“Are you a
good man or
a bad man?”
The Cross Family Chronicles
The Cross Family Chronicles tell of the adventures of Reverend Frank Cross, his adopted son Theo, and their growing family’s travails in late-1800s Colorado. These Western books are high-adventure historical fiction, taking readers up and down the front range from Manitou Springs, Colorado Springs, Victor, and Idaho Springs, to early settlements near Pueblo in Southern Colorado, and St. Elmo.
Each book is told from the perspective of a main character. The first two, from Frank Cross. Books three and four are told from Theo Cross’ perspective. Book five tells the story of grown-Theo’s wife. Book six, from Frank Cross’ wife.
These Western adventures contain thrilling mystery, crime drama, action, suspense, romance, and even faith. These fast-paced, high-adventure reads are sure to thrill!
Book #2 -
The Devil has come to Colorado.
A madman who calls himself “Old Nick” is wreaking fiery havoc among the burgeoning settlements of late-1800s Colorado. The outlaw, Reverend Frank Cross, remains separated from family and friends for the sake of hiding their identities. But hiding in Colorado Springs has shown to be unsuccessful. And the pressing danger in the Colorado Rockies urges Frank to protect those he loves, currently hiding in the town of Victor, CO.
Under the constant threat of the Law seeking to bring him to justice, Frank must also honor the duty he has to the Higher Justice and do what is right. To protect his family and his home, Frank’s posse will ride again.
“Just one more chapter”
“Good storyline kept me looking for what would happen next! I definitely winced when there were some intense moments, but that’s what lead to, “just one more chapter “.
The integrity of the main character always looks to do what’s right.”
Book #4 -
Pinkerton Agent Theodore Cross has made it his personal mission to topple the sinister Builders Society.
This leads him to Idaho Springs, a gold-mining town on the brink of a major strike. Matters are only made worse when the owner of the mine decides that the best way to “motivate” the workers is under management by a cold-blooded killer. Unwilling to let this go overlooked, Theo unfortunately finds that few are brave enough to stand with him against the man.
Suffering deep losses and his own brushes with death, Theo is forced to take a longer look at what’s really important to him in life.
“Great book!
Wonderful series.”
“This fourth book of the series takes you on another adventure in Colorado. The author totally captures the time of history of the small town of Idaho Springs, Colorado. Known for its gold mining, this story enhances the mining and also the history of the fire department of that time. Would recommend this series to anyone.”
Book #6 -
The Cross family has settled in the town of St. Elmo, a gold-mining town in the mountains of Chaffee County, Colorado.
Seeing her little Clementine all grown up causes Bathsheba to reflect on her times with the Seeds of Eden cult, the mistakes she made, and the injustices she endured while married to their leader.
Ghosts of the past come back to haunt her, and she soon cannot tell the difference between delusion and reality. Evil hounds her sleep, and vows she once thought herself released from may well be more binding than she realized.
“ A Choice Work!”
“Author Casale weaves the most amazing tapestries of historic lore about the early days of the West in Colorado. His broad personal knowledge of the area (he’s born n raised!) and his dedicated research among little known sources allow him to share fabulous tales of those times. Great Work!”
Book #1 -
Reverend Frank Cross and his adopted son Theo have stumbled upon the aftermath of a horrendous triple murder of a young family near Castlerock, CO. But when it becomes clear that the perpetrators of the act are the nefarious “Seeds of Eden” cult, even the sheriff refuses to hold the guilty accountable.
Frank assembles a posse to travel to Manitou Colorado where the illustrious leader, Lazarus Steed, holds massive influence with his strangely-magical, “Waters of Life”.
What can a reverend, his son, a female bounty hunter, a mountain man, an alcoholic doctor, and an outlaw do in the face of a golden-throated murderer? Find out now!
“Page Turner!”
“This book was so great! It was a page turner and I loved it. The writer had me hooked, seriously, within the first couple of pages. I loved the characters and the story line so much. I am excited to see what else this author writes and am excited to read the other books from The Cross Family Chronicles!”
Book #3 -
When his little sister is kidnapped by a mysterious stranger, Pinkerton Agent Theodore Cross travels to Denver, Colorado to rescue her.
In the capital, Theo Cross encounters crooked cops, criminal kingpins, veteran assassins, and old enemies once thought defeated and gone. As Theo becomes more desperate to recover his sister, so too grows the temptation to do evil for the sake of her rescue.
Theo’s father, Reverend Frank Cross, fears that Theo's conscience may fail him and warns him of the terrible, eternal fate that awaits him should he surrender to the Devil's ways.
Book #5 -
When the Cross Family is betrayed by the infamous banker Richard Farrow, the men are forced to scatter, fleeing Farrow’s hired killers.
The women of the family have banded together to find a way to save their loved ones. Maggie, the wife of Theodore Cross and adopted daughter of notorious outlaw Donovan “Mad Dog” Douglas, has gathered the other women together to rob one of Richard Farrow’s banks in Pueblo County.
But the town of Swallows, where Maggie and the other ladies are planning their robbery, is full of violence and crime. And women seen outside the company of men become targets to the most dastardly of all criminals. This once-schoolteacher and her gang must keep their wits about them if they are ever going to survive.
“Always a good read”
“This is a fantastic western series. By far , it is my favorite of the genre since Lonesome Dove. If I had any complaints at all it would be that I crave at least another hundred pages each!!!”
Out of Goshen - A Cross Family Prequel
In this bounty hunter collection, you can find “Out of Goshen”. This short story is a prequel to the events of Murder at Castlewood Canyon, book one in The Cross Family Chronicles series.
Learn more about how Francis LaCroix became Frank Cross and how a small orphaned African-American boy became his son.
Whether you’ve read the series or you choose to start here, you can enjoy this western historical fiction series as it unfolds in the mountains of late-1800s Colorado.
Crossroads - Gilead’s Road & Feldman’s Hills
When Frank Cross recruits a posse to go after the Seeds of Eden cult, those who answer the call do so with their own stories untold. Well, no longer!
Dr. Rupert Gilead was once a young pioneering doctor seeking to do good for those around him. And yet, the West is a hard place and the people striving to live there grow more hardened by the day. Gilead must confront, not only what it means to ‘do no harm’, but to truly do good.
Aaron Feldman has made his living as a mountain man and a trapper. When tragedy strikes his people, he retaliates in the only way he knows how. Through stalking tactics and laying clever traps, Feldman seeks his own brand of justice.
This western novella features two back-to-back short stories that expand the world of The Cross Family Chronicles.
Smiling Snake and the bloody espinosas
The brutal beginnings of bounty hunter, The Smiling Snake are found in this three book series. Now available in audiobook!
Learn how Alison Anderson confronted a brutal assault amid her own trauma and grief. She will confront all sides of what it means to act on impulse and how humans in their own selfishness often press matters too far.
