Hangman's Creek: A Luke Starbuck Novel

Matt Braun writes an excellent western. They are adult enough to be realistic but without sliding into soft porn. Luke Starbuck seems to have a realistic grasp of just what is involved in a gunfight. He lacks the casual cavalier attitudes of so many of the protagonists of the western genre. He seems to understand that when you are facing multiple opponents, it is best to delay the fight, fight from cover or use deception. He is a pretty tough hombre given his fistfight with Tate. It would be nice to have a protagonist that can get his butt kicked in a physical fight. Luke has an attitude and his sarcasm is juvenile at times that takes away from his appeal. This is the first of the Luke Starbuck series and I was impressed with the nod to issues of conscience regarding the mass hanging of the horse thieves. As the older member of the surviving gang stated as he was about to be hung; "Hanging us is lots worse than what we done to you." There is an issue of proportionality in the dispensation of justice. It was customary to hang horse thieves in the Old West and the custom was based on the necessity of the strongest possible deterrent to the crime. Stealing a man's horse could be a death sentence to the owner of the horse. The horse provided the only reliable means of transportation in a harsh land of vast distances, few places of habitation, and an occupied numerous two-legged threats. In this story, none of the horses stolen were taken from a person that depended on them for their life. They were rustled from range stock and nobody was left afoot. It might be putting too fine a point on it, but the punishment was harsh indeed. Perhaps we should consider similar reactions to car theft. One might draw the distinction between stealing a parked car and a car-jacking. The fact that rancher Ben Langham went back on his word to Chub is bothersome. It seems to taint the integrity of Luke. Nonetheless, Matt Braun tells a western the way it should be told. Reasonable plot development, simple characters, enough action to make it a western and the pace of the reading is excellent. Nevada Storm

Luke Starbuck is born in this book. He is top hand for Mr. Langham owner of the LX ranch. All the ranchers in the territory of north Texas are losing horses to thieves. Luck is hired by the ranch owners to be their range detective and seek out the rustlers. He does so by joining up with a gang. The story is easy going and smooth. Regarless of the other persons review stating he does not like the ending I thought it was just the way it could happen; with Luke making very quick and smart decisions under pressure.

Have read several Braun books and for the most part they have all been good. Luke Starbuck is foreman of a ranch owned by Ben Langham. He is hired to go after a gang of men that are stealing horses. He poses as an outlaw to get the job done. Who is the big boss of this gang? Is it Ben Echhardt, Chub Jones, Monty Hall? All are suspected at first but it turns out to be Dutch Henry Horn. Luke uses a quick draw, fist and his natural smarts to get to the bottom of the mess. A fairly quick read, plenty of action and Luke comes to find out he enjoys doing this type of work. I would have given it a five except for the last several pages. I got the feeling Braun was just trying to end the story. It was good, then bam, the ending came very quickly. All in all a very good western.