November 2023 MBR The Western Fiction Shelf

The Western Fiction Shelf

The Talons of Iron Eyes
Rory Black
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850482, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 240pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-talons-of-iron-eyes-rory-black/1137640881

Synopsis: In pursuit of Squirrel Sally on his way back from Fort Liberty, the infamous Iron Eyes is bushwhacked by a pair of horse thieves who steal his thoroughbred palomino stallion. Leaving him for dead, the outlaws head on to the logging town of Bear Creek. What neither man knows is that Squirrel Sally has observed them leaving the stallion at the livery stable. Realizing that Iron Eyes would never willingly part with his prized horse, she fears the worst -- and sets off to find her beloved.

Critique: Featuring one of the most unique and lethal figures of the fiction Old West, "The Talons of Iron Eyes" by Rory Black is western action/adventure at its best. This large print paperback edition of "The Talons of Iron Eyes" is a prized pick for community library Western Fiction collections and a 'must' for the personal reading lists of any and all dedicated western readers.

Editorial Note: There is a comprehensive on-line listing of the novels by Rory Black at https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/273423.Rory_Black

Cry Riot!
E. Jefferson Clay
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850369, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 217pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/uk/search/Cry%20Riot!

Synopsis: Spargo was a mining town -- but there hadn't been any mining there for a while. The mines were in a dangerous condition, and their owner, Foley Kingston, refused to make improvements. So the miners (those who'd survived the numerous cave-ins and accidents) went on strike, and Kingston called on his old friend, Duke Benedict, to help him break it.

Benedict's partner, big Hank Brazos, immediately sided with the miners. And even though Benedict knew Kingston was at fault, he had to stand by him. Back in the War, Kingston had saved his life, so he owed the man. But there were darker forces at work in Spargo -- from Kingston's cheating wife Rhea to saloon owner Ace Beauford, who wanted to run the entire outfit all by himself.

And then there was a man-mountain named Paddy Clancy, who figured to double-cross all of them!

Critique: "Cry Riot!" is the sixth title in the stellar western series by novelist E. Jefferson Clay and features the continuing adventures (and misadventures) of former Union calvary office Duke Menedict and is trail companion and partner, former confederate sergeant Hank Brazos. A fun read from start to finish, this large print paperback edition of "Cry Riot!" from the Linford Western Library collection is unreservedly recommended for community libraries and the personal reading lists of any and all dedicated western novel fans.

Editorial Note: Editorial Note: E. Jefferson Clay (www.fantasticfiction.com/c/e-jefferson-clay) is one of the many pseudonyms for Australian author, comic book writer and illustrator Paul Wheelahan.

Brand of the Forgotten
Sheldon B. Cole
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850376, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 201pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/uk/search/Brand%20of%20the%20Forgotten

Synopsis: Blake Durant wasn't looking for trouble, but as usual, trouble found him anyway. It came in the shape of a crusty old miner called Pete Doubell, who was outnumbered and under attack by a bunch of gunmen when Blake ran across him. Ever the loner, Blake wanted no part of it, but somehow he got drawn into a complicated web of lies, death and double-dealing. Along the way he locked horns with gunfighter Vance Carter, and vengeance-hungry Reke Bodie and his gun-hung crew. But when he looked into the eyes of Doubell's niece Christine, all the danger seemed a price worth paying...

Critique: Another riveting action/adventure western from novelist Sheldon B. Cole, who is as prolific as he is good, "Brand of the Forgotten" this large print edition from the Linformd Western Library series is a fun read for all dedicated western buffs and a solid pick for personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Editorial Note: There is a comprehensive and available listing of Sheldon B. Cole's novels at https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/19648928.Sheldon_B_Cole

Bandidio!
Cole Sheldon
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850383, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 228pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bandido-cole-shelton/1136785773

Synopsis: One hundred factory-new repeating rifles had gone missing and if they fell into the wrong hands, the west would run red with blood.

The job of finding them and returning them to the army fell to Shane Preston and Jonah Jones. Along the way, they collected a rag-tag bunch of helpers, from a Mormon missionary to a disgraced sheriff. And even when they located the rifles, getting them back to Fort Dumas wasn't going to be easy.

The Mexican outlaw Pedro Mantez wanted those weapons, and he didn't care how many innocent people his army of renegades had to kill to get them!

Critique: A fun read for the dedicated western fan from first page to last, this large print paperback edition of "Bandidio!" by Cole Sheldon newly released by the Linford Western Library is a decidedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Editorial Note: There is an impressive on-line listing of novels by Cole Sheldon at https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/7160486.Cole_Shelton

Death In The Tallgrass
Donald Willerton
Independently Published
9798988525301, $18.95, PB, 346pp

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Tallgrass-Journey-Through-Frontier/dp/B0CCZXLH3J

Synopsis: "Death in the Tallgrass" by novelist Donald Willerton follows a young man in 1904 as he searches for his mother's brother, who was kidnapped by Comanche warriors thirty-four years before.

Crossing the rugged prairies and canyons of New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma, Harry Bonner is confronted by land, people, and cultures that challenge his upbringing as a privileged child of a wealthy family. He battles Comanche magic, puzzles his way through dreams of his uncle fighting against his enemies, and suffers the brutality of men terrorizing the Texas countryside -- all while being consumed by a new-found love in the unlikeliest of people.

When that love is taken from him, Harry explodes with violence and rage, betraying the personal values he has always respected. He is emotionally adrift on the prairie when he is called to witness the last episode of his uncle's life.

Critique: An inherently engaging and deftly crafted novel from start to finish, "Death in the Tall Grass" showcases author Donald Willerton's genuine flair for originality and the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that fully engages his readers throughout. Highly recommended for the personal reading lists of readers with an interest in western action/adventure sagas, and an ideal pick for community library Western Fiction collections, it should be noted that "Death in the Tall Grass" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).

Editorial Note: Don Willerton (http://www.donaldwillerton.com) has set most of his novels against the mountains, rivers, and canyons of the American West. Writing since the 1990s, he has also produced ten books of the Mogi Franklin Mystery Series, which combines Southwest landscapes, history, and lore to create mysteries involving a middle-grade sleuth and his older sister; a supernatural suspense novel centered around an abandoned house that has a personality; a thriller combining the two problems of homelessness and ocean pollution; and a WWII novel of a young man's war experiences set against the breakdown of his family life, based on the war itinerary of Willerton's father.

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