The Western Fiction Shelf

Beat The Drum Slowly
Sheldon B. Cole
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850314, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 186pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beat-the-drum-slowly-sheldon-b-cole/113678= 5771

Synopsis: Drifter Blake Durant was arrested and thrown into the Sunfish Cre=
ek jail in a case of mistaken identity. The town was expecting a visit from=
Tom Moran, who'd sworn to get revenge on its lawmen, and Deputy Billy Owen=
suspected that Durant was part of his gang, sent out ahead to scout the la=
y of the land. Then everything became even more complicated when some genui=
ne owlhoots broke jail and committed a cold-blooded murder. A manhunt follo= wed, as did the unexpected appearance of Moran's beautiful young daughter L= isa. And Durant found himself on the trail of the outlaws, because the only=
way to clear himself of suspicion was to bring back the guilty parties - e= ither in their saddles, or across them.

Critique: Few writers today have a better grasp on the western action adven= ture novel than Sheldon Cole. A riveting read from first page to last, this=
large print paperback edition from the Linford Western Library, "Beat The = Drum Slowly", is an especially recommended addition to the personal reading=
lists of dedicated western fans and community library Western Fiction coll= ections.

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

Mission to Treaty Mesa
Abe Dancer
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850215, $24.50, Large Print, 210pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mission-to-treaty-mesa-abe-dancer/11367857=
97

Synopsis: When a band of Apache Mescalero are forced from their homeland, P= reston Kewle sees Treaty Mesa as a favorable, well-situated base for his ev= er-expanding life of crime. So he sets up a home and operates out of there =
- but finds he is tied to the place by a commitment that is more burdensome=
than he ever expected.

Eventually, the powerful General William Newton gets word of Kewle's activi= ties, and for intensely personal reasons, steps in to find out the true rea= son for Kewle's presence in the mesa. He summons Jack Games, and issues him=
with an ultimatum - either undertake a rescue mission to Treaty Mesa, or s= pend the rest of his life branded an outlaw.

Locating and inveigling himself into a gang of owl-hoots, and riding across=
the Lizard Loma badlands to locate stolen money and supplies, is almost re= gular work for Jack. But staying alive long enough to find and successfully=
return what General Newton believes is rightfully his is more difficult, a=
nd Jack's rescue mission has an unexpected and violent outcome.

Critique: As a novelist, Abe Dancer has a complete mastery of the western g= enre. With the publication of this large print paperback edition of "Missio=
n To Treaty Mesa" from the Linford Western Libfrary series (and originally = published as A BlackHorse Western in 2020), is certain to be an enduringly = popular addition to library Western Fiction collections and the personal re= ading lists of all dedicated western fans.

Editorial Note: Abe Dancer (the pen name of Carl Bernard), worked in higher=
education for 25 years. He is the author of more than 45 Black Horse Weste= rns, including Blackwater, The Border Search, and Teal's Gold. (https://www= ..goodreads.com/author/list/1173498.Abe_Dancer)

Bullet for a Sheepman
Cole Sheldon
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850260, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 216pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bullet-for-a-sheepman-cole-shelton/1136785= 791

Synopsis: Trouble was brewing in the town of Longhorn, Utah. A band of nest= ers had moved onto land the local cattlemen had always previously claimed a=
s their own. And they also happened to be the one thing no cattleman could = stand -- sheepmen!

Judd Gunther, the biggest rancher in those parts, immediately declared war =
on the newcomers. Against so many hired guns, there wasn't much they could =
do to defend themselves -- until Shane Preston and Jonah Jones happened to = pass through.

Taking a shine to nester's daughter Elizabeth Cooper (and an instant dislik=
e to Judd and his two bully-boy sons) Shane and Jonah decided to buy into t=
he war, in the hope of stopping it. But when the bullets started flying, th=
ey realized things were going to get a whole lot worse before they got bett= er!

Critique: The stuff of which classic western films were made in the Golden = Age of cowboy movies, this large print paperback edition of "Bullet for a S= heepman" from the Linford Western Library series is a fun read from cover t=
o cover and an especially recommended addition to personal western fan read= ing lists and community library Western Fiction collections.

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

Kee-To, Iron Hand
Art Isberg
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850093, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 258pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kee-to-iron-hand-art-isberg/1136491098

Synopsis: Kee-To, Iron Hand is the one Sioux leader white soldiers have nev=
er been able to corner or capture. His daring raids and uncanny ability to = avoid being behind bars have made him a priority for the cavalry officers t=
o find and jail. But Kee-To has the blood of his fighting ancestors, and th= eir mystical whispers to him, to keep him free. He would rather die than le=
t the horse soldiers pen up his people behind fences under guard. A battle =
is looming as the Sioux prepare to journey to the safety of Canada. Can Kee= -To prevail one last time?

Critique: An action-packed novel set in the Old West and with a Native Amer= ican as the hero, "Kee-To, Iron Hand" is one terrific read from cover to co= ver. Original, deftly crafted, and memorable, no community library Western = Fiction or personal reading lists of dedicated western fans should miss out=
on the thrilling and singular story that is "Kee-To, Iron Hand" by Art Isb= erg.

Editorial Note: An impressive and lengthy listing of western novels by Art = Isberg is available online at https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1681798= ..Art_Isberg

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