Gunfight at Cold Devil

This wasn't as full of the shoot-em-ups as Cotton usually has them, but it's still an enthralling book. He always has fascinating characters, (Personally, though, I'm glad to have seen Maria leave the series, as I think she detraced from Sam.) I'd actually give this about a 3.5, but if push comes to shove, we'll go higher than lower. He truly gets into the spirit of things, and The Ranger is my favorite of Cotton's characers. I'd love to have him meet up with Fast Charlie Simms.

This latest western novel finds Ranger Sam Burrack working with U. S. Marshal Pete Summers in the town of Cold Devil to apprehend one town sherriff (Max Denton) gone bad and Texas Jack Spain equally bad. Both Denton and Spain have a history of robbing and killing and are wanted on Federal charges of stage coach robbery last fall in Arizona Territory. After taking both Denton and Spain into custody the plot unfolds with Sam and Pete battling winter weather, snow avalanches almost killing them, and the Morgan Waite regulator outfit trying to kill both Sam and Pete to pocket a $10,000.00 bounty Texas Jack has placed on the Marshal's heads for anyone setting him free. The cast of supporting characters will be familiar to readers of Ralph Cotton books and though they run very much to type, are always interesting and arcane in their opinions and life styles. How Ralph can cram so much into these entertaining books is part of his appeal. For a few night's reading no better escape reading can be found, and each in this series on Sam Burrack build on one another. And with two more books from this author pending issue, I'm looking forward to more reading this Winter (12/05/06 Bad Day At Willow Creek) and next Spring (3/06/2007 Fast Guns Out Of Texas). Keep'em coming Ralph. Recommended reading. Semper Fi.