The Hired Man: the Dust Bowl, a mysterious drifter and a murder

The Hired Man by Sandra Dallas is a story of a stranger who walks into a small town in Colorado and leaves a mystery in his wake. In 1937, the Dust Bowl ravaged the country and rain clouds were a distant memory. Martha Helen Kessler and her family have been luckier than most people in their small town, just barely. When a handsome drifter, Otis Hobbs, helps rescue a local boy who got lost in a dust storm, Martha Helen’s mother extends kindness and offers the man lodging and work for as long as he wants to stay. However, suspicion, jealousy and prejudice floods the town as people look down on Otis. These feelings intensify as Martha Helen’s best friend, Frankie, is found murdered. She is now faced with conflicting feelings as she struggles with questions. Was Otis responsible? Was he simply the scapegoat? What truly happened to her friend? 

The Hired Man is a dark and gritty story of one young woman’s journey from childlike innocence to experiencing the darker side of people and the dangers that could be lurking around her. Ms Dallas’s description of the dust bowl, the scenery and the devastating effects was very detailed and vivid. It was heartbreaking to know the horrors people experienced during this uncertain time of environmental and economic uncertainties. Martha Helen was a strong character and I enjoyed her growth throughout the story. I also enjoyed Martha Helen’s parents as they extended help to those who needed it. The mystery of who murdered Frankie was left ambiguous and the resolution was disappointing. There were more questions than answers. Overall, I enjoyed this story of the life struggles and dangers during the Dust Bowl; however, the mystery was lackluster. If you enjoy historical drama with a bit of mystery, I recommend The Hired Man. 

The Hired Man will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on March 31, 2026. 

Tough Luck: a story of youthful tenacity and hopeful hearts in the American West

Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas is the story of a young woman on the search for her father in 1863. Their father left four years to find his fortune in the Colorado Territory and is thought to be dead. After her mother dies, Haidie Richards and her younger brother, Boots, are placed in an orphanage and put to work. She waits for her chance to leave. She is determined to find her father. Haidie doesn’t believe it and she isn’t going to wait for him any longer. She and Boots leave the orphanage and embark on the perilous journey deep into the American West. Disguised as a boy, she learns to handle mules, oxen, and greedy men. Haidie also finds new friends. She hopes that each day gets her closer to finding her father. Will she find him? Will she accept whatever she discovers? 

Tough Luck is a cross between True Grit (1969/2010) and The Journey of Natty Gann (1985). Filled with colorful characters and vivid details of Haidie’s journey and experiences, Tough Luck is a story of youthful tenacity and hopeful hearts in the American West. I enjoyed Haidie’s character as a no-nonsense young woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind and get her hands dirty in order to get what she wants. The characters she meets along the way are either other hopeful hearts searching for a future or scoundrels who would prey on them. Ms. Dallas’s description of the American West and the people who lived there were so vivid that I thought I was right there next to Haidie as she traveled. I thoroughly enjoyed Tough Luck. If you enjoy Western adventures with a strong heroine, I highly recommend Tough Luck. 

Tough Luck is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on April 29, 2025.