The year is 1885. The silver mines of Montana Territory hide a conspiracy that reaches from American mining camps to European banking houses.
Two years after exposing the Continental Company's corruption in Clarksville, Marshal Michael Daly thought the war against foreign manipulation was over. He was wrong. When Montana's territorial governor is found murdered in a railroad tunnel, Daly uncovers a conspiracy that makes the Continental Company look like amateur thieves.
The European Silver Empress has come to America-and she's not interested in small-town corruption.
Victoria Ames operates with the backing of German banks, British aristocrats, and a network of American traitors who've decided that European efficiency matters more than American independence. Her goal: systematic control of America's silver supply through legal acquisition, calculated murder, and the kind of long-term planning that transforms continents.
A team forged in frontier justice faces enemies armed with international resources:
From the silver mines of Montana to the boardrooms of Manhattan, from European yachts in international waters to railroad bridges spanning deadly chasms, Rails of Silver delivers:
✓ Epic train chases across the American West
✓ International intrigue spanning two continents
✓ Sword duels on moving railroad cars
✓ Political corruption reaching territorial governments
✓ Economic warfare disguised as legitimate investment ✓ Diverse resistance proving that American unity transcends ethnic divisions
"What price will America pay for European 'efficiency'?"
When foreign powers offer superior organization and unlimited capital in exchange for control over American resources, immigrant miners and territorial settlers must decide whether prosperity matters more than independence-and whether efficient slavery is preferable to chaotic freedom.
Critics are calling Rails of Silver: "A thrilling escalation that proves the Dark Rails series gets better with each book..." "Combines the action of a classic Western with the sophistication of a John le Carré thriller..." "Historical fiction that feels startlingly relevant to modern debates about economic sovereignty..."
If you loved the intensity of the original Dark Rails, Rails of Silver raises the stakes to international levels while keeping the intimate character development that made the first book unforgettable.
The Continental Company wanted to steal American land. The European consortium wants to buy American souls. In 1885, the difference between theft and legal acquisition could determine whether America remains American.
Some enemies attack with armies. Others attack with lawyers, banks, and the kind of patient planning that conquers nations one contract at a time.
Rails of Silver is book two in the Dark Rails trilogy. While it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, readers will get the fullest experience by starting with the acclaimed original Dark Rails and continuing through Rails of Freedom.