Beneath the Big Muddy

Since Marquette and Joliet first explored the Mississippi River in 1673, the legend of the Piasa Bird has fascinated and fueled the imaginations of all who discover the bizarre creature’s painting on the river bluffs near Alton, IL. Kristi Lesko, a photojournalist for International Species Magazine, comes out to spend a sweet June day riding her bike along the dramatic bluffs and getting acquainted with her new digital camera. While shooting the Piasa, she comes across busy vultures. Closer inspection reveals bones, human skulls among them, and she snaps a few photos. Strickler and Dunne are two local legends in their own right, and when they discover Kristi trespassing at the entrance to an abandoned copper mine that they have claimed for their own, they force her into the mine at gunpoint. So begins this caving adventure tale that delves into wildlife smuggling, ancient Native American artifacts, revenge and insanity. And when the New Madrid Fault wakes up, things really start to jump.