Robert Irvine (2) (1936–)

Again a more or less manufactured case (or cases). The Travelers save the Chester building and find Martin's "grandchild". The ending is horrible, especially since it leads to the favorable disposition of that grandchild's living arrangement. Surely the Travelers or Tanner could have managed it better? The story of the destruction of the copper mining town is interesting. If such a thing actually happened, it would be interesting to read about it at greater length in a historical account.

This is a rather stilted book. The case feels manufactured to give the Travelers something to do. Some of the same gags are repeated from other books, often in the same words. The only thing that makes this book worth it is the picture of the affect of WWII on rural Mormon Utah. The prophet's niece, Lael, simply does not replace Moroni's girlfriend, Claire. This book needed a more credible crime.

It is probably the way I read these books, but the motivations and the execution of the same seem a little confused in this book. The best parts were those set in the ghost town affected by the centuries old coal mine fire. (Is this based on the Sego Utah, fire?).