Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope

as by Chap O’Keefe
A Black Horse Extra book, July 2009

The irrepressible Misfit Lil was riding for a fall. She'd chosen to intervene in the fortunes of a wagon train of emigrants led on wrong trails by Luke Reiner, their incompetent guide. And Reiner, hiding an outlaw past, didn't care to have Lil messing with his reputation. Lil's first mistake was in saving a bunch of buttons when the wagons were caught in a ferocious blizzard. Then she recommended her hero, frontiersman Jackson Farraday, to help out, which pitched him into a bloody fight with Reiner. Tangles tightened when the wagonmaster's pretty daughter, Honesty Petrie, took a flirtatious hand. . . . But worse was to follow. Jackson was accused of murder! Could Lil save him from the noose into which she'd run his neck?

The first book from Black Horse Extra is the never before published Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope. Misfit Lil has appeared in six other books and has become a favourite leading character for fans of Chap O’Keefe’s work.

The plot is very fast moving and features some superbly written set pieces, such as an breakout that’s made possible due to the use of a rat, and an ingenious method of escaping from a hangrope. The book has plenty of the more traditional action you’d expect to find in a western, which includes an exciting gunfight with outlaws set on wiping out the wagon train Lil finds herself involved with.

The main plotline, of murder, sees Chap O’Keefe explore a different type of killing than one would normally expect to find in a western, proving that there are still new storylines to be found in the genre. Even though I did suspect the right person of this killing I was way out with the how and why and the answers definitely provide a memorable conclusion to this book.

Misfit Lil Cheats the Hangrope can be bought directly from Lulu or Amazon US or Amazon UK (Amazon perhaps the cheapest option as it qualifies for free postage) and I’d urge you to consider buying a copy, not least because you’ll receive a well written and very entertaining western but if this book is successful then Black Horse Extra will publish more quality westerns helping to keep this genre alive.

Saving Tom Black

 A Jake Silver Adventure

by Jere D. James
Moonlight Mesa Associates, 2009

Escaping from an Orphan Train, teenager Elizabeth DuBonnet sets out to find her mother and sister. With only a little stolen money her determination to succeed is her only strength. As the hopelessness of her task starts to take it’s toll, Elizabeth, with the help of Thomas Jefferson, becomes Tom Black, hoping that disguised as a young man she’ll attract less attention as she continues her search.

Jake Silver is the new U.S. Deputy Marshal whose path keeps crossing that of Tom Black, and like most everyone else who meets Black, sees straight through Elizabeth’s disguise which leads to some very humorous exchanges of dialogue and situations. Silver takes Elizabeth under his wing and promises to help her in her quest. Of course Silver has his own business to attend to and cannot stay with Elizabeth all the time and she once more sets out alone to find her mother.

Elizabeth soon discovers that life on the trail is full of dangers, heartbreak and the confusing emotions of chasing dreams and falling in love. Jake Silver attempts to ward off those feelings of attraction and love, whilst taking on a group of land-grabbers and murderers whilst investigating missing girls that may, or may not, be linked to a local Mormon community.

Jere D. James has written a book that grabs the readers’ attention from the opening paragraph and doesn’t let go until the final word. His smooth flowing prose is easy to read and he paces the story beautifully. There are many heart-warming scenes and others that sadden. There’s plenty of action as both Elizabeth and Silver find themselves fighting for their lives. The book is filled with memorable characters that are portrayed expertly, making it easy for the reader to share their pain and joy.

And does Elizabeth find her mother and sister? Does she find love and happiness with Jake? Sorry that’s not for me to reveal here, you’ll just have to buy the book to find out for yourselves, and hopefully enjoy the journey to those answers as much as I did.

Saving Tom Black will be officially released in late October and will "debut" at Mesa's Old West Days Festival, November 7th and 8th, in Mesa, Arizona. To find out more, and to order the book go here.

A second Jake Silver novel, Apache, is scheduled to appear in 2010.

Partners

by D.M. McGowan
Strategic Book Publishing, 2008

Thomas Brash is trying to escape but knows he never will. Pursuing him is the memory of the family he lost to cholera. Perhaps he believes that travelling alone in a wild, dangerous land will end all his memories; there is no doubt he wishes to be alone. Whatever his intentions the appearance of Frank Clement and the circumstances of that meeting upset those plans.

Brash views Clement as an uneducated child who requires fatherly protection and guidance. Clement views Brash as a tenderfoot and can not understand how anyone who knows so little could live so long.

These two loners are joined by others and they all become partners. Having achieved relative sanctuary and surrounded by civilization their wilderness past comes back to haunt them.

The two main characters, Thomas Brash and Frank Clements, are like chalk and cheese, their different upbringings making for a good contrast in both beliefs and speech. It also leads to Brash explaining a lot of historical fact to Clements, much like a teacher lecturing a pupil: such as the history of the land they find themselves in (Canada), its geography, and who owns it and how this came to be. I did find the huge differences in the way Brash and Clements spoke jarred with each other at times, interrupting the smooth flow of the rest of the story.

Dave McGowan also features a number of real people and events; Jerry Potts (aka Bear Child), a great scout and guide. Jack Lawson, a constable killed whilst investigating horse theft. One Ear Charlie, the man who killed Lawson. All these people, and more, fit naturally into the story – in fact the last two were the source of the most exciting part of the tale for me.

The book follows Brash and Clements growing friendship through a series of different events, linked solely by these two characters. They witness the killing of some Indians, have a showdown with the killers. Next, find themselves living with a band of Blackfoot, having to prove themselves to them, fight with them, and nearly end up with wives – this latter part providing some humorous situations. Finally Brash and Clements hunt for gold whilst looking for Clements father, and it’s during this time of their lives that they become involved with Lawson and One Ear.

Partners is a well told story that entertains and educates. It’s a long book too, providing a big read for your money.

Western Fiction News

During the first few months of 2009 Leisure Westerns (Dorchester) published the first four in their Classic Film Collection

The next four books in this collection will be published in 2010.

Coming in March will be The Outlaw Josey Wales by Forrest Carter. The film version of this classic western starred, and was directed by Clint Eastwood. (Leisure will also be publishing the sequel: The Vengeance Trail of Josey Wales)

April will see the publication of Blood on the Moon by Luke Short. This was made into the famed noir western of the same name directed by Robert Wise and starred Robert Mitchum. (Leisure will also be publishing Luke Short’s novels Ambush and Vengeance Valley)

Appearing in May will be The Stalking Moon by T.V. Olsen. The film was directed by Robert Mulligan and starred Gregory Peck.

Rounding up this next set of four will be June’s publication The Tall Men by Will Henry. Directed by Raoul Walsh the film starred Clark Gable and Jane Russell.

The Trailsman #334

COLORADO CLASH
as by Jon Sharpe
Signet, August 2009

When Skye Fargo comes across a dead young man near the town of Cawthorne, Colorado, he figures he’ll do the right thing and take the body to town for burial. But he learns soon enough that lately dying has been real easy to do in Cawthorne. Someone in town has developed a taste for murder – and the Trailsman might just be the next course.

Finding the dead man is just the start of Fargo’s problems, seems he knows Cawthorne’s lawman too, and it’s this Sheriff that tries to persuade the Trailsman to help him find the killer. Fargo wants none of this, just wants to ride on, but the author (Ed Gorman) soon has Fargo facing three tearful women who ask for his help in tracking down the killer, and Fargo soon finds himself saying yes.

This is when the book turns into a detective novel as Skye Fargo tries his best to work like a Pinkerton agent. And this is the type of storyline that this particular author writes so well. He soon has Fargo struggling to unravel a web of lies as his list of suspects grows, and two more murders come to light. Seems the three dead men may have held up a stagecoach just before their deaths.

Ed Gorman packs the story with great characters, most that could have something to do with the murders and I soon had my choice for the guilty person – which changed and then changed back again. But I should have known better than to try and work out one of this writer’s plots as the story worked swiftly through twists and turns, half-truths and misdirection. Of course the killer wasn’t who I thought, in fact came as a welcome surprise.

For fans of Ed Gorman and/or The Trailsman, make sure you don’t miss this one.

Wilderness #61

THE SCALP HUNTERS
as by David Thompson
Leisure, September 2009

Raised amid the rough terrain of the Rocky Mountains, Evelyn King always relished adventure. And a buffalo hunt sounded like a wonderful way to get it. Even better – she wouldn’t be under the watchful eye of her parents since she was going with their neighbors, a small band of Nansusequa Indians. But the members of their party aren’t the only predators on the plains. A gang of scalp hunters is heading to New Mexico Territory, collecting as many trophies as they can along the way. And Evelyn and her friends are a perfect target….

Books 58 and 59 followed Nate King as he helped some runaway slaves, book 60 explained what Zach King was doing at that time, so it only seems correct that David Thompson (David Robbins) now tells of Evelyn King’s battle for survival and her growing affections for Dega, during that same time period.

In fact the deepening affections that both Evelyn and Dega are feeling for each other form one of the main story threads throughout this book. As young love blossoms David Robbins spins a heart-warming tale of two young people experiencing feelings they’ve never known before, emotions they are unsure of how to act upon. This leads to some wonderful dialogue as they grow ever closer, at times adding moments of humour as Dega struggles to speak, and understand, the English language. But it also seems that not everyone they hold dear is keen on how this relationship is developing, making the reader wonder what is in store for this engaging couple.

But this would not be a Wilderness book without the constant threat of death from both nature and man. The scalp hunters of the title make for a formidable enemy for Evelyn and her Nansusequa companions. These hunters are brutal men who will stop at nothing to get what they want: their leader, Venom, having a particularly vile perversion that follows the scalping of his victims. This band of killers has its own problems too, in the form of leadership challenges: something that will play a savage part in the outcome of this novel.

As expected from David Robbins the book is a fast flowing read, full of cliff-hanger situations that ensure you keep reading. The balance between the violence and the tenderness of growing love is superbly done. And the inclusion of a wagon-train that perhaps seems inconsequential at the time turns out to have great importance to not just the end of this book but would seem to be setting up the next story, and thus, like all great serials, has this reader eager for the next book in the series.

Lone Star #21

LONE STAR AND THE APACHE REVENGE

as by Wesley Ellis
Jove, May 1984

Half-breed James “Two Wolves” Campbell had only one thing in mind: to kill the man who had poisoned his people and used the Apaches to spread terror in the West. In him, Ki met his match in battle, and Jessie found some of the most passionate moments of her life. Together they fought to uproot the greatest evil the West had ever known.

This is an easy to read, action packed, story that has Jessie and Ki riding alongside a great character in James Campbell, a man who gets his hooks into Jessie’s emotions, allowing the author to show a more vulnerable side to Jessie than other books have done, particularly when Two Wolves foresees his own death.

At first you wonder as to the outcome as Jessie is planning to do business with Lowell Henry, the man Campbell wants to kill, causing a conflict of interests for Jessie.

There are some great descriptions of hand-to-hand combat and plenty of gunfights as the story races to its savage conclusion.

I did wonder as to why the book was called Apache Revenge as Two Wolves is half Comanche, but that’s only a slight criticism, as there is a little bit of Apache revenge near the end.

In conclusion this was a very enjoyable entry into this long running series.