We follow the fortunes – good, bad and sometimes catastrophic – of a small band of the Cheyenne, called the Suhtai, as their homeland changes around them. Buffalo are still plentiful but so are enemies – both traditional and new.
Life on the Great Plains has always been precarious for these horsed nomads – natural disasters, hunger and danger constantly stalk the lodges of the Suhtai. We follow their success or failure in survival by our focus on one flawed young man and the choices he makes for himself and his people.
So, saddle up and ride along with us…
Cheyenne Trilogy: Between the Rivers
The first novel sets the scene from the Suhtai point of view – we look at the varying fortunes of our main character as his small tribal band of the Cheyenne hunt, fight and try to survive against the Pawnee, encroaching whites and eventually, the United States Cavalry. We meet the young man’s war companion, a deadly Apache, and, as tragedy strikes the village, see the tribal women breaking out from their traditional roles and taking to the war saddle. A Cumbrian character, from a long-distant raiding family of Reivers, meets the Cheyenne on the battlefield and has his life changed forever.
Extract from Reviews: (4.2 out of 5 Stars in 9 global ratings). For full versions of the reviews clink on the links below:
(5 Stars – 2016) ‘This is a riveting story from start to finish. It is a highly entertaining read, carefully crafted with a good mix of fact and fiction. The author has meticulously researched his work, which is shown in his intelligent grasp of the history of the period. At times the story is a grim one, showing the harsh realities of inter-tribal rivalry and warfare between Cheyenne and Pawnees. But the book shows great knowledge of the nomadic-warrior-hunter traditions and cultures and life on the Great Plains, coupled with fascinating character development in the unlikely friendship of a Cheyenne and an Apache warrior, brought together by the tumultuous times. There is a good account of Cheyenne village life and how the people co-operated in their efforts to recover from disasters. The story also unveils the heroic roles of village women in their role as mothers, wives, home builders , educators and even warriors. At times graphic in the portrayal of the violence of the period, this is a compelling story, and a must read for those interested in life on the Great Plains in the 1850’s.’
(5 Stars – 2016) ‘I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed this book. From a really gory beginning, I found myself involved with the plot and the characters right up to the end. It was one of those books that you don’t want to end. ‘
(5 Stars – 2017) ‘A well-researched and absorbing but gory story reflecting aspects of Cheyenne and Apache cultures in the mid-19th century. A very interesting well written saga. Wish the story could continue. Would recommend to all who grew up enjoying Western movies.’
(5 Stars – 2019) ‘I’ve never been a fan of westerns but this book gripped my interest. Well researched and with a nicely flowing narrative…It’s good to see first people portrayed as men and women of character but with all of the human frailties too. Only a soldier can convey the tension felt before battle, when one weighs up the chances of survival, and the worry of letting the side down, Tom relates this well. You can smell the sagebrush in this story, the differing attitudes of the players to the land they walk on.’
The first book - ‘Cheyenne Trilogy: Between the Rivers’ is published by Amazon
Reviews (4.8 stars out of 6 global ratings)
5.0 out of 5 stars Good story gets better.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 September 2019
‘A good sequel to the first book. It continues the story of a branch of the Cheyenne tribe with its conflicts with other tribes and the whites. There is more humour in this volume and it is a bit more earthy but that tempers the gory descriptions of torture and battle wounds to make it an enjoyable read. Personal relationships are well described without being overly detailed. You really want the baddies to bite the dust,and they do, but the goodies aren’t without their faults either, just humans being human. I am looking forward to book three.’
4.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 March 2020
‘In this the second of the Trilogy, Tom broadens the base of his story to take us on a raiding party and into conflict with the European settlers. He also skilfully tells the story of the fight for equality between the traditional “young bucks” and the female “warriors” – a story I don’t recall being told too often by other writers. I found myself being forced to read Tom’s book over a good few weeks because of other pressures but never had a problem picking up from where I had left off.
This book reminded me how much better the written word can be than mindlessly sitting for hours in front of the “magic lantern” hoping that something will trigger the imagination or even ones interest, but being constantly disappointed. Looking forward to the third book, Tom, and hopefully others to follow!’
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 February 2021
‘The 2nd novel in Tom McMullen’s trilogy continues to relate the life and times of See The Dark, a Suhtai one-eyed Cheyenne warrior and his companion Viajero, a fierce Apache. At times the story is shocking and brutal. It gives an insight to the culture of Suhtai warriors and a group of warrior women competing for glory within their tribe. Also of the white settlers trying to inhabit the plains with the help of the U.S. Army. The conflicts between opposing tribes and with the Army culminate in an unlikely friendship of the Suhtai with an ex soldier and a white hunter resulting in two love affairs. If you have never been interested in this genre (or even if you have), this is a great book.’
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2022
(5 Stars) ‘Fab read. Great characters. You feel as if you’re experiencing their story and not just reading it. Recommended highly.’
Under an Iron Sky: The Third Cheyenne Trilogy
The story of our small band of Suhtai Cheyenne continues as the true historic fortunes of their People spiral downward. Can Bad Elk’s folk survive or will they just become a distant memory? Tribal friendships and bonds are broken as the American Civil War ends and technology allows whites to advance across the Plains in ever greater numbers. Encroaching soldiers and settlers will find that the Cheyenne will not just lie down quietly and wait to be overrun.
See the Dark and the Apache, Viajero find that life in the war saddle is becoming more complicated; their family lives even more so. Loyalties are questioned, allegiances challenged and the Iron Sky of responsibility looms large above them all. They must make choices to stay alive; it is high stakes for all and bad decisions – from the battles at Sand Creek, the Washita and the Kansas raids – will bring disaster for some.
Check out the ‘Fading Trails’ section at the end of the book to see where the next stories may go…
‘Under an Iron Sky: The Third Cheyenne Trilogy’ can also be found online at Amazon:
5.0 out of 5 stars Friendship comes at a price.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 March 2024
This third book of Tom’s trilogy is not just a good read but is also an education about the culture, trials and tribulations of the nomadic indian tribes of the plains of North America and the impact of the encroachment of the white settlers. The numerous story lines weave an intriguing picture of a time within the small Suhtai tribe when their old ways of fighting for survival against nature and other indian tribes are being challenged in a time of great change. Not only do See the Dark and his mentor and companion Viajero have to face the growing threat of the white settlers and the advancement of the railway, but also the increasing demands of the female warriors within the tribe to break with tradition and be allowed to become warriors In a time when the tribes start to fight together to battle against the ‘Blue coats’ the former cavalry officer Henry Armstrong and wolf skinner Pythagoras Carver have to decide where their loyalties lie. Gripping from start to finish. Hopefully, there will be more to follow.
See the Dark: Where Blood Trails Meet
A new, shorter-format western novel taken from the bedrock of the Cheyenne Trilogy series. A story of two warriors on different trails in life but who eventually find a common enemy when their journeys collide. Being a warrior doesn’t always guarantee maturity or judgement and one of them has to learn these things – quickly. It is a tale of violence and bloodshed ameliorated by comradeship and the real challenges of everyday life on the Great Plains in the 1850’s. Conflict with other tribes brings devastation and revenge must be sought. Meanwhile the growing evidence of European encroachment on sacred lands leaves the warrior’s small band of Cheyenne perplexed but defiant.
‘Where blood trails meet’ can also be found online at Amazon:
We now switch history, continents and characters to introduce you to a new era of challenge and betrayal. Meet George Maitland in my Operation SEISMIC novels. We are taken back to the time of the Cold War and the unrelenting struggle between East and West – where battles are not fought over terrain but ideologies and national secrets. In this same time span, terrorism flourished at home and abroad and Maitland must deal with both national and international challenges. When politics and timidity create fear and inertia – SEISMIC is unleashed to even the score…
Join him as he confronts the dangers and faces the Queen’s new enemies…
OPERATION SEISMIC: Death and Denial
The Cold War, a silent battleground stretching from the end of World War II to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, was fought not with open warfare, but with political manoeuvring, espionage, and covert operations. At the heart of this tense conflict was the Inner German Border, where Western capitalism and Soviet-controlled Communism stood toe-to-toe, each vying for global supremacy.
While the world watched and waited, both sides played a deadly game of deception, with heroes, villains, patriots, and traitors in every shadow. In this atmosphere of high stakes and shifting loyalties, Operation SEISMIC was born—a mission designed to punish treachery and restore balance in a world spiralling out of control.
But as the Cold War’s twilight deepens, the question remains: Can order really be restored when betrayal runs so deep?
Dive into the heart of Cold War intrigue and discover the untold story behind Operation SEISMIC. Get your copy of Death and Denial today!
‘OPERATION SEISMIC: Death and Denial’ can also be found online at Amazon:
An Excellent Read (Five Stars)
Reviewed in the United States on 1 November 2024
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Tom McMullen’s newest novel takes the reader behind the Iron Curtain into East Germany at the height of the cold war. It is written in a terse style that reflects the author’s military experience and expertise. The story is a gripping page-turner.
Operation SEiSMIC 2: Dragon in the Maghreb
A New War Brews in the Shadows of the Desert…
In the tense atmosphere of the Troubles, covert British operative George Maitland is once again called into the shadows—this time, to the sun-scorched sands of North Africa. A high-level IRA fixer is forging deadly ties with Libyan arms dealers, threatening to shift the balance of power with weapons usually out of reach of terrorists. The stakes? National security. The mission? Eliminate the threat—quietly, efficiently, and without a trace.
From smoky back rooms in London to the bustling and dangerous alleys of Tangier, Dragon in the Maghreb throws readers into the crossfire of betrayal, espionage, and ideological warfare. Maitland must navigate a volatile landscape of desert smugglers, double agents, and political backstabbers—all while maintaining absolute deniability.
But when an embedded informant walks a razor’s edge and a fellow panel member may be selling secrets to the Soviets, Maitland realizes the most dangerous enemy might be inside the wire.
Fast-paced, razor-sharp, and steeped in Cold War intrigue, this second instalment in the Operation SEISMIC series is classic spy thriller storytelling at its finest.
‘Operation SEiSMIC 2: Dragon in the Maghreb’ can also be found online at Amazon:
5.0 out of 5 stars The IRA and Gaddafi
Reviewed in Australia on November 30, 2025
Operation Seismic 2: Dragon in Maghreb by Tom McMullen is a fast passed short story set in North Africa during the turmoil of the “Irish Troubles” and the Gaddafi years. The story, the second in the series, follows the exploits of George Maitland an undercover ex soldier in the service of SEISMIC a secret, unauthorised Black Ops panel of high ranking bureaucrats. George Maitland was the secret executioner of the Queen’s enemies.
The book’s appeal lies in the feasibility and the probability of the plot. The Irish Repubican Army, short on sophisticated weaponry decide to risk all to level the battlefield to take on the British Army in Northern Ireland.
Well written, with imagination and believable characters this book is an engaging read and recommended.
Kelvin B
5.0 out of 5 stars A Worthy Second Volume
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2025
“Operation Seismic 2, Dragon in the Maghreb,” Tom McMullen has continued the story of George Maitland and his undercover operations during some of the chilliest days of the Cold War. In addition to his operational goal, Maitland must protect the identity of his employers and maintain total deniability. Maitland is a shadow-warrior, working alone in a world where failure will have shattering consequences.
This is a worthy successor to McMullen’s prior Operation Seismic story “Death and Denial.” Highly recommended.
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