Customer Reviews

Leaving Epitaph: The Sons of Daniel Shaye

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like many books by Robert Randisi this tale is dialogue driven. Due to this and short chapters of two or three pages in length this is an easy to read book.

There's not a lot of action until quite a way into the story but Randisi uses this to skillfully flesh out his characters, both good and bad.

The fact that not all the brothers hearts are into killing, instead of capturing and making the bank robbers stand trial, allows Randisi to include some thought provoking discussions on the right and wrongs of killing for vengeance and on the existance of God.

LEAVING EPITAPH is the first in what seems to be a trilogy and I am looking forward to reading the next two.

There are many very good western writers. However when it comes to writers who write westerns and mysteries, the field get very small. It is a field that is dominated by Elmore. Robert Randisi ranks right up there with Elmore Leonard in both genres. Randisi's St. Louis mysteries are top notch as any you can find. Like Elmore he too writes westerns that are strong in characters and are well written. Randisi developes characters first and then uses them to drive the story. The Sons of Daniel Shaye is such an example. The plot to seek revenge for the death of the wife/mother is simple and is a classic staple in westerns. But Rondisi uses this chestnut to develope a coming of age/roadtrip type of story. Randisi takes his time to build the bonds between brothers and father with the Shayes and counter balances them with the Langer family[ three brothers and one "father"] The characters are fully developed and the reader gets to know each one. Randisi uses the road trip idea to discuss several themes, such as Why God let's things happen, Bonds between brothers, A father's duty to his son, and the morality of revenge along with the concept of a fitting punishment. Don't get me wrong, there are gun fights and shoot outs. This all sounds rather heavy, but in Randisi's hands the book moves swiftly and is not preachy. The reader can tell that Randisi has done this before because there are no wasted passages or slow spots. This is the begining on a series and one that I will definitly want to read.

Epitaph Texas 1889. Ethan Langer and his gang were riding out of town at a full gallop after robbing the bank. Suddenly a woman appears in front of Ethan and he rides her down. The woman is Mary Shaye, wife of Sheriff Daniel Shaye. Now the hunt for Ethan takes on a vendetta for Daniel. Unable to find any willing townsmewn to help in the hunt for Ethan, Shaye deputizes his three sons, Thomas, James and Matthew. Now Daniel is on the trail of Ethan and his hard bunch with three inexperienced deputies. Shaye's sons learn more about their fathers past, even that at one time he himself rode the outlaw trail. Up north in South Dakota, Aaron Langer and his part of the gang had successfully robbed a bank and was now headed to Salina, Kansas where the two brothers and the gang were to meet and divide the money. Shaye and his sons along with the sheriff and his deputies had hopes of ending the career of both Langer brothers in Salina. Unknown to the lawmen, the Langer brothers and their Segundos were upstairs in the saloon when they were fired on by the gang members. Once the gunsmoke had cleared, the gang members lay dead or wounded while the Langers made their escape. Aaron heads to Nebraska while Ethan goes south to Oklahoma City. This forces Daniel to split with his sons. Shaye and James go north after Aaron while Thomas and Matthew follow Ethan south. The Shaye boys acted well in the saloon gun fight. But how will they react against two experienced outlaws with no back up except each other or Daniel? If Shaye's vendetta is successful, will he and his sons return to Epitaph and resume their duties as lawmen? THE SONS OF DANIEL SHAYE; LEAVING EPITAPH is a new ACTION PACKED series from Robert J Randisi that I hope to be reading about in the years to come.

Les

One of the best westerns I have read in a long long time. Looking forward to the next one in the series.
This is one of those books that only comes around once in a while. Don`t miss it. This is a five star read.