Shannon: U.S. Marshal

By Charles E. Friend

Leisure, October 2006

Originally published by Avalon, April 2001

Clay Shannon has decided he’s done carrying a star. All he wants is the peace and quiet of a small ranch he can call his own. But then the government names him a U.S. Marshal. Suddenly he finds himself mixed up with a mysterious gambler who has the look of a gunfighter and a man named “King” Kruger, who’s determined to grab land any way he can. From backshooters to bushwhackers, cattle-rustling to murder, Shannon may find he’s resting in peace much sooner than he planned.

As you can see above, the Shannon series was originally written for Avalon – to date there are seven of them – and this is the third in the series. Leisure reprinted the first one, Shannon’s Law, and my review can be found here. Quite why they missed out the second book I haven’t a clue, shame really as Shannon: U.S. Marshal does make mention of previous events in Clay Shannon’s life, some of which were, presumably, told of in book two.

Charles E. Friend writes in a very easy to read style, fleshing his characters out well, although he keeps an air of mystery about the gambler, Kane, which serves as an excellent method to keep the reader hooked to the story. There’s also the question of whether Shannon and Charlotte Alvarez will get together by the end – assuming she’s still alive by then. The reason I say that, is that the author is not afraid to kill off some of his main characters.

The story moves forward at great speed, Shannon having to face attempts on his life and the struggle to get the people of the town to stand against Kruger and his hired guns. If you want a book with lots of gun-action, then this could just be the book for you, as the final part of the story is jam-packed with it, especially when Kruger’s men attack the Rancho Alvarez.

Overall this book is an entertaining, quick, read that makes me wish Leisure had published more of them, but then again I could get the books from Avalon easily enough.

Here’s a list of the whole series:

Shannon’s Law

Shannon’s Way

Shannon: U.S. Marshal

Shannon: Carrying the Star

Shannon’s Ride

Shannon: The Road to Whiskey Creek

Shannon’s Express

Shannon's Law

by Charles E. Friend

Leisure, April 2006

Clay Shannon is a straight-shooting, tough-talking deputy sheriff who’s been charged with bringing order to rough-and-tumble Whiskey Creek, a mining town where robbery and murder run rampant. But with one lawman already killed, Shannon’s job won’t be easy. A crooked saloon owner and his hired gun have the townspeople so spooked it’s almost impossible to gather evidence against them. If justice is to be served, Shannon must make a choice: stay within the law - or make his own.

This is an easy to read book with a straight-forward plot. It reminded me of the days when the good-guys wore white hats and the bad-guys black. The author makes it very obvious on which side of the law his characters live.

After the first page killing there’s not much in the way of action until about eighty pages into the story, but the author uses this time to flesh out Shannon and develop his plot whilst frustrating his lawman with the lack of evidence needed to take down the law-breakers.

Once the gunfire begins it’s almost non stop, the shotgun being used to devastating effect by both sides.

If you’re looking for an uncomplicated read that’ll entertain you then this is a book worth picking up.

Me? I’m looking forward to the next in the series.