Book Review: South of Eden

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

South of Eden     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Earl Murray
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Historical
Forge, Aug 2000, $23.95, 302 pp.

Western Colorado’s Rouett Natinonal Forest has been a source of free grazing land for the local ranchers and companies since just after the Civil War. Four decades of unchecked grazing with seemingly nothing returned to the land begins to worry the Feds. The newly formed Forest Service sends Yale graduate Ellis Burke to the Eden District to enforce the new regulations.

Ellis soon learns the ranger he replaced mysteriously vanished. He already has an idea as to who might want him to join his predecessor. However, Ellis’ arrival provides a focal point for two opposing camps ready to do anything, perhaps even kill to defend their side. The ranchers mistrust Washington and want the previous arrangement reinstated. The environmentalists demand Burke enforce conservation rules. Caught in the middle, the already preoccupied Ellis is attracted to the daughter of one of the moguls and also hunts for a serial killer eviscerating women.

SOUTH OF EDEN is one of those novels that could have been a classic tale. The concept of an early twentieth century dispute between environmentalists and ranchers is intelligently laid out and makes for a great story. The problem is that Earl Murray adds to many dark and grisly subplots that add nothing to the main story line. Additionally, all the key players including Burke have ignoble pasts that leave the reader wondering if this part of the Rockies is a magnet for lowlifes. Though the main story line is an intriguing well-written winner, the overall novel is an example of when the sum of the parts fails to equal the whole.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner