.44

.44

By H.A. DeRosso

A Wagon Wheel Western, publishing date unknown

First published in the UK by Mills and Boon, 1957

Originally published by Lion in America, 1953

Dan Harland was a man with a reputation—a reputation earned through killing. He was a hired gun, and the speed of his .44 was the stuff of legend. He never enjoyed his work, but he did it well and the pay was good.

But even the money didn’t help when Harland was hired to hunt down a man who seemed all too ready to be killed. The look in that man's eyes as he died stirred something almost forgotten in Harland's soul...his conscience. All at once, Harland knew he couldn’t rest until he found the mysterious man who had hired him for the job—even if the trail led to his own grave.

H.A DeRosso wrote around 180 tales for the western pulp magazines but only had a small number of novels published. I believe .44 was his second full-length book.

There’s no getting away from the fact that this is a bleak story. It has the feel of a noir crime novel but never forgets that it is a western first and foremost. 

Harland is a reluctant assassin and is sickened each time he has to kill but his reputation is set and there is no turning back from his unwanted profession. When we first meet him, he’s tracking a man called Lancaster. Their showdown proves to be unforgettable. Lancaster is the faster draw yet does not shoot so Harland guns him down. Then the questions come. Why did Lancaster allow Harland to kill him? Who wanted Lancaster dead? Harlan sets out to find out the answers to those questions and to avenge Lancaster’s death.

The tone throughout is dark, very dark. Harland is a bitter man but he’s also determined. The story gets more complicated as we learn about Lancaster’s past and some stolen money. Why do people insist that it was them who hired Harland through a middleman? Harland refuses to confirm whether he did or did not kill Lancaster. There are two attractive females, one of whom is Lancaster’s wife, who both seem to want to see Harland dead. Is Harlan falling in love with Lancaster’s ex-wife and could he find happiness with her? The book contains plenty of action and Harland has to endure torture as he slowly pieces together the truth. 

This is a gripping read. Harland isn’t a heroic figure, he’s not a man you’ll even like. He is a fascinating character though and his grit is to be admired. You’ll want to know if Harland will find the person who hired him and what will happen if he does. The ending is as dramatic as it is bittersweet.

.44 gets a big thumbs up from me.