THE FLOOR OF HEAVEN A True Tale of the Last Frontier and the Yukon Gold Rush

Howard Blum spins the real-life stories of a Pinkerton detective, a con man who controlled Skagway, and the Marine deserter who discovered gold in the Klondike—a group of characters so lively that this nonfiction work reads like a novel. From the beginning, listeners will sense that their paths are eventually going to weave together. The historical account starts slowly—it takes more than four hours of listening to actually get to the Yukon. However, it's fascinating all the way—thanks to an inhospitable climate, the “strike-it-rich” fever that infuses the characters, and the dog-eat-dog culture that developed in gold rush country. John Mayer’s narration shows a genuine fascination with the three men and includes just a hint of wry humor. There's also a feeling of cliff-hanging excitement right up to the epilogue—which includes a gunfight. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2011]