Customer Reviews

The Plains of Laramie (Leisure Western)

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

 

 

THE PLAINS OF LARAMIE, published by Leisure Books in 2009, brings together two short stories and a novella by western author Lauran Paine. I had a mixed reaction to the end product.

The first story - 'Boothill's Ferryman' - pits sheriff Jack Masters against Link Tolliver and his gang. Tolliver's gang robs Masters' hometown lock, stock and barrel and Masters trails them back to their hideout for gunplay. Unfortunately, at the height of the shootout, Paine throws in a plot development so off-the-wall it stopped me cold. I re-read the whole story up to that point(!) to see where the hell this development came from; no luck. I still can't believe it; Paine derailed the story with one wrong-headed idea. What was he thinking? The second story features the 'Vermilion Kid,' a gunfighter who helps a beautiful girl find out who ambushed her father. In fiction, there's such a thing as suspension of disbelief; you're so taken with the story you overlook little plot hiccups. I'm sorry but a character that goes by the name 'Vermilion Kid' just didn't cut it with me. Strike two for THE PLAINS OF LARAMIE. By contrast, the novella that takes up 2/3 of the book was a nicely-done account of a brother investigating and avenging his younger brother's murder. The characters were fascinating and the plot, although it had its share of gunplay, was well drawn out.

So, the final score for THE PLAINS OF LARAMIE was two duds and one hit. Three stars is about the best I can do. Your call, folks.