in Colorado, you will love this book.