"Eagle's Claw Lake"
Ross Richdale

Doctor Reid Tucker's intention to spend the summer at a remote cabin at Eagle's Claw Lake in northeast Washington State with only his dog, Cinders, never eventuates. On the trip there, pilot Kate Meltz calls in with the amphibian to a commune at the other end of the lake. While waiting on board, Reid pulls a desperate and distressed teenage girl, Lorie Somerville, from the water. This begins a frightening chain of events as fanatical commune leader, Peter Littlejohn, tries to find Lorie and prevent her from leaving. Though he doesn't find her on the aircraft, he sabotages it so the trio are left stranded at Reid's cabin.

It soon becomes obvious that the place is more than just a remote religious commune. The girl is terrified of being caught and begs Reid to look for Jennifer and Sassy, two of her friends who have also escaped. Though pursued by Littlejohn, Reid and Kate are lead by Lorie to a cave where the girls are waiting. But why has Erika Somerville, Lorie's elder sister, returned to Eagle's Claw Lake and found savagely beaten in the commune's cabin cruiser?

Their escape from the area through a remote forest road is harrowing with physical dangers and constant fear of being caught by Littlejohn's henchmen. Though ultimately successful, the commune's secret cannot be ignored. Reid and Kate involve themselves in helping Erika, Lorie, Jennifer and Sassy find the secret of the commune's past. What happens when it is found Pater Littlejohn and the other commune leaders are wanted criminals?

It is revealed that Jane Somerville, Lorie and Erika's mother, is not dead as they'd been told, but has been a prisoner at the commune. However, she cannot now be found. What does she know that prevents Peter Littlejohn from killing her?

The FBI and Royal Canadian Mounted Police become involved in finding out about the commune's sinister history. Why the Canadians? And there is a terrible plan hatched when Peter Littlejohn realizes the authorities are closing in, a plan that will destroy the commune and everyone within it. It is now a race against time to save the innocent victims and capture Littlejohn and his cohorts before it is too late.

Intertwined with these fast paced adventures is the human side; Reid and Kate are attracted to each other and this turns to love. The three girls react to their newly found freedom but need help to adapt so Kate and Reid find their lives continue to involve Erika and the girls. Even Cinders, the dog, plays a part in the girls' rehabilitation.

How does Jane Somerville finally escape and find her daughters? And the commune itself; will it survive? Are all the members gangsters and fanatics or is there a genuine core of people who can rebuild after Littlejohn is removed?

And what of the others; how do these events affect their lives?

All is revealed in 'Eagle's Claw Lake', this latest romantic adventure by Ross Richdale.

Word Count: 89,000

Read an excerpt: HERE

Review of "Eagle's Claw Lake"

This is a typical Ross Richdale book full of adventure, mystery and romance. In my opinion it is his best novel to date.

The members of a commune, led by an evil character, are heading towards an horrific mass suicide unless a couple of outsiders (Kate and Reid) can overturn their catastrophic plan. The lives of various individual commune adherents and their relationships with each other and with Kate and Reid, develop as the rescue attempt unfolds.

This intriguing story will grip the reader's attention to the end. Themes of religion, crime, love, courage and betrayal provide an unbeatable formula for a thoroughly enjoyable book.

Betty Livingston
Betty Livingston of Palmerston North, New Zealand is a retired academic from Massey University, New Zealand, who has a Masters degree in English literature.

About the Author:

After a career as a teacher and principal of mainly small rural schools, Ross Richdale writes both science fiction novels and contemporary novels. He lives in the small university city of Palmerston North in the North Island of New Zealand and is married with three children. His wife, Kay, still carries the burden of teaching children at a local primary (elementary) school.

After his wife and daughter go off to work every morning, Ross shares his living room with a black and white cat who demands to be fed at least six times a day and a goldfish called Survivor who managed to survive being dropped in a glass aquarium that was totally shattered. In this congenial atmosphere, he pounds away on an ancient Macintosh to form the characters and plots for his novels.

Ordinary people rather than the super rich, the super powerful or violent, are the main characters in his novels. He is also keenly interested in current events and uses international incidents as a backdrop for many of his novels.

When he is not writing, Ross enjoys drawing, usually on the computer. Other interests include wandering in the countryside and, in the summer, swimming in mountain streams or bounding through the rapids in a tractor tire inner tube. Many of his novels reflect his interest in the rural lifestyle as well as the cross section of personalities encountered during his years as a teacher.

Send Ross email:   Ross.Richdale@xtra.co.nz

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