As a writer, I suppose it’s natural to believe that every new book is the best I have ever written. After all, each story represents a new challenge, new characters, and another opportunity to take readers somewhere they’ve never been before.
But when it comes to my latest novel, Diablo’s Secret, I have to make an exception to my usual modesty. In my humble opinion, this is Gus and Naomi’s most fascinating adventure yet!
I say that with good reason.
This time, I’ve taken the McIntyre Adventures beyond the familiar boundaries of the Western frontier and into a world where the history of the Old West collides with an ancient mystery, a tantalizing prophecy, a riddle the provides more questions than answers, and secrets that may be better left undisturbed.
It’s the story of two journeys, one by a Spanish conquistador in the sixteenth century and another by inquisitive adventurers of 1881.
Alejandro de Montemayor
A young Spaniard grows up worshiping the exploits of famous explorers who brought discovery and great riches to the Spanish Crown. After a life of poverty, he becomes a Spanish soldier, driven to make his own mark on history. When he finally is assigned to a northern post in New Spain, a wilderness spot in the New World, he is fascinated by the tales of the legendary Seven Cities of Gold.
When he finally earns the right to lead an expedition into the uncharted regions north of the Rio Grande River, he is determined to discover the lost city and debunk the salacious legends of the mysterious Sierra Diablo Mountains, known by some as the devil’s workplace.
Montemayor's quest requires sacrifice and hardship. In fact, the Devil’s Peaks save him from certain death at the hands of the fierce Jumano Indians. What he finds beyond a dark passageway surpasses his wildest imagination.
The Gift of an Ancient Journal
Gus McIntyre’s adventure begins when Chief Tatonga gives him a remarkable gift: a battered, centuries-old journal left behind by a Spanish conquistador named Montemayor. Accompanying it are a few gold nuggets, an ancient compass, and a Spanish crucifix. But the journal contains something far more valuable and potentially far more dangerous than gold.
It holds clues to a secret buried deep within the foreboding Sierra Diablo Mountains of Southwest Texas, a place known as the Devil’s Peaks. For centuries, indigenous people have regarded the mountains as forbidden or holy ground. Yet the journal contains a prophecy that seems to point directly toward Gus and Naomi.
What happened there nearly 300 years ago?
What happened to the Spanish expedition that left Mexico in searched of legendary riches?
What did its survivor discover that was so extraordinary that the truth remained hidden for generations?
Gus is determined to find out. But he won’t be going alone.
Flemming Ibbara returns
Readers who remember Fighting Back, an earlier McIntyre Adventure, will recognize Flemming Ibbara, a Spanish immigrant who helped Gus and his companions defeat a dangerous gang of rustlers only a month before this new adventure begins.
Flemming’s Spanish background makes him uniquely qualified to translate the conquistador’s ancient journal and decipher clues that would otherwise remain beyond the reach of Gus and Naomi. But Flemming brings another valuable skill to the expedition. He studied geology at a university in Madrid. That education may prove essential.
Strange blue lights have been appearing above the Devil’s Peaks for as long as anyone can remember. What causes them? Are they the result of some unusual geological phenomenon or a supernatural force no one can explain?
Flemming hopes to find a rational explanation. As a student of rudimentary science, he seeks evidence, not superstition. But the deeper the expedition ventures into the mountains, the more difficult it becomes to separate what can be explained from what seems impossible.
The conquistador’s journal may hold the answers. Or it may lead the travelers toward questions no one has dared to ask for centuries.
A month ago, Flemming Ibbara helped slay rustlers. Now, they look to slay a legend.
A Touch of the Extraordinary
Readers who enjoy the action and rugged atmosphere of a traditional Western will find plenty to appreciate in Diablo’s Secret. Gus and his companions must contend with the hardships of the frontier, treacherous terrain, unsavory characters, unpredictable weather, and the uncertainties of a journey into a land few outsiders understand.
This isn’t simply another trail ride into dangerous country. As Gus, Naomi, and Flemming follow the clues, the story opens the door to a world where the line between history and legend begins to blur. Strange lights illuminate the mountain peaks. Ancient beliefs take on new significance. And discoveries deep within the wilderness challenge the travelers to reconsider what they thought they knew.
I’ve woven historical elements, imaginative fantasy, suspense, and romance into a story that gradually reveals its secrets. The result is a longer, more detailed adventure that gives readers time to become immersed in the landscape, the characters, and the mystery itself.
Romance Blooms
Of course, no McIntyre Adventure would be complete without Naomi Brown. She is intelligent, resourceful, courageous, and every bit as capable of facing danger as Gus is. When the trail grows difficult and the clues become confusing, her keen observations may prove just as important as Gus’s determination.
Their relationship took a significant step forward in Depraved Injustice. After the rescue of Chief Tatonga’s granddaughter, White Dove, Gus and Naomi consummated their relationship and now are joined by secret marital vows. It is the reason the chief presented them with the 300-year-old journal his tribe had protected for generations.
The dangers they face and the mysteries they uncover test their judgment, strengthen their bond, and remind them of what matters most when the world around them becomes uncertain.
There is action and suspense, but there is also tenderness, trust, and the promise of a future that is altered by everything they experience. Diablo’s Secret offers a deeper look at their budding relationship.
What Lies Beneath the Devil’s Peaks?
That is the question at the heart of the fifteenth reprisal of this series. Is the conquistador’s journal simply the record of a failed expedition? Can Flemming’s scientific knowledge explain the mysterious blue lights? Is the prophecy a collection of ancient legends? Or did those long-ago explorers encounter something that defies ordinary explanation?
The answers lie somewhere beyond the familiar trails of the Old West and a place where the past refuses to remain buried.
I won’t reveal the discoveries that await Gus, Naomi, and Flemming. Half the pleasure of a mystery is following the clues, weighing the possibilities, and wondering whether the next revelation will answer your questions.
Diablo’s Secret gave me the opportunity to mix fantasy, romance, and mystery into a 350-page manuscript that recounts century-old history and the challenges of scientific discovery.
It is a story about courage and loyalty, and the discovery that the greatest treasures are not always the ones a man can carry away in his saddlebags.
My Invitation
Every novel begins with an idea. Sometimes that idea becomes a straightforward tale of adventure. Other times, it grows into something larger than the writer first imagined.
That is what happened with Diablo’s Secret.
The story demanded more room to unfold. Its history called for deeper exploration. Its mysteries needed time to develop. And Gus, Naomi, and Flemming deserved an adventure that challenged not only their courage but also their understanding of the world around them.
I believe the result is my most ambitious Gus McIntyre novel to date.
If you’ve enjoyed the previous adventures, I hope you’ll join the McIntyre entourage as they journey into the unknown. If you are new to the series, saddle up and discover what happens when an ancient journal leads three determined travelers into mountains that have guarded their secrets for centuries.
The Devil’s Peaks are waiting. The blue lights are calling. And a legend is about to be challenged.
Diablo’s Secret debuts at Amazon in eBook format on Oct. 13 and paperback on Oct. 15. I’m also exploring the publication of an audio version, something readers requested in the past. Watch for updates here.
Happy reading!