DEAD HORSES by David Knop

David Knop’s  new book is Dead Horses, a different western.

New Mexico tribal police officer Pete Romero embarks on another thrill-packed hunt to find whoever has been leaving dead Arabian horses across the Southwest. A brutal double-murder involving his childhood friend on his own reservation stretches Romero’s skills and loyalties, while trying to unravel the puzzling clues that trail a mysterious stranger in time to stop a long-brewing feud from turning into a modern war.

Romero tightropes between the natural and supernatural while battling wolves, dirty cops, and an unrelenting, murderous grizzly throughout his race to save hundreds of innocent lives before they, too, become part of the dark, hidden side of Southwest history.

David reports, "I have been interested (obsessed) with Native Americana since I was a child and read as much as I can about America’s first inhabitants. What I admire the most is their incredible stamina and ability to survive the most horrendous of circumstances (the arrival of Europeans on the continent is a case in point). Their ability to overcome great adversity should be an inspiration to all of us.

"Much of my information comes from my reading and the internet, but mostly my source of knowledge is a class on Native Americana hosted originally by Mesa Junior College here in San Diego. My wife and I have attended this class for about 20 years now and have worked our way, figuratively, from Alaska to Peru. In another ten years, we will have travelled in our studies to Tierra del Fuego.

"Why do I write? Someone I worked for once told me I was a good writer. The compliment went straight to my head and, after five novels, became a curse. Actually, when I write I get into a flow and time no longer matters. It’s a great place to be!"

New Review for  Animal Parts --book review by Elizabeth Creel

"Romero knew he was on his own."

Peter Romero, an officer with the Cochiti Pueblo Police Department, has been having a hard enough time as it is lately, what with a struggling marriage and local officials breathing down his neck. But his life is really thrown for a loop when he not only is tasked with killing a cougar who has attacked hikers, but also the cougar shows up in his bed still very much alive. The cat wants revenge for his murdered mate and cub, and he wants Romero's help. Romero then finds himself embroiled in a thrilling mystery that involves everything from poaching, a black market for animal organs and parts, windigos, and even murder. With the help of the cougar as well as the spiritual world, Peter must find the key to solving the mystery.

This book certainly hits the ground running, forcing readers to hold on as they go through this whirlwind mystery and thriller. This is a story that both captivates the audience and compels them to hold their breath with each turn of the page. It even comes complete with a twist ending. Though this story may be the third installment in the series, it still provides the juicy details that fans of the previous books are looking for without ignoring the desire of luring in a new audience. Readers will fall in love with not only the thrilling adventure the author has invited them into but also the character of Romero. He is a uniquely complex and competent character that readers will definitely be rooting for.

Bio:

David E. Knop is a retired Marine officer with twenty years of service saw two tours in Vietnam as an artillery forward observer and naval gunfire support officer. Dave also worked in the intelligence and logistics fields. As a staff officer, he wrote and edited numerous military operations plans.

In civilian life, Dave produced many electronic and automotive technical manuals for industry leaders such as ViaSat, SAIC, and Computer Sciences Corporation. His work for the Eighth Air Force received an award of excellence in a Northern California Society of Technical Communications competition.

Dave’s four thrillers featuring a former Marine tribal police officer bring the role of spirit warrior to the subgenre of Native American detectives. Dave’s novels, The Smoked Mirror, Mining Sacred Ground, Poisoned by God’s Flesh, and Animal Parts have been honored by the Maryland Writers’ Association, Killer Nashville, New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards, Public Safety Writers of America, Military Writers Society of America, the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest, and the Eric Hoffer Book Award. Dave’s fifth novel, Dead Horses, is in the works.

Dave earned a BA from the University of Colorado, Boulder, an MS from the University of Southern California, and is a lifelong student of military and Native American studies.

Inspiration and Research