Title: Robert B. Parker's Ironhorse
Genre:
Western
Publication
Date: January
2013
Pages: 371
Geographical
Setting:
Choctaw Territory north of the Texas Border (Old West)
Time
Period:
Late 1800s after the civil war
Series: First in Cole and Hitch
series
Plot Summary:
Virgil Cole (territory marshal) and Everett Hitch
(deputy territory marshal) had just completed a prisoner transfer of Mexican
Prisoners to the Mexico Texas border.
They were on their way back to headquarters in Appaloosa when the train
they were on comes under attack by some serious outlaws that have a history
with Cole and Hitch. The two work
together via daring stunts and deduction to understand what is the real reason
for the train robbery. They pick off
some of the villains one by one, only to be stymied by an unknown culprit who
seems bent on getting the money intended for a real estate transaction by Texas
Governor on behalf of Texas. In the
process the train is split into three pieces and things seem to get out of
control. The governor’s daughters are
kidnapped, the governor is missing, and the remaining villains are dispersed
and cranky. How will Cole and Hitch respond and bring it all together? Will the girls be killed or worse by the
notorious Bloody Bob Brandice?
What
makes it a Western?
* Time frame takes place post Civil War and before 1900s. This particular Western takes place close to
the end of the Civil War as both characters were participants of the Civil War.
* There is a lawlessness surrounded by the idea that more law is
needed. The Wild West idea permeates the
storyline.
*
Heroes use strategy and reasoning before
shooting. However, killing the bad guy
is inevitable.
Appeal:
Pacing—Breakneck with a lot of dialogue.
Frame/Tone—gritty, suspenseful
Character—Distant
Similar
Authors and why . . .
*The above recommendations were made using Novelist.
 |
| The High Rocks by Loren Estleman ~Western Genre ~Deputy Page Murdock interrupted and diverted from original assignment |
 |
| The Big Gundown by Bill Brooks ~Western Genre ~Jake Horn has to find a way out of a desperate situation |
 |
| Red Wind Crossing by John D. Nesbitt ~Western Genre ~Jimmy Clevis is out to rescue a hostage and in the process is caught in a dangerous predicament |
I have to say that I am not a huge fan of Westerns. Do you normally read Westerns or is this outside of the norm for you? If it was a new experience what did you think of it? I read one of our other classmates Western annotation and she read something a little outside of the Western box but it sounded interesting. I was just curious if a maybe a Western Western (lol) would be something I am interested in to. The one you read actually doesn't sound to bad.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way about Westerns, I never had a reason to read one. Having read one for this class and seeing this review makes me rethink my opinion of them. Westerns are similar to other genres I have read they just take place in the West and are from a different time period. This book was a good pick because you always think of train robberies in the Wild West.
ReplyDeleteWesterns are outside the norm for me. It was interesting to read but I don't know if I will pick one up just for the sake of reading it for entertainment only.
ReplyDelete