Bone Rattler: A Mystery of Colonial America

A Unique Mystery

Many years ago (in the '60's) my husband and I both read a series of books about the French and Indian Wars by Joseph A. Altsheler. Bone Rattler is Altsheler for grown-ups, with a mystery thrown in for good measure.

Pattison is a master of character development and dialog. He also has a gift for weaving thought-provoking issues into his mysteries. In this book, he considers the encroachment of Europeans on the cultures of the Native Americans who were here first; giving positive and negative examples of both cultures. And, in addition to the traditional murder mystery, he also addresses some of the greater "mystery of life" issues that takes the book a step beyond popular fiction and into literature.

12 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

It's a mystery, it's a mystery

I really wanted to like this book. I was intrigued by the premise and I have a great fondness for colonial America. BIG DISAPPOINTMENT! This moved so slow I put it down and have no desire to pick it back up. Characters are hard to follow and the story drags on and on. I can sum up the first half of the book as follows: someone is behind a plot, it's a mystery, hey, it's a mystery, did you know it's a mystery? Ggggggrrrrrrr

6 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

A Very vivid Adventure

This book is a very unusual and satisfying adventure. All the characters are really well done and a plot that keeps the pages turning. I would recommend this book especially to anyone interested in the American Colonial period of history. Pattison's writing style keeps the story interesting and keeps the reader interested to the next development. A historical mystery to keep everyone intrigued. Did not want this book to end. A good solid read.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Silly Book

Way too many sub-plots. Many paragraphs read like a string of unconnected thoughts. Every emotion and occurrence is given same amount of weight and excitement - read about half before I gave up entirely.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

OK

Nice job with the history, but seemed to drag on and in many times difficult to understand where the story was going.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Eliot Pattison does it again

Althpugh I don't think this book as one of his best, I did find it interesting if a bit predictable. Overall a great book for the train or a plane ride. The plot was so much like his other books, set in Tibet. The characters were also similar, hence the predictablility.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Colonial mystery with a twist

B & N offered this as a Friday free Nook download, and I was very impressed with the complexity of the story lines, coupled with the colloquial language and the names of things no longer in use, which concluded with a different kind of denouement. I plan to read more of Pattison.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent historical mystery

Eliot Pattison has written a wonderful story that draws in parts of American history that many will be only vaguely familiar with and adds in a twisted mystery involving the military and a man trying to build a personal empire in the New World. There's a mystical feel to the world that characters traverse, mysticism from the Highlands of Scotland and the woods of New York.

If you like your mysteries simple and your characters the same way you won't much like this book. If you enjoy good writing and some depth to your story telling I highly recommend this one.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Confusing and Hard to Finish

This book was very confusing for the first half, and I had a hard time staying with it. The first chapters were filled with strange events and a lot clues that made no sense at all. Characters were leaving little slips of paper with mysterious words and phrases all over the place. Duncan was a reluctant protagonist and made decisions that went against character. The only reason I kept on reading it was because the time period was interesting. The ending was satisfactory and all loose ends were tied up, but it was a real effort to get through this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

"FREE my A**

I had this offered for free on the nookcolor on Friday the 11th of March as the "free friday " book, but they charged me the full $9.99 price for it. I havent had a chance to get hold of someone yet but it seems Im not the only one. Check your account!!!!!!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Nice bit of historical fiction

Starts off quite slowly, perks up in the middle, with a strong finish. Enjoyed reading a book that portrays native Americans as the many and varied tribes they were, and with empathy for a people trying to hold onto their way of life

Good series

Good series

Great read!!

I thought this was a great book! Of course I am a lover of history and this particular time frame made it even more interesting to me! I thought it was well written an held my attention from the first page!!

Different

Caught me by surprise - an interesting read.

semi ok

This was a OK book, just WAY to many details and people in the book.

Great book

I admit I had to concentrate to follow the plot in the beginning, but the story was very well woven! Really enjoyed it's unique story line and writing.

Bone Rattler: great book

When one man decides to help his family he is penalized quite harshly. Even though he studied to become a doctor he would never see the light of day to complete his schooling. Because of his actions in trying to hide a family member from harm Duncan McCallum a High Scot, is placed in a prison, beaten at times that his skin is rare, and then sent on a voyage to Colonial America as an Indentured Servant to the Ramsey Company. But, there is much to tell before this as many of his comrades or fellow prisoners die along the way from what appears to be suicides but are they really. Many appear to be jumping overboard, others fall prey to some strange illness and all succumb to something eventually as the brutal treatment they receive is graphically described by outstanding author Eliott Paterson in his novel Bone Rattlers the first in the Duncan McCallum mystery series.

Before a close friend dies he placed a black stone in Duncan¿s hand. As things progressed on the ship he realized that something odd was happening. The Captain requested that he tell the crew that nothing bad happened to those that died and that they had nothing to fear. But, strange visions entered his mind, he saw a woman¿s ghostly figure, the faces of those who died and Duncan felt himself dragged overboard was it all a nightmare or what was really happening to him. One of the keepers on the boat, Lister discussed his past, his reason for being imprisoned and made his promise to uphold the right of his clan as the new head. Watching the tutor to the Ramsey children murdered on board this horrific ship, Duncan has not choice but to fill the position after receiving this black stone from his friend Adam with strange engravings and carvings on it as a warning from the tutor from the beyond in the form of cryptic messages.

Before landing in the New World Duncan and one of the keepers Lister recount their pasts when their lives were better in order to survive the horrors that would come. Seeing an unknown woman in white in his dreams, fearing that he has been thrown overboard and then experiencing the initial ceremony of being the highest in his clan in his cell really brings to light the atrocities faced by many prisoners, the indignities of the time and the fact that he was wrongly accused as well as so many others without the right to speak out and defend themselves.


Dictatorships were present even in Colonial Times and the true colors of this Ramsey Company will startle the reader and give you an inside picture of what went on even back then. Many people in charge want to control the words and actions of those they feel are their subjects. Pitting different groups against each other is what Lord Ramsey has in mind as I continue my review of bestselling author Eiott Patterson¿s novel Bone Rattler.





Duncan has to make the ultimate decision that would decide his fate. Realizing that Professor Evering was murdered and convincing those in charge of the fact, he is presented with an alternative to serving hard labor. Seven years as an indentured servant and tutor to the Lord¿s children plus giving lessons to others on the weekend. The Vicar and Arnold present him with the documents that would free him from the Captain¿s wrath but he would have to investigate the murder and bring them the killer. Duncan wants no part of being an informer so the decision will not come quickly and his answer will depend on what else they expect from him.

From the start t

enjoyment at its fullest

I really enjoyed thid book i cant wait to read moreby this author

Starts slow but finishes strong

When i started I struggled to keep going but I really couldnt put it down once the book got moving. Overall it was a good read.

Great book!

Very thought inspiring.