In the second in this adventure series, Virginia City’s newest detective, P.K. Pinkerton, takes on his first case – finding the killer of a murdered girl before he strikes again!
Nominated for a 2014 EDGAR award, P.K. Pinkerton is back in the second book of this whip-crackingly brilliant series, set in America’s Wild West.
The death of sadistic desperado Whittlin Walt has created an opening for ‘Chief of the Comstock Desperados’. Several young gunfighters are battling it out in the saloons and streets of Virginia City, and against this backdrop of gunmen, gamblers and cowboys, P.K. Pinkerton, Private Eye, is having trouble drumming up business. Nobody seems to take a 12-year-old detective seriously!
Then a servant girl named Martha begs P.K. for help. She witnessed the murder of her mistress – a hurdy girl – and the killer knows it. Now he is after her. Martha gives P.K. a description of the killer and a cryptic clue, but then she disappears. Can P.K. solve the case and find Martha before the killer does?
Nominated for a 2014 EDGAR award, P.K. Pinkerton is back in the second book of this whip-crackingly brilliant series, set in America’s Wild West.
The death of sadistic desperado Whittlin Walt has created an opening for ‘Chief of the Comstock Desperados’. Several young gunfighters are battling it out in the saloons and streets of Virginia City, and against this backdrop of gunmen, gamblers and cowboys, P.K. Pinkerton, Private Eye, is having trouble drumming up business. Nobody seems to take a 12-year-old detective seriously!
Then a servant girl named Martha begs P.K. for help. She witnessed the murder of her mistress – a hurdy girl – and the killer knows it. Now he is after her. Martha gives P.K. a description of the killer and a cryptic clue, but then she disappears. Can P.K. solve the case and find Martha before the killer does?
Newsletter Signup
By clicking ‘Sign Up,’ I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Hachette Book Group’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Reviews
I reckon Caroline Lawrence's second Western Mystery may well be better even than her first P K Pinkerton case. I enjoyed myself tremendously from the start.
...such a pleasure to read in so many ways.
You must read this book, if only to find out how a spittoon can save your life! It is thrilling, well-written and utterly engrossing, and it cannot be recommended highly enough...superbly good...you will not want to put it down until the final shot has rung out and the murderer is revealed.
...there is much to commend in this book that makes it worthwhile for child readers. But they will want to read it - and should read it - because it truly is a cracking read that they can happily get lost in.
the plot is a high-octane, roistering, cliffhanger-filled ride through the Wild West and P.K. the most interesting and unusual protagonist in Junior fiction.
It's a terrific story, very pacey, full of danger and cliff-hangers, with an intricate plot and masses of atmosphere. But for me the best thing is the characters...The P.K. Pinkerton Mysteries are original, they're page turners - and they're very funny. I'd recommend them very, very strongly for readers of eight and up. Fun to read aloud, too, with each chapter the perfect length to read at a sitting.
pacy and full of period detail.
...there is something precious about this book...The story is a gem. Not that you would expect less from Caroline Lawrence...A wonderful story with a wonderful character by a wonderful author.
A fun-totting, rip-roaring tale
I've learned so much about American history from reading these books, and in a thoroughly enjoyable way. This second volume is exciting, entertaining and intruiging ... highly recommended.
With plenty of Wild West slang and an engaging cast of colourful gunslingers, gamblers and cowboys, Caroline Lawrence brings a mid-19th century frontier town vividly to life in this intricately-plotted and very funny page-turner. P.K. makes a compelling and unique hero and readers will delight in following all the entertaining twists and turns of this great fun adventure.
With plenty of Wild West slang and an engaging cast of colourful gunslingers, gamblers and cowboys, Caroline Lawrence brings a mid-19th century frontier town vividly to life in this very funny page-turner. P.K. makes a compelling and unique hero and readers will delight in following all the entertaining twists and turns of this fun adventure.
This is a wonderful sequel ... fun and exciting
P.K.'s straight-shooting personality, integrity and good heart make readers want to follow him to the ends of the Earth ... A warm, wise, wild and woolly second offering in the Western Mysteries series.
