Publisher's Synopsis
Omaha Gold uses historical fiction for a retelling of the story of America's first transcontinental railroad and its less-celebrated dark backstory. The enduring account of Lincoln's Union Pacific Railroad is told in two storylines: one from the present, the other from America's pioneer days, linked by an American tyrant's lost gold. It begins with a short fishing trip, a relaxing escape from reality. But when high school student Steve Brandon discovers a mysterious brass box on the Omaha, Nebraska riverfront, his world is turned upside-down. Steve sets out with his best friend and a cousin to learn the box's past. He is soon immersed in historical lore and an adventure that sends shockwaves through the highest offices of present-day Omaha. Along the way, Steve leaves a wake of reeling public officials, crooked cops, and thwarted would-be thieves. In the historical story, the railroad's creation and construction provide the backdrop for the tale of Gene Davenport, a disabled soldier struggling to rebuild his war-damaged family. Gene Davenport's poignant story brings history alive with the saga of Lincoln, Dodge, Grant, and the unethical Doctor Durant as they unite the country and open the savage West. Author Lawson McDowell debunks much of the romanticism of the period through his insider's revealing look at Dr. Thomas Durant, the nefarious New York railroad executive who repeatedly siphoned money from cities and states - indeed, the entire country. It was a time when powerful financiers ruthlessly determined the fates of cities and states. Omaha Gold proves history does not have to be stuffy. It will keep you guessing, entertain you, and inject you into the country's exciting past. When the meaning of the mystifying brass box becomes clear, the answer is so surprising that the role of destiny cannot be ignored. But that is not until a great story is told.
