Tale of the Broken Spoke — Paul Johnson

In "Tale of the Broken Spoke," Skip Rhodes, an enigmatic tour guide, unknowingly threatens the looters of ancient Native ruins. Skip's sidekick, Kukulkan Bonifacio Baltazar, a half-Mayan, half-Yaqui plumber to the stars, and Lilac Williams, Skip's hot-tempered ex-girlfriend who teaches yoga and firearm training, join together to uncover an artifact smuggling ring and investigate a cold-case murder -- all while being distracted by an intergalactic swindle perpetuated by an Arizona sidewinder straight out of the old west.

Set in artsy Sedona, Arizona, "Tale of the Broken Spoke" introduces a quirky cast of characters including new age spiritualists, chakra and crystal experts, mystics and fortune tellers, vortex believers, alien researchers and abductees, tribal politicians, and archeologists. In eccentric fashion, these characters provide clues and insight into the mysteries facing Skip and his team.

The clues take them deep into red rock canyons and on remote trails sculpted into towering sandstone formations. There, they uncover a thousand-year-old mystery and confront Native taboos. The story builds to an exciting climax with Skip and Lilac trapped in an undocumented Native cliff ruin fighting for their lives.