Renee began the #ThrowbackThursday meme on her blog, “It’s Book Talk“ to share some of her old favorites as well as sharing books published over a year ago. Hopefully, you’ll find either a story or author that interests you and you’ll check them out. And, if you’d like to join the fun, you’re welcome to use Renee’s pic from her website. (Just provide the link back to her please).
This week I am highlighting Daniel Leston, another terrific, prolific author who wrote The Emperor’s Treasure, which I reviewed on Goodreads. This novel was published on October 27, 2013. He consistently runs approximately four stars for any of his books sold on Amazon.
Originally posted October 1, 2016
Book Blurb:
Upon returning to New England after a long hiatus overseas, Prof. David Manning quickly finds himself involved in yet another extraordinary archaeological adventure—one 500 years in the making. Drawn into an investigation of a mysterious and brutal murder in the desert country of West Texas, his determined effort to find the perpetrators sets him on the hunt for a lost Aztec treasure beyond all imagining.
Both are inextricably entwined.
Pitted against a ruthless, multi-millionaire descendant of one of the original conquistadors—a man who will stop at nothing to gain the prize—Manning finds himself contending at every turn with an array of cold-blooded killers, all equally unwavering in their desire to see him dead.
*3rd Adventure of Professor David Manning
My Review:
I tend to be a sucker for stories involving the Aztecs or Mayans, fascinating cultures, and sure–we hear the legends about the outrageous riches.
In this clever plot, the treasure is whisked away before the Spanish conquistadors can complete their siege. The flashbacks to the young map maker give us a refreshing peek into the scenario explaining how the current circumstances have evolved. Unfortunately for a young archeological student bent on following his (native) sweetheart’s ancient map, he gets a little too close. Following his brutal murder, his extremely wealthy grandparents enlist the aid of longtime friend and pseudo-son, Prof. David Manning, who promises to look into a death summarily dismissed by the local (crooked) sheriff as a drug deal gone bad.
Prof. Manning proves to be a pit bull, not only in his dogged effort at digging out the truth, but then setting up the dog fight that ends in the rescue of the young man’s lover as well as the recovery of riches. Manning enjoys the help of the interim deputy after the death of the sheriff as the bad guys will stop at nothing to cover their tracks and protect their cache.
I thought the story flowed well enough to keep my attention and turning pages. The deputy was fleshed out well and very empathetic; less so Manning. Dialogue was fairly believable though the language began slipping later into the book making it necessary to step over the ca-ca. The book contains typos and other edit problems and is in need of a better editor, but if you can overlook those problems, the storyline will provide some entertainment.
Received as a free BookBub offering, I enjoyed enough to recommend as a quick escapist read.
About the Author: Daniel Leston was born in Canada, yet spent the majority of his adult years living and traveling throughout the US. Though his working career was spent in the unrelated field of designing and manufacturing complex, industrial machinery, he never lost touch with his lifelong passion for both writing and the study of history, which extends all the way back to his early, student days at the University of Buffalo.
Along with his wife of 40+yrs, he currently resides in southern Ontario, where he now happily works at his chosen vocation of being a full-time author. Following up on the early success of his three ‘Action/Thriller’ novels, The Amun Chamber, The Genghis Tomb, and The Emperor’s Treasure, he just finished working on his 4th exciting adventure around their popular main character, Professor David Manning. Look for The Porus Legacy, available now. [Note: Author has now published the fifth in the series, The Ionian Paradigm (A David Manning Adventure Book 5) released May 13, 2018.]
More Throwback Thursday Blogs
Renee at Its Book Talk
Jill at Jill’s Book Cafe
Rebecca at The Book Whisperer
Lynne at Fictionophile
Sam at Clues and Reviews
Holly B at Dressedtoread
Deanna at DeesRadReads and Reviews
Amanda at Literary Weaponry
Annie at The Misstery
Mischenko at Read Rant Rock and Roll
Laurie at Cozy Nook Books
Ann Marie at LItWitWineDine
Susan at Susan Loves Books
Cathy at What Cathy Read Next
Cathy at Between the Lines
Amy at Novel Gossip
Diana at A Haven for Booklovers
©2018 V Williams 
This is the second of the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series and continues with Amy Webber as the Library Director of the Taylorsford, Virginia library. The library is gearing up for the big annual Heritage Festival which celebrates their local history as well as showcasing residents arts and crafts. Amy is living with her Aunt Lydia and still seeing Richard Muir, who was introduced as a romantic interest in book 1. Richard is a classical dancer, choreographer, and a neighbor, having inherited the house next door.
Victoria Gilbert, raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, turned her early obsession with reading into a dual career as an author and librarian. She has worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and library director.
Thanks to 
(From Goodreads Author page) 
Title: The Perfect Friend by Barbara Copperthwaite
While hosting out-of-town guests at her Georgia home, Dreamwalker Baxley Powell is called upon to help investigate a suspicious fire. One of her guests, close friend and fellow dreamwalker Deputy Sam Mayes, accompanies her to the scene. A meth cook is dead, and when Baxley visits her beyond the Veil of Life, she determines that the woman was murdered. Baxley pities Mandy Patterson, a single mother with aspirations for her teenage son Doodle. Unconcerned about the death of a criminal, the authorities pursue the drug-supply chain angle. Baxley worries about Doodle and vows to find out who killed his mother. As the case grows more baffling, Baxley struggles against her attraction to Sam. Although her husband is missing and declared dead, she does not feel free to love again until she is sure of his fate. Two suspects have the strongest motive, but Baxley has reason to believe they are pawns in a deeper game. And unless she can stop them, the world will never be the same. Book 5 in the Dreamwalker Mystery series. 
Rosepoint Publishing 