This is a splendid, scholarly, anthropological approach to a history of the Comanche people. It is full of interesting details and facts and is obviouThis is a splendid, scholarly, anthropological approach to a history of the Comanche people. It is full of interesting details and facts and is obviously thoroughly researched. It is interesting reading, but seems to be missing quite a bit of specific information I would've enjoyed to read. If anything, this is more of a textbook than an actual pleasure read.
There are places where the authors become repetitive. I believe he mentioned at least three separate places how the bow and arrow were more effective than muskets based on both its accuracy and speed of reloading. There are a few other details that were also repeated.
The authors wish to paint the Comanche as the noble savage, and there were characteristics of that noble being exhibited. The authors make a strong effort to present the honesty and integrity of the Comanche and that honesty is indeed impressive. The Comanche is presented as superior to those from other tribes.
One area of the "superiority" is in the treatment of captives. It is in its description of this treatment that in order to entertain the continued belief of this position that the authors must gloss over some violent and cruel treatment. It is obviously true that the Comanche treated their captives with more decency than many of the other tribes. Eventually, many captives were adopted into the tribe, which somehow makes it sound as if life as a captive was delightful. This book, however, was written before the term "Stockholm Syndrome" was adopted for this type of indoctrination. The authors mention, but practically ignore the fact that female captives were almost always raped. While returning from a raid, if a captive was troublesome or somehow slowed down the party they were sometimes simply released, but most often executed on the spot. So much for kind treatment of captives.
Noble? The sad thing is that a husband could execute his wife for any reason. Captives could be executed at any time.
The raids and the reason for them are far too often justified by the authors. Some of the time, their reasoning makes sense, some of the time it is more effort to simply make the Comanche seem noble. I was disappointed that some of the raids were not recounted in more detail.
The history of these peoples was well-told. The Comanches, by that name, weren't around for a long time, apparently breaking off from the Shoshone tribe around the beginning of the 1700's. The primary impetus into this change was the horse and the buffalo. The nomadic existence of the Comanche evolved into following the buffalo and stealing horses.
Horses were such a commodity that they were used to purchase brides, settle debts, or reward acts of bravery or kindness.
The generosity of the Comanche towards one another is emphasized thoroughly. The giving of gifts was a manner of earning prestige within a village. Prestige was very important to the Comanche and offending the community by bad behavior, Brothers often shared their wives.
Despite my rating of two stars, this is a competently written and cleverly plotted western.
Isaac is on the run from a leg-breaking debt collector andDespite my rating of two stars, this is a competently written and cleverly plotted western.
Isaac is on the run from a leg-breaking debt collector and hops a freight train, which the book indicates he had done before. This time, he meets an odd fellow who winds up murdered. Isaac takes the man's wallet and papers, but soon after is arrested himself. He doesn't understand when the town marshal sets him free, but then discovers that the wallet contains a badge and a letter from the famous Judge Parker, introducing and undercover Deputy Marshal. Soon, he is drawn in to taking over the deputy's mission, though he is sorely lacking the necessary skills.
A lot of the action takes place on board trains, and being a train nerd, I enjoyed those parts entirely. The hero spends a great deal of time avoiding the railroad detectives (a bunch of bully boys) and hiding out in a warehouse or freight car, etc. There also is a little bit of desert Indian fighting.
While the hero bumbles about, he finally can't avoid some real confrontations, and proves he can't shoot well, but still manages to get the job done. He is assisted by an actress, the love interest of the story, and her dialogue is some of the funniest ever written.
I might have rated the story if the author hadn't taken everything else in the novel so seriously. I mean, this guy could've been Don Knotts in "The Shakiest Gun in the West" or something. His bumbling into and out of trouble is handled far too seriously to be taken too terribly seriously.
Still, I did say at the beginning of the review that the writing was competent. I guess after the first few chapters expected it to turn into more of a farce. Instead, we get an ordinary man placed in extraordinary circumstances who chooses to stay in the plotline because it "feels good" to be a well-known lawman, even though he was concealing that from most everyone else. ...more
This novel carries quite a bit of emotion with it. The center of the story is Nikki, a gravely ill teenager whose heart and lungs are slowly giving ouThis novel carries quite a bit of emotion with it. The center of the story is Nikki, a gravely ill teenager whose heart and lungs are slowly giving out and is badly in need of a bilateral transplant. She is dealing with the emotions that arise when facing mortality. At the beginning of the story, she reports to the hospital for a transplant, only to be told that the donors have changed their minds and withdrawn the offer. I can't imagine how devastating such a circumstance could be, but the author explores it quite well, both from Nikki's point of view and her father's.
While an experimental treatment may prolong her life, it will require quite a bit of hospital time-- time Nikki is unwilling to spend. She runs away with a former neighbor boy (now a criminal) who has reconnected with her via the internet- a nightmare in itself, but coupled with facing the death of a child it is magnified.
Brad is the criminal who has escaped from prison. To Nikki, he is sweet and kind, but he's had such a hard-knock life that he doesn't really care much for others. He is determined to go out in a blaze of glory, but is also determined to have a good time first.
Along the way he shows Nikki his survival/criminal skills. Escape is almost his superpower.
This is a powerful story, but Mr. Gilstrap paints childhood as miserable, which makes one wonder about his own teenage years. Even parents who love their child (like Nikki's dad) are painted in a poor light. We meet Jeremy who is suffering under the overbearing hand of his father's dream of a baseball scholarship. We meet Peter who seems, like Brad, to have nobody. Then there is the little boy taken hostage who only thinks badly of the grandmother who is raising him. In short, every young person in this novel has a miserable life.
Facing mortality, Nikki and Brad run into even more trouble when they stumble into a convenience store robbery. As they flee, they discuss their own end-of-life options in very open candor.
The tension really mounts towards the end as Nikki's father interferes with a police investigation in order to protect Nikki. Pages are turning rapidly and then the reader comes to a twist ending that is unexpected.
This one was pretty good. No big action hero. No clever private eye. No spies or government conspiracy, but instead a turmoil that could happen to any family.
The Joe Pickett novels challenge the reader to view Game Warden Hero Joe's investigation into cases that seem to go beoynd the typical duties of a StaThe Joe Pickett novels challenge the reader to view Game Warden Hero Joe's investigation into cases that seem to go beoynd the typical duties of a State Game Warden. He finds himself involved in murder investigations that are often only slightly related to a game-related issue. The previous governor (in earlier titles) used Joe as sort of a troubleshooter thinking that his daytime job as a game warden provided him a reasonable cover. In this installment, the new governor calls on him to investigate an English socialites disappearance after visiting a dude ranch/resort, again, far afield from his typical duties. While that assignment stretched the credibility of this novel, the author managed to combine enough game warden stuff to make it marginally feasible and turned out a fairly decent mystery.
I had already read the next installment (out of order) and it picks up exactly where this one left off. If I hadn't read it already, I would have been left with a total cliffhanger about what was about to happen to Pickett.
The characters are interesting and there are come comical moments (Joe's friend, Nate, uses an odd implement in order to interrogate a suspect and there are a number of call backs to that incident) and his daughter, Sheridan, gets in on the action with a smile-generating moment of her own.
The bad guys are pretty melodramatic and Box's drawing our attention to their activities, even in the minimalist manner in which he does so, is not a style I like. I prefer to watch the hero uncover their activities piece by piece without knowing what they are doing. To some extent it was necessary to build the novel's level of suspense, but I frequently wish authors would find another revelatory tool.
The Pickett novels are fun for a number of reasons, but my favorite concept is that Joe is just a stubborn, by-the-book, law enforcement man whose only real special skill is his ability to piece together the puzzles the author creates for him. The characters who know Pickett will openly attest to the fact that he is the world's worse pistol shot-- which causes him to frequently take up a shotgun as his weapon of choice. He isn't especially tough. He's just a dedicated, stick-to-it, and solve the puzzle type of guy and that makes these novels better than the average mystery genre material.
I feel like the earlier titles in this series are much better, because Joe sticks closer to his game warden duties, and his family... But they are all a pleasure to read. ...more
While the the life and career of famed outlaw Cherokee Bill (the last man hanged by Judge Isaac Parker's court) is the linch-pin holding this novel toWhile the the life and career of famed outlaw Cherokee Bill (the last man hanged by Judge Isaac Parker's court) is the linch-pin holding this novel together, the novel is really about the era of Judge Parker's court and the characters that surround it. The authors have obviously bravely done diligent research into the times and people and are to be commended for creating a fine historical novel. The novel delves into the operation of the court, Judge Parker's desire to end lawlessness, the growing awareness of a nation of the extent the death penalty was being used, Cherokee Bill's rise to infamy, The hangman's dedication to his duty, and two young lawyers vehemently opposed to the death penalty. These characters all come alive on the page in some very vivid and colorful writing.
The novel is filled with moments of giddiness and silly times as well as great sorrow. The authors manage to convey deep emotion. They also manage to portray a time of great change as streets get paved, houses get telephone service and electricity, and a nation slowly turns away from hanging as a means to find justice.
The novel intentionally ends on a low point-- the dissolution of Parker's court after Bill's hanging-- the death of Parker-- and the attorney whose wife has left him because his "glory days" have come to an end. Great sorrow...
If I had been the editor of this one I would have made one major change... I would have made the prologue the actual conclusion.
This never rises to the greatness of something like "True Grit" (which in my opinion is the greatest western ever written) but it is a really good work. The authors make the same mistake many authors do, bandying about "F-bombs" in a time and plavce where the word was rarely, if ever, used. They also tend to offer a few sexually grapbic scenes that add little to the story. Even with those flaws, the story is worth reading, if one is interested in the time and place. ...more
The idea for Kyle Mills' "Phoenix Rising" was intriguing to me. The concept of a do-gooder seeking to bring about an end to the illegal drug epidemic The idea for Kyle Mills' "Phoenix Rising" was intriguing to me. The concept of a do-gooder seeking to bring about an end to the illegal drug epidemic by poisoning the drug supply sounded callous to me, but was interesting enough for me to go for it. The resulting novel, however, suffered from a desire to demonstrate the cleverness of an ultimate bad guy and make the FBI agent in charge of the investigation look like Bozo the Clown. While I hoped that the agent would get smarter and break the puzzle through clever observation and investigation, instead he makes a lucky guess in order to get the bad guy.
I couldn't find common ground with FBI agent Beamon. First, his need to smoke constantly didn't endear him to me. His maverick attitude was one I could live with, though it is a generic stereotype for action heroes. However, when his own nephew, troubled by his own addiction, is poisoned by the "do-gooders" Beamon cannot even summon up sorrow, much less rage over the death of a family member. He is cold and callous towards his sister and her family and though he says something towards the end about vengeance for his dead nephew, the reader never sees that death as a motivating or even frustrating factor.
Instead of a thriller, we get to suffer through the clever machinations of a madman operating under the guise of righteous indignation. The focus of the novel is this madman and his operation to poison drugs at the source and thereby terrify users into quitting cold turkey or going to rehab.
I won't bother to read any more by this author. Just not worth my time, even if I find the book at a Thrift store or library sale. ...more
I really wanted to enjoy this one... It certainly had some interesting moments. The sad thing is that despite the interesting cast of characters, someI really wanted to enjoy this one... It certainly had some interesting moments. The sad thing is that despite the interesting cast of characters, some of them kind of oddball, I just got annoyed with the author's method of revelation. I didn't find Flowers to be an interesting hero-- he just seemed to be floundering around in what was admittedly a tough investigation.
The story surrounds a sniper shooting townsfolk in a small town where the Vitgin Mary has made an appearance. Everyone seems to have an alibi.
Sandford excels at witty dialogue, but it doesn't save this novel. The level of suspense never really rises high enough to be more than nominally intriguing. ...more
There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed. The idea of an insane judge acting as a seriel killer was pretty intriguing. The concept of his aThere were parts of this book that I really enjoyed. The idea of an insane judge acting as a seriel killer was pretty intriguing. The concept of his awareness of forensic evidence giving him greater ability to commit his crimes really gave me some thought fodder.
The story involved some genuine suspense, but that suspense was dispelled almost as quickly as it arose. Grisham's desire to show the judge's evil operations, as interesting as his evil plot, evil lair, and hacking skills were-- just killed the suspense of what he was doing. In fact, the novel would have been better if the reader had to discern whether or not the judge really was the killer he was alleged to be.
The novel's resolution was sorely lacking. The fate of the judge was completely unrealistic, even if he was crazy. And then, there was the one unresolved issue-- the one murder that the judge claimed NOT to have committed... Why was that not truly resolved? The investigators discuss it amongst themselves and come up with a reason for his denial, but it doesn't make sense.
All in all, Grisham steps away from the legal thrillers he is best-known for, and he'd ought to get back in his lane. This from someone who loves Grisham's normal work... I even enjoyed "Playing for Pizza" without the legal stuff-- but this one just falls short of being a good thriller. ...more
Steve Berry is a master at taking old conspiracy theories and turning them into modern thrillers. Even though the conspiracy theory stuff was there, tSteve Berry is a master at taking old conspiracy theories and turning them into modern thrillers. Even though the conspiracy theory stuff was there, this one just didn't rise to the level of other titles in this series. There were only several short scenes in which I felt our heroes were in any danger at all. I also felt that they were fools for allowing themselves to be used as puppets by both the good guys and the bad guys.
Instead, Berry gets bogged down describing the different interior sets of various scenes in order to present them as being very German, even when in places like Chile or South Africa. He gets bogged down in presenting a political campaign and the worry of both the villains and the heroes of whether or not the secrets will be exposed. We see far too much of bad guy (Pohl) and his meditation on whether his plan is working or not. Equally, the reader is overburdened by the moral dilema of the female German Chancellor's worry.
Berry also gets bogged down in German political/cultural problems. He seems anxious to preach to the reader that the Germans of today are still under scrutiny because of Hitler and the Nazis, that there are still sympathizers among the population, and that both the guilt and the sympathy are driving German politics. It isn't as though he attempts to defend the Nazi movement-- but he does point out that the burden of the guilt remains and has permitted the nation to bend over backwards in its treatment of immigrants, etc. in order to make atonement.
Finally, I expected this book to center on a conspiracy dating back to World War I and the Kaiser. It did not. It is a stupid title for this book and doesn't properly convey and barely relates to its content.
Ash Levine is an interesting and complex character. The author has provided him with an interesting back story, and enough Jewish culture to make for Ash Levine is an interesting and complex character. The author has provided him with an interesting back story, and enough Jewish culture to make for an interesting character. He is one of those characters who is peristent in his quest for justice, but that persistence often takes a toll on his personal AND professional life.
The pressure is on for him to solve a double homocide, involving two black men, one of whom is the son of a city councilman. To add further pressure, the councilman is one of the LAPD's most outspoken critics. Levine goes through the motions with great zeal, only to uncover the fact that this homocide was more than just a gang killing or a random act of violence. His investigation stirs up a deeper, more intricate plot.
The most astute reader will just suddenly know who the head of the conspiracy actually is. I have to say that I had the inkling when the character was first introduced, but before he was revealed I knew who it was because the author "played fairly" with the reader-- dropping the big clue early enough for the reader to puzzle over it-- but only towards the end does the other shoe drop.
While Ash is a complex character, his desperation leads him to do some illegal things. Twenty years ago, I might have celebrated his rule-breaking. In the current climate of our society, in real-life rather than the fiction, I don't find joy in using brute force interrogation techniques and breaking and entering locations without a warrant. In fact, it keeps me from having respect for him. Police need to abide by the rules- even when it means justice isn't done. I understand that in the fiction world that doesn't always make for the most interesting reading, but it creates a conflict in me as a reader who wants to celebrate the victory of the hero, instead of feeling guilty about how that victory was attained.
This is a competently written mystery, but because of my concerns about the illegitimate methodology the hero uses- I won't actively seek other titles in this series-- might read one if I stumble onto it-- but I won't be ordering other titles through Amazon, etc. ...more
My younger brother advised me that he enjoyed the old "Quincy" T.V. Show. Jack Klugman played a medical examiner. My brother became disillusioned whenMy younger brother advised me that he enjoyed the old "Quincy" T.V. Show. Jack Klugman played a medical examiner. My brother became disillusioned when it turned out that Quincy was going to have a cause in nearly every episode in which Klugman's character would climb up onto his soapbox and give a lengthy speech about the evils of ____________.
In some ways, I feel this way about McGee's thought process. MacDonald delves deep into his psyche, revealing attitudes about pretty much everything. At times, McGee offers mature and moral ideals about sexuality and the sex act itself. It is as if he analyzes each potential sexual partner with a mature eye for how a sexual relationship will mar the life of the young woman in mind. At others, he is more of the normal, red-blooded, hero, jumping in the sack with women with regularity that resembles that with which the sun rises.
But McGee ponders and mentally pontificates on everything from politics, the Vietnam War\war in general, economics, environmentalism, Beach Bunnies, revenge, etc. However, this pontificating is so revealing about MacDonald's own positions on these subjects as to allow the reader to see beyond the novel and into the mind of the novelist.
MacDonald also excels in his use of metaphors and similes. He takes the time to thoroughly describe everything from boats, to locations, to women, in wonderful and delicious detail. Okay, at times this slows the novel's pacing down a bit, but only like a vehicle slowing for a curve on a dangerous highway.
McGee is interesting enough as a character without the thought process revelations. Part beach bum, part unofficial private eye, part soldier of fortune, part burglar-- he is a deeply layered character.
Let's not forget the clever plots the author strings together and the imaginative investigative techniques (honestly McGee just gets lucky once in awhile).
The Travis McGee books have sold millions upon millions and for good reason. They make for really good reading....more
This is another fine outing of our Superhero/Superspy, Court Gentry. Again, one should expect the action to be over-the-top, the violence to be excessThis is another fine outing of our Superhero/Superspy, Court Gentry. Again, one should expect the action to be over-the-top, the violence to be excessive, and the tradecraft to be genuine. This is comic book stuff in prose at times, with real geopolitical issues, and well-thought out plots.
I say "comic book" because the hero often does the impossible. At one point in this story he covers 8 feet in TWO steps. C'mon... are we gonna believe that the man has a FOUR FOOT STRIDE?
Court's sense of honesty and integrity makes him an interesting protagonist, but at times his sense of morality is challenged. In this instance, he is challenged by becoming embedded with a group of mercenaries fighting for the tyrannical regime in Syria, and faced with having to shoot at those seeking freedom from that regime. He is conflicted by the need to stay undercover and yet his desire to help the freedom fighters rather than kill them. He is appalled by the callous conduct of the mercenary team and their "kill-them-all-let-God-sort-them-out" attitude and actions. Yet, he is not unwilling to take life.
He is also not unwilling to threaten to kill those who cross him. The awareness of his capabilities is more than enough motivation for some to cooperate with him, even when the threats come over a long distance telephone call.
Gearney builds a solid foundation for his plot and often sets up plot elements for the next novel. The compotence of his hero often threatens credibility, but still the author manages to provide a page-turning frenzy for the reader seeking to see what plot twist is coming next. Therefore, this particular genre, like the Reacher novels, becomes a bit of a guilty pleasure... Gearney manages to dance back and forth between the credible, realistic plot and the incredible action scenes.
The author made one stylistic error, in my opinion. He opens with a prologue which places Court in mortal danger-- telegraphing the final action scene of the novel-- far too early- and removing some of the suspense about what Court planned to do and where he would go. ...more
This one was a little hard to get started on, but I was glad I stayed with it. A fine mystery and full of emotional trauma.
Tom has just inherited his This one was a little hard to get started on, but I was glad I stayed with it. A fine mystery and full of emotional trauma.
Tom has just inherited his grandfather's campground and canoe rental, along with a very odd employee he really can't afford-- turns out he really can't afford to do without the employee either. The reason he has such a need of the employee is his drinking problem. To be really honest, I had trouble liking him as a protagonist because he is constantly drinking himelf into a stupor and ignoring things going on around him. He is nursing a deep, emotional pain after losing his five year old daughter to leukemia and his struggle to deal with her loss sends him into a spin that causes him to lose his career and his wife. The drinking goes on throughout the book and at times I wondered if he would have made better decisions if he had been sober.
He encounters a former love in his new community and quickly runs afoul of a local cop-- one whose uncle and father have some sort of long-standing disagreement-- and doesn't get much help from the chief of police. A meth cooking operation blows up near his place and soon he finds himself drawn into a plot, (not by his desire for justice-- because the only thing he wants to do is drink and feel sorry for himself) a plot that hits pretty close to home. Even in his drunken state, he makes some mental leaps and his father (an ex cop) helps him make some further connections. Meanwhile, the former love is hanging around and showing interest in rekindling, but he is too wrapped up in his own emotional pain to have anything to offer her.
Then suddenly, the novel shifts into passing gear and wow does it move. The sad thing is that he never really accomplishes anything heroic, despite a few feeble efforts, but just goes with the flow-- because he is almost devoid of feeling anything other than self-pity, though he does have some empathy for others that are involved.
Despite his lack of heroism, this is a refreshing read. It is a great change of pace for once to read a story about a normal guy, suffering his own real pain, who isn't a Jack Reacher or Gray Man superman. He's just a normal guy-- caught up in a mess he would prefer to stay out of so that he can suck down another pint of whiskey. Not a fighter, or even a shooter... not even a clever detective.. just a sad, depressed man. ...more
Elvis Cole, who bills himself as the world's greatest detective (Isn't that Batman or perhaps Sherlock Holmes) is on the case again in another fine inElvis Cole, who bills himself as the world's greatest detective (Isn't that Batman or perhaps Sherlock Holmes) is on the case again in another fine installment in this series. This time, he agrees to help a girl for a nominal (almost free) sum and promise of monthly payments-- simply because he feels sorry for her. What follows is a crackerjack story, full of the usual twists and turns, as Cole gets involved with an undercover police conspiracy that isn't exactly what it seems. Before it is over, the cops are gunning for Elvis, a South L.A. gang wants his head, and far too many people get in the way.
Elvis is his usual wise-cracking self. I was amused that one of his cop friends calls him "Hound Dog."
The book starts a bit slow, but by the end it has reached a breakneck pace that is hard to put down. Cole actually does some real detective work and the plot he becomes immersed in is just as immersive to the reader. ...more
What do you get when you mix Star Wars & the Walking Dead? A REALLY frightening Star Wars novel that is especially dark and gruesome. In fact, there aWhat do you get when you mix Star Wars & the Walking Dead? A REALLY frightening Star Wars novel that is especially dark and gruesome. In fact, there are places where the novel is so dark that the reader forgets it is set in the Star Wars universe. The problem is that the setting for this novel is a Dark Sith Academy is so bleak and frightening, which is pretty much right for a horror setting, but doesn't do much for a Star Wars setting. There is no humor, no cute droids (but there is a neat protocol droid that turns out to be more than it seems. There is BARELY a real hero to the story, because the focus is the total takeover of this academy by zombieish creatures.
The lack of the typical Star Wars fare mars the story somewhat, yet the story excels as an example of horror/zombie genre. The zombies are indeed terrifying and grotesque-- gruesome violence...more
This is another entry in the "not-quite-a-private-eye" genre, of which the most famous of this series include Block's Matthew Scudder and MacDonald's This is another entry in the "not-quite-a-private-eye" genre, of which the most famous of this series include Block's Matthew Scudder and MacDonald's Travis McGee. These people are sort of troubleshooters-- guys that find people and or things and along the way do a little vigilante justice along the way, especially since their adventures frequently run them on a collision course with murderers, etc.
Tom is a former Olympic hopeful wrestling star (who missed out on an actual Olympic event when Carter boycottedf the Olympics) who now does some coaching, but also does some of the troubleshooting type stuff on the side. He gets roped into helping a group of old men who've lost thousands in the S&L scandal and junk bonds. He feels sorry for them and goes looking for any remnant of their missing money.
Tom's investigative approach is slow and easy, but he eventually figures out where at least some of the funds are. It is amazing how many people actually speak to him, with him pretending to be a reporter. Of course, he is going to run afoul of some bad guys. When the action FINALLY kicks in, Doolittle describes some quality action and throws in one major twist (and one minor) to bring the book to a stunning conclusion.
What makes this book interesting is Doolittle does little to disguise his disgust, his wrath, towards the people involved in these scandals, including polititicans on both sides of the aisle. We get a picture of the early 1990's, the political landscape, the ethical problems of a nation laid bare for the reader to see in all of its shame. The star of the show is that revealed wrath, echoed in the voices and thoughts of multiple characters, as well as the disdain for the victims of the scandal. ...more
The Red Sea Rules is a set of Biblical principles taken from the experience of the Israelites as Pharoah cornered them at the Red Sea. Morgan challengThe Red Sea Rules is a set of Biblical principles taken from the experience of the Israelites as Pharoah cornered them at the Red Sea. Morgan challenges the reader to apply these principles during times of struggle and some of these rules are very, very strong and often overlooked. He offers illustrations from his own life that are heart-rending, as long as experiences of other believers, whose problems make mine seem to be a walk in the park.
I summarized this book for our Sunday night group and it was a blessing to us all. I didn't agree with the author in every place, but the principles are clear and powerful. A very simple, almost devotional type book that can be read from cover to cover in a little more than an hour.
Set during the height of the Cuban missile crisis, this story shines most in its period flavor. The mystery is fairly simple,but I felt that the hero Set during the height of the Cuban missile crisis, this story shines most in its period flavor. The mystery is fairly simple,but I felt that the hero was pretty lackluster in his efforts to investigate. Often, instead of investigating he is picking up a paperback book to read-- and he mentions the titles in a sort of back-handed recommendation for these books.
The plot is something like an early 60's comedy picture, except it isn't played for laughs. Four rich gentlemen set up a girl in an apartment so that they can each share her sexual favors. However, the woman is found murdered in the newly built bomb shelter belonging to one of the men. Of course, all of the men are suspects and each one of them is going to be ruined by the revelation of their immoral relationship.
Despite the identity of the murdered being so blatantly obvious as to make this not much of an important addition to the mystery genre, the period flavor and observations of the hero are extrremely interesting.
I don't give up on books easily, and by the end of the first chapter I hated the arrogant, conceited, straight-out-of-spaghetti-western hero, Morgan CI don't give up on books easily, and by the end of the first chapter I hated the arrogant, conceited, straight-out-of-spaghetti-western hero, Morgan Clyde. Because I so enjoyed the Widowmaker Jones westerns by the same author, I hung in a bit longer, and by the end of the book I was glad that I did.
While my first impressions of Clyde were a bit negative, the author allowed him to grow on me a bit. As I read through the book I realized that while Clyde was the central figure of the book, the novel really wasn't about him. The book is about the political and economic turmoil on the frontier and Cogburn gets it all right. The competitive railroad barons. The opportunistic people who follow the track builders in order to feed off of the workers. The anger remaining from the Civil War. The racism towards the black troops from Ft. Gibson. The arrogance of the Pinkerton people. The attitude towards the Irish immigrants. Cogburn delves into each of these via solid dialogue that utilizes western idioms, stereotypes, and language. He builds an end-of-track town, full of mud, filth, tents, and people, both evil and good. He paints a masterpiece picture of the Old West.
Cogburn gets the guns right. He knows their capabilities as well as their limitations.
Cogburn gets the horses and horsemanship right.
Cogburn not only builds a town and populates it with true-to-life characters, he provides multiple plotlines as he shows the reader how these people all want to further their own agendas, evil or good. He offers the reader insights into their hurts and triumphs. Morgan Clyde's cold indifference is really a cover for his own painful life experiences. His arrogance and confidence is a bit annoying at times.
What the reader gets is an in-depth portrait of the west that is ever bit as vivid as a Remington sketch or a C.M. Russel painting. Readers of western lore need look no further. As of right now, Brett Cogburn is my favorite western writer. ...more
The Joe Pickett novels are always very good, but this one not so much.
Pickett's daughter, (the adopted one) is found beaten by the side of the road, The Joe Pickett novels are always very good, but this one not so much.
Pickett's daughter, (the adopted one) is found beaten by the side of the road, and is placed in a medically induced coma while Pickett tries to find out who did this to her. The chief suspect is a rodeo champion named Dallas, but he claims he was injured in a bull riding accident and his injuries suggest he could not be the culprit. His family (frequently referred to as white trash, and they seem to fully fit that definition) close ranks to protect him. In addition, Joe's friend, Nate, is released from federal custody with a tightly written agreement preventing him from contact with Pickett. He is ambushed and left for dead. His girlfriend/partner is missing. Pickett wanders around through the rest of the book trying to determine if the two incidents could possibly be related.
In addition, Pickett is investigating the wanton slaughter of a flock (called a Lek) of endangered sage grouse. So there are actually three cases that need resolution by the end of the book.
One mistake that Box makes, in my opinion, is showing too much of the bad guy behind the scenes stuff. Box has a legitimate literary reason for this. He seeks to show the evil and despicable character of the "white trash" family in all of its dysfunction and insanity.
The earlier Pickett novels were far superior to this one, but this was still a decent enough read. I like Pickett because he isn't a tough guy. He isn't an exceptional marksman, or even fighter. He's just an honest game warden who keeps stumbling into intrigue that is related to his work. Still, he manages to get the job done... in this instance, eliminating a number of bad guys, despite his lack of expertise in combat.
Towards the end, there is some stuff that goes "over-the-top" relating to Nate, who is recovering from severe wounds in the hospital. Box allows Nate to be the tough guy, relegating the actual detective brain workk to Pickett. By doing this, the author allows Pickett to remain an everyday type who does heroic things, which makes his character more realistic and enduring. Allowing Nate to the the tough guy who does amazing things is a good literary tool and Box uses it quite well. ...more