Black Hawk's Cane

Autumn 1838 - Eastern Iowa along the Mississippi River. Sauk war leader Black Hawk is dead. He's buried in the military uniform given to him during a visit to Washington, D.C. At his side are a ceremonial sword and commemorative cane - presented by Congress. A few days later, Black Hawk's body is stolen by a local doctor, his skin boiled from his bones and his skeleton displayed until the doctor flees the community. The sword and cane disappear.

18 months ago - Eastern Iowa along the Mississippi River. Sheriff deputy Norea Featherstone, a distant descendent of Meskwaki leader Keokuk, disappears while patrolling during a torrential thunderstorm near where Black Hawk died. She is presumed dead, though her body is not found.

Present Day - Eastern Iowa along the Mississippi River. Mattias Satory, recently released from federal prison, returns home to Pyesa, a small river town. The community has changed since he grew up here - loss of the manufacturing plant, closing of the local school district, and most of the Main Street businesses vacant. His once prosperous family farm has become overgrown from disuse. His father has died and his mother recently moved into an upriver memory-care facility.
There has been a surge of local thefts, assaults, and even at least one murder.

Matt, along with a unique group of fellow citizens, embarks on a journey that blends recent local events, regional Iowa history and long-forgotten Sauk and Meskwaki culture as they attempt to restore order to their community.

Discover how a secluded swamp mill, a repurposed Catholic church (now a brewery), a young woman's Kosher/Mexican food truck, the local blood bank, a haunted cottage, a three-legged dog, an old Stearman biplane and a Studebaker convertible all contribute to solving Pyesa's mysteries. And how Black Hawk's cane plays a critical role in this story of deception, determination, justice and redemption.