The Dunraven's Hoard Murders — James C. Work

02/07/2020One of the legends at Rocky Mountain National Park in the 1920s involves a hotel that once stood there, and an unknown treasure. In 1877, Lord Dunraven built the English Hotel in Estes Park. Lord Dunraven disappeared not long after; the hotel burned down in 1911. Local rumors tell of some treasure buried there. While on his vacation, Ranger Tim McIntyre is asked to work with Miss Vi Coteau, an FBI secretary, and her boss. Three frat boys went hunting for the treasure, and one is dead. But, one of the others, the son of a powerful man, William Leap, thinks he was targeted. Leap pulls strings to have McIntyre and the FBI investigate. Before the case is over, the other young men are killed. McIntyre, who loves a good puzzle, has the time to put the pieces together in this slow-paced, atmospheric mystery. VERDICT Fans of descriptive mysteries filled with fishing and nods to the natural environment might appreciate this third in the historical series, following Ranger McIntyre: Small Delightful Murders. Yet its slow-paced and meandering narrative, with victims who are only names, not well-developed characters, may steer readers to try Victoria Houston's Loon Lake mysteries instead.—Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN