Relentless by Ed Gorman
This is a western, thus it must have justice. Though for this one, it’s tainted and not complete. There’s a little redemption sprinkled in for one of the minor characters. One could argue there’s an undercurrent of vengeance. I find that westerns are similar to crime fiction, only set in a different time. The mood is similar to private detective fiction. This book is about a murder and there is a mystery, one that is not revealed until nearly the end. An ending I did not see coming.
Marshal Lane Morgan has arrested the son of the most powerful man in the small western town of Skylar, CO. The events that take place in this story are a direct result of Morgan’s standing by the law and not allowing anyone to skirt that law. This well-written book is about small town corruption, buried secrets coming to light, and one man’s unwavering commitment to justice. There are drifters, grifters, and petty politicians. Gorman does a great job with vocabulary and artifacts of the time. One thing missing, no gunfight on main street, but that omission takes nothing away from this compelling read.
The story is written in first person from Morgan’s point of view. We experience the ups and downs of the town marshal as he fights against powerful people, waxing and waning community support, and protecting his family.
Mostly clean, with some minor profanity, suggestive sex, and necessary violence. The whodunnit carries the story forward as the reader watches Morgan get deeper and deeper into trouble. The climax doesn’t wrap up the mystery, though Morgan thinks it does. Don’t skip the last couple chapters. The ending for some may be disappointing, but it’s realistic. I’ll rank this one second so far. Gorman was a master of both the modern private eye story and the western. His books are worth reading.
- The Last Exchange by Charles Martin
- Relentless by Ed Gorman
- After Her Deceit by Steve Rush
- Water Grave by Mitchell S. Karnes
- Neon Prey by John Sandford
- Perfect Daughter by Ion Esimai
Recent Comments