A woman screams in the night as her attacker uses what could only be called inhuman force. Where are we?...Central Park in modern New York? No, we're in prehistoric New Mexico with members of the Anasazi in the Gear's latest contribution to Native American fiction, "The Visitant".

This book accomplishes two things. One, it presents an excitong detailed murder mystery that leaves you guessing untill the last page. Second, it paints a picture of Native Americans that is less idyllic than most. Essentially, we see a group of prehistoric peoples who suffer from grief and tragedy, just like us. The Gear's accomplish this with copius research and an understanding of the timeless complexity of the human soul...whether it be in 1256 A.D. or present day.

The amount of names can become confusing so just make sure you pay attention because you will be rewarded with the final ghostly laughter that made me look over my shoulder.

Overall: I can't wait until the next book in the series comes out.

This is a wonderful book. It's a great mystery set in a scene that is so real, it's hard to believe it occurred centuries ago. The characters are alive - both the prehistoric and the modern ones, and the storyline is totally fresh, and enthralling. I have read all the Gears "People" books, and enjoyed them all, but this story is even better. The reader still gets a very clear picture of what life was like for these very early North Americans. The setting is totally remarkable, as in all the Gear novels. I love the Ansazi culture and history, but this story is gripping and exciting in its own right since it is a very cleverly written mystery. I certainly want to read the second book in this particular series. I thought I had read enough about early North American history with the "People" series, but this book is totally fresh and different than the others, and I'm hooked again. I especially liked the Canadian references - for example Tim Hortons. I love their coffee too.

Under certain conditions, the barrier between the past and the present can be pierced. The resulting phenomena plays havoc on individuals caught on either side of the chasm. Murder resulted in the first death of a human. In 1150 in the Chaco Canyon, the Anasazi become intimate with murder as an apparent maniac kills many individuals.

In the twentieth century at a millennium old pueblo site in Chaco Canyon, archeologist Dusty Stewart and his crew dig up eight interred bodies whose skulls were smashed. Famous Canadian physical anthropologist Dr. Maureen Cole investigates the remains, but the mysticism overwhelms her. She begins to see and hear manifestations that make her feel she has entered a point where the past and present converge in an appeal for her to destroy a great evil.

Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear provide readers with stunning characterizations and complex descriptions. The technique of alternating chapters between the past and present makes THE VISITANT an even more powerful novel than if the book was divided in half. In turn, these leads to a combo story line that is one part historical mystery and one part contemporary suspense. With tales like this one, fans will gear up for this awesome writing team to provide more Anasazi mysteries.

Harriet Klausner