Under the Black Hills

by G. Clifton Wisler

When Tory Bratton was thirteen, his father went off to fight the Civil War -- but soon returned, disgraced as a coward. That was more than fifteen years ago, and in that time the boy grew to hate his... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425167402
• ISBN13: 9780425167403
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 295 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Reconstruction Era historical fiction

It was the bloodbath at Shiloh in '61 that turned Lucious Bratton into cowardly returning to his Peoria home. Once there, he found his teenage son Tory loathing him so he left for the West. Years later, Lucious is serving in Custer's Seventh cavalry when he discovers gold in the Black Hills. He decides to desert the military, seeing this as an opportunity to make his fortune and reconcile with his son, who blames him for the deaths of his brother and mother. Before he can see his boy, Indians trap Lucious. He is willing to die to enable his partner Pettis to escape on the condition that he gives Tory his only possession, a gold watch. Pettis agrees and Lucious dies, enabling him to escape. Pettis performs his death wish vow by finding and giving the watch to Tory. However, Tory finds a map inside that leads to Lucious' hidden gold and perhaps the forgiveness that the now deceased father needs from his son. UNDER THE BLACK HILLS is a fabulous Americana historical fiction work that makes the Civil War and the period that follows seem so real. The action-packed story line is filled with excitement, authenticity, and several intriguing characters. The father-son pair makes the tale seem even more genuine. With this novel and MASSACRE AT POWDER RIVER, G. Clifton Wisler is rapidly heading to the top of this sub-genre.Harriet Klausner