Apr 29, 20225 min read

Ride the Rails to Durango in THE CASE OF THE COPPER KING by MK McClintock

Rose and Cassandra (aka Casey) are no ordinary sisters. One is scientifically inclined, lives in Denver, and rides a bicycle like her life—or a case—depends on it. The other rides trains, wields a blade, and keeps her identity as a Pinkerton "under wraps." Meet Cassandra McKenzie in The Case of the Copper King!

The Case of the Copper King

Clever and feisty Cassandra McKenzie engages her newest assignment for the Pinkerton Agency with a knack for deception and a blade in her boot.

Smart, skilled, and unafraid to get her hands dirty, Cassandra grudgingly takes on a new assignment in one of Colorado’s busiest mining towns, where murder and theft draw her deep into a puzzle of lies, quarries, and forgery.

When the mysterious and handsome Quinn Morgan is enlisted to help solve the case, she reluctantly accepts his presence for an undercover scheme meant to draw out the crooks and retrieve the stolen money before they end up buried in a mountainside. Will their talents be enough to untangle truth from deceit before they run out of time?

Ride the rails to Durango at the turn of the century with Cassandra McKenzie, a woman cunning enough to solve the toughest cases in some of the Rockies most rugged and beautiful places.

Immerse yourself in The Case of the Copper King, a stand-alone novel in the delightfully entertaining McKenzie Sisters Mystery series.

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"An absolutely delightful mystery adventure that will keep you guessing till the last chapter! The Case of the Copper King is a must to read if you love western mysteries with a touch of romance and lots of twists and turns." —Nicole Laverdure

In the author's words . . .

When Samantha St. Claire approached me about writing a book in the McKenzie Sisters Mystery series with her, my thoughts went back and forth between eagerness and apprehension. It was close enough in genre to most of my other westerns, yet fresh enough to intrigue me. Samantha's vision for the series, and her excitement for these unique sisters, was infectious.

I felt an immediate kinship with Cassandra, and in truth I did not think I could do justice to Rose (good thing, because Samantha told her tale beautifully). It wasn’t until I switched the setting of the story to Durango, where I lived on a small ranch in my youth, that I really understood Cassandra and her motives. I spent months researching the area as it would have been in the 1890s, which was more difficult than I had expected, and it took a bit of help to unearth some of the more stubborn historical facts.

What a delight it was to revisit wonderful memories of frolicking in the hills outside of Durango, riding horses through the mountains near the ranch, and traveling north by rail along the river to Silverton. Cassandra’s story became mine and made me see that my love for living in the past through words began much sooner than I ever realized. I hope you enjoy reading Cassandra’s tale of adventure, mystery, and a delightful touch of romance in The Case of the Copper King. And don't miss Rose McKenzie's book, The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance!

"Such a fun read. All of the characters are well rounded and believable, but Casey and Quinn are uniquely wonderful characters. I so enjoyed the banter between them. I expected the adventure but the twists and turns are unexpected as well as entertaining. This story is well written and edited that made this an enjoyable read." —Goodreads review

Enjoy an Excerpt from

The Case of the Copper King

Colorado Springs, Colorado 1899

As one of five women making the rounds in the Lone Dog Saloon, the proprietor expected her to be in high demand. The silky blond hair was pulled up to frame her face while the rest flowed around her shoulders. She drew the attention of every man she passed at the tables, offering a wink, smile, or small wave to each of them.

None of them held her interest.

She sidled up to one man and held a half-full bottle close to her chest.

“Care for a drink, cowboy?”

“I like a little sugar with my whiskey.”

“Sugar is extra, sweetheart.”

“How much extra?”

Amber liquid fell from the bottle into the shot glass on the scarred bar. “Ten dollars.”

“That’s mighty steep for a place like this, darlin’.”

Her fingers trailed up his dusty vest. “I’m worth it, darlin’.”

His boisterous laugh startled a few of the patrons. “Where’s your room?”

“Not so fast. I like to know the names of the men I take to my bed.”

“Name’s Fletcher. I ain’t gonna take you to bed, darlin’. I’m gonna take you to heaven.”

Casey palmed the Deringer and pressed it against her quarry’s belly. “Fletcher Jones. You’ve been a hard man to find.”

Fletcher’s smile vanished as he looked at her with cold, hard eyes. “You got me mixed up with someone else.”

“I don’t think so.”

“You ain’t got what it takes to pull the trigger.”

“I’ve heard a lot of things about you, Fletcher. Not all accounts agree on what you look like, who you ride with, or how many innocent people you’ve killed, but they agree on one thing.”

He smirked. “What’s that?”

“You’re a very stupid man.” She pressed the pistol harder against his gut. “No, no, stay right there. Don’t make this worse for yourself. I want an audience, but I’m guessing you don’t. Where is your partner?”

Fletcher leaned close, the whiskey on his breath pungent and unpleasant. “Who are you?”

Casey smiled. “The person tired of hunting you.”

End of Excerpt. Read extended excerpt >

"THE CASE OF THE COPPER KING is an enjoyable western by MK McClintock . . . I really enjoyed this story. Casey is a strong woman in a man’s job, which she does really well. Along the way to Durango, Casey meets bounty hunter, Quinn Morgan. I think looking for a murderer just got more interesting. I really enjoyed the interaction between Casey and Quinn . . . This was a wonderful western." —Goodreads review, 5 stars

Meet the Author / Find Online

Award-winning author MK McClintock writes historical romantic fiction about courageous and honorable men and strong women who appreciate chivalry, like those in her Montana Gallagher, British Agent, and Crooked Creek series. Her stories of adventure, romance, and mystery sweep across the American West to the Victorian British Isles, with places and times between and beyond. She enjoys a quiet life in the northern Rocky Mountains.

MK invites you to join her on her writing journey at mkmcclintock.com, where you can learn more about her many books and series, explore reader extras, subscribe to receive the latest news, and browse the blog.

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