The Streets of Chaos: Book Two of the Chaos Series

Though marginally successful in stemming the tide against an outbreak of ancient nameless threats, Sandstrom and his associates suffered grave losses. Now they face trying to thwart continued efforts of an entity known as the Dark One and his servants. An attempt at acquiring a talisman of ancient dread results in a painful death for a visitor to Chaos and a grisly find by rookie police officer, Timothy Erickson. His investigation causes him to join the struggle against those who would end the reign of man on earth. Meanwhile the Pinkerton operative Deborah and the woman she protects, Elizabeth Howard, find they are not as safe as they had hoped they were, secluded at the cabin of a blind preacher. Even more terrifying for Elizabeth, is her pregnancy and worries over who, or what, the father might be. The disappearance of a drummer named Perez causes Dr. Phillips to try and find him with disastrous results for the doctor and his family, including his adopted son, James, the boy who survived the attack that he believes claimed the life of his cousin Seth. With the unwavering help of Indian allies these disparate individuals fight to conquer their own fears and defeat mysterious enemies despite a mounting sense of fearful dread. But the odds against them are great and many unknown terrors await them at each and every turn of the haunted Streets of Chaos.

From the Inside Flap

It is the end of an era. The brief epoch that shall one day be known as 'The Old West' is dying. The territory of Arizona is soon to cease to exist and be revived anew as the state of Arizona. In the territory, some communities endeavor to maintain their lives and viability amid the rush of inevitable progress. In Chaos, the town struggles to live against an ancient curse. However, Chaos is dying; as are its inhabitants.Within the town, people are dying. A visitor, seeking an ancient talisman, is found, hideously slain, in an aberration of natural laws. Meanwhile, a man thought dead is discovered alive but bereft of all memory. A well-known purveyor of nostrums vanishes without a trace along the road to town. At an emporium that caters to the weird and arcane the owner is discovered dead, and reduced to a mummified corpse in a matter of hours. What mysteries infect this town? Police officer Timothy Erickson seeks an answer to that question as do some of the citizens who have already witnessed unexplained events. Government official Matthew Sandstrom calls upon the help of Little Bear, an Indian ally, and with Dr. Marcus Phillips they find themselves drawn irrevocably back into the swirling terrors they hoped were behind them.Death stalks the Streets of Chaos!

From the Back Cover

Looking to recover from a severe injury and the tragic loss of his most trusted associate, Mose Broadax, Matthew Sandstrom retires to his cabin deep in the wooded mountains east of Chaos. Meanwhile, in the town itself, a thief seeks to acquire a talisman of great antiquity and power for his mysterious benefactor, but the robbery has dire results for the populace of Chaos and the adjacent lands.Once more Matthew is reluctantly drawn into the clinging web of ancient evils and primal terrors. A deadly and grisly attack against an innocent family in New Mexico Territory only emphasizes the threats and dangers implicit in the actions of those involved. He must seemingly face dire forces again although unknown to him; help emerges in the form of newly appointed Chaos police officer, Timothy Erickson. Sandstrom's old Indian allies, Bird Who Talks, and Little Bear offer their assistance and the supportive the enigmatic Pinkerton operatives, Deborah and Vivian Ann Tailor help him battle for control of their town, the territory, and the earth. The struggle against the influence of ancient terrors continues.

About the Author

Born in Elgin, Illinois as a life-long Cubs fan I know how to write of despair, terror, and sadness. A move to Arizona in the sixties allowed me to become a confirmed desert dweller. Trained at the University of Arizona as an archaeologist and educator I also am a raconteur. Despite the many rewards I have garnered, both physically and spiritually, from these disparate professions I have always said that one day when I grow up, I would like to become a writer. Recently I've decided that I don't want to wait that long, so I've entered the ranks of the published. I no longer work as a teacher (after 32 years) or an archaeologist though I remain vitally interested in both professions and each has contributed to my writing. I love to tell stories whenever anyone wants to listen or the spirit comes upon me. I have performed at Tucson Meet Yourself, Tucson Festival of Books and at schools and libraries across Arizona. I am a member in good standing of Tucson Tellers of Tales, a professional storytelling organization that you may find more information about on Facebook. Married for over forty years to the same incredibly patient woman, Susan, we have four daughters and currently spend much of our time herding six grandchildren. "Streets of Chaos" is the second book in a series based on some Lovecraft inspired short stories I wrote in college. It is intended for adult readers due to language and situations. I am also at work on the first book of another series of mysteries set in prehistoric Arizona and a novel about archaeology called Bits of Sky. A critical issue for me is finding some way to preserve the stories that I tell, at least those of mine that are personal ones and several that I have created for children. Because of that, I have started uploading some of my storytelling from the Tucson Festival of Books on YouTube. Thus shortens my story . . .

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