Devil's Thumb


Fiction - Mystery - Historical
316 Pages
Reviewed on 03/17/2025
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro for Readers' Favorite

In the Black Hills of South Dakota, there is a plan in place to commemorate the trailblazing presidents of the United States. Gutzon Borglum wants to etch the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt into a mountainside, to be called Mount Rushmore. However, this comes at the expense of the Lakota tribe who viewed their Six Grandfathers Mountain with reverence. The project insiders viewed the monument as a way to draw more tourists to South Dakota, yet the scheme threatens to come undone when a dead body is found in the surrounding area. US Marshal Alvin Twocrow has his work cut out for him with this case as he roams the mountains on his trusty steed. The danger he faces comes from more than the elements as both bootleggers and murderous thieves have been operating in the area.

The Devil’s Thumb is a rollicking novel blending elements of history, mystery, and action. The significance of progress at the expense of history is deftly emphasized as the Mount Rushmore project threatens a cultural landmark. Whereas Borglum and local bigwigs see only potential rewards from the endeavor, the voice of concern is expressed through local journalists such as Minnie Thompson. However, the drama doesn’t limit itself to the conflict over the proposed monument. Elements of organized crime have zeroed in on the Black Hills with an entrepreneurial eye and will not allow anyone to get in their way. Author Dan Jorgensen has penned a winning historical novel filled with memorable characters, both real and fictional. This book is engaging from the start to its riveting conclusion.