Bandits of the Trace: 04/05/10

Before I go into the review I want to tell you how I read and review. I used to plan my reading (and thus my reviews) on an elaborate calendar. For a while it worked but it began to wear down my enthusiasm for both reading and blogging.

A year ago I abandoned the schedule and decided to read what I wanted when I wanted. For the reviews, I didn't want to get stuck in what ever arbitrary list I had generated by my reading for fun. So I assign each book and story a number. Then I pick a number at random and I write that review. I keep a file of my written reviews to pick from when I am ready to update my blog. What this means to you, the reader, is that I might mention books that seem out of order from how you remember them being reviewed.

I read "Bandits of the Trace" by Albert E. Cowdrey between reading The Lost Symbol and Duma Key. It was another of these weird random moments where the story provided the perfect bridge between the two. A professor sets his grad student to work on an old cryptic message that leads to a treasure, an enormous fortune.

The treasure hunting part of the novella is similar to the ones that Robert Langdon is always trying to solve as he's being chased by crazed fanatics. The solution though leads them to the same hiding place as in Duma Key with a similar lurking evil.

Reviewers of the Cowdrey's story fall into two camps: those who love "The Overseer" and those who don't. I am among those who didn't but do love "Bandits of the Trace."

Stories by Albert E. Cowdrey reviewed here

• Bandits of the Trace by Albert E. Cowdrey
• Inside Story
• The Overseer
• Paradiso Lost
• Poison Victory
• Private Eye
• Queen for a Day
• The Recreation Room
• Seafarer's Blood
• A Skeptical Spirit
• Thrilling Wonder Stories
• The Tribes of Bela

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