Thunder Gods Gold

In this contrived novel, the author of A Man Named Dundee manipulates a hidden vein of gold, greedy desperadoes and other props of the Old West, but provides little in the way of believable characterization. Army surgeon Dr. Ralph Barclay saves the life of an Apache leader's squaw and is rewarded with gold from the Superstition Mountains worth $11,000. But the money and his desire for more doesn't help his failing marriage. His wife Eva, dismayed by Arizona's hardships and her husband's gold-scavenging schemehe plans to ride alone into mountains teeming with renegade Apachesdecides to leave for Boston. His manhood challenged, the doctor gets drunk, flashes around his rolls of cash and stories of more treasure, and is surprised when armed bullies force their way onto his expedition. When they drag Eva to the mountains after the doctor fails to find the hidden bonanza, no surprises ensue. Readers will find it difficult to care about an adventure whose protagonist is so obviously unthinking and whose supporting cast reverses character to support plot convenience. (Jan.)