People of the Longhouse »

KATHLEEN O'NEAL GEAR is a former state historian and archaeologist for Wyoming, Kansas, and Nebraska for the U.S. Department of the Interior. She has twice received the federal government's Special Achievement Award for "outstanding management" of our nation's cultural heritage.

W. MICHAEL GEAR, who holds a master's degree in archaeology, has worked as a professional archaeologist since 1978. He is currently principal investigator for Wind River Archaeological Consultants.

The Gears, whose First North American Series hit the international as well as USA Today bestseller lists, live in Thermopolis, Wyoming.

Born in a time of violent upheaval, young Odion and his little sister, Tutelo, live in fear that one day Yellowtail Village will be attacked. When that day comes and Odion and Tutelo are marched away as slaves, Odion's only hope is that his parents are tracking them, coming to rescue them.

They are. But War Chief Koracoo and Deputy Gonda think they are tracking an ordinary war party herding captive women and children to an enemy village. Instead, they are following close on the heels of legendary evil, an old witch-woman named Gannajero, who captures children for her own purposes….

Publishers Weekly

The Gears, both archeologists, tack on another mostly accomplished novel to their meticulously researched North America's Forgotten Past series (after People of the Thunder), this time focusing on the northern Iroquois of the early 15th century. This is a period of strife as tribes fight over resources and take child slaves to replenish dwindling tribal populations. The village of the People of the Standing Stone has been wiped out, and the captive children are sold to Gannajero, a vicious woman who buys and sells children as sex slaves. Among the captive children are the son and daughter of Koracoo, a female war chief, and Gonda, her husband and deputy. As the children are subjected to brutal treatment, Koracoo, Gonda, and two rival warriors pursue them, though their mission is filled with peril. Fascinating detail about ancient customs is mixed in with the bloodshed and torture, and though the plot barrels forward, it dead-ends in an abrupt and utterly disappointing conclusion. (July)