Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Case of the Deadly Desperados by Caroline Lawrence

It's 1862 in the tiny town of Temperance in Wild West Nevada territory.  P.K. Pinkerton feels detective work is in his blood.  He's been told that he is the nephew of the famous train detective, Allan Pinkerton.  But on his 12th birthday he discovers his foster parents murdered and three deadly desperados, Whittlin Walt and his cut-throat gang, are in hot pursuit of P.K.!  Clinging to the top of a stage-coach, he makes it to Virginia City where he will try to escape them.  But why are they after him?  This case has something to do with the  white paper deed his Lakota birth mother left him, which he keeps in his ever-present medicine bag hanging from his neck, along with a $20 gold piece and some items that he keeps to remember his parents.  But hanging on to money, or important deeds to silver mine land,  is next to impossible in Virginia City, where everyone is trying to get rich quick and no one can be trusted.  This is a lesson P.K. quickly learns as he is rescued, conned and robbed by a beautiful "Soiled Dove" named Belle Donne.  Then he is befriended by a Chinese boy who will  lead him to a place of safety if he will give him $500 when he recovers his deed.  After hiding all night in a photographer's studio, he disguises himself as a girl and continues to search for  Belle to try to recover his deed while avoiding Whittlin Walt and his gang.   P.K. is befriended by Sam Clemens, a newspaper reporter new to town in need of a scoop for the morning edition, and many other colorful characters.  But will he get his deed back and notarized before Whittlin Walt finds him?  This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from one twist and turn to another!  There is adventure, mystery and many funny situations in every chapter.
Check out this book in the Teen Room!

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