In 1968, Kevin Reynolds was convicted of a horrible crime, was eventually executed, taking important information to his grave. The Caldera begins in 2003 when Mitch Reynolds shares a recently discovered secret with his lifelong friend Spence Doogan. Spence is dubious, until Mitch offers proof that may explain the tragic happenings in 1968. The teenagers enlist another friend, Kody Coates, to investigate new information about the tragedy. Kody also has a vested interest in discovering the truth about what happened at the Oriel Peak Caldera so many years ago. A Coates relative was murdered back then, and to this day what happened there has never been explained. The three friends devise a plan to search for answers.

Even scenic vistas of the glorious Montana Rockies can't disguise the sense that all is not right in the Caldera. Time and place become distorted. Maybe Indian magic gone awry explains it, or perhaps Heaven is righting earthly wrongs by leveling the playing field? Whatever the explanation, the three friends soon find themselves embroiled in a far larger mystery than they expected. Sam Elliott, the ancient mountain man from another era, stalks them with his Sharps. Or is it really Sam? Odd winds blow across the caldera, accompanied by violent rumblings in the earth. When all three boys go missing, Sheriff Casey Jeffries and retired Deputy Stan Phillips search for answers and find much more than they anticipated. Will past wrongs be righted and final justice prevail? You'll have to read the story to find out.

In each novel, C.H. Foertmeyer always presents an intriguing concept for readers to consider. His characters are believable and well developed. Wilderness descriptions add richness to each story. The Caldera is exceptional in that respect. Past, present, and future become living entities as powers beyond human comprehension work to solve a long hidden mystery. This book is suitable reading for adults and young adults.

Laurel Johnson
Midwest Book Review