Killer's Choice

Killer's Choice is a classic western tale by one of my facvorite western writers, Jack Bickham, aka Jeff Clinton. (Most of his westerns were published under the Clinton name) The protagonist, a man with gunsmoke in his distant past, is a small but respected rancher with a wife (who abhors violent men) and a son. When a range war breaks out tht takes the life of his best friend, he is torn between his duty to his friend, his need to keep his past a secret, and his fear that his wife will reject him if he straps on a gun. And when it becomes clear to him that the killer is a professional gunman that only he has the skills to defeat, the conflict intensifies. Add to that an element of mystery.... was the killer hired by the logical suspect, or are there more dimensions than appeat? Clinton is a good writer and a master plotter. If you like Westerns, this is well worth your time.

This edition is particularly enjoyable as it includes an introduction by the author talking about introducing Hawes to the series. Reading the 87th precinct books is always a delight; tight plots, crisp dialogue, well-drawn characters, good humor and excellent sense of place and time; all in fewer than 200 pages. McBain's books are truly a master class in detective fiction.

I have really liked all the 87th Precinct books I have read. This one is really two stories in one. Meyer Meyer, yes, that is his name, Bert Kling, Steve Carella and newcomer Cotton Hawes are after who ever killed a young lady at a liquor store and also who ever killed a cop. They are two different people and the work takes two different paths. McBain writes so it holds your attention. You feel like you are part of the investigation. The book is short and reads quickly. It is hard to put down.

This annal in the history of the 87 police detectives will keep you rivited from page one thru the end. Its smart and well done, and you really care about the characters. Cotton Hawes comes to life in this book and grows with us through out the years in succeeding stories. Like all his books, this is a quick read and roller coaster ride.