I liked this one quite a lot, it felt more straightforward than some of the others. This is a thriller not a mystery, we know whodunit right off I liked the pacing, seemed like just the right amount of tension leading up to a fairly explosive climax. Not a lot of magic involved from the shaman Benetsee this time, although he gets some at the ending. I was surprised that the ranch hand Bart was playing the part of the rich guy, his character so far hasn't struck me as one that could pull that off, but I went with it. And of course I always enjoy Du Pre and Madeleine, the dialect, the imagery of Montana. I still don't like the Ripper/Pallas joke, it wasn't funny to me the first time and it's still not. What else - it's sad to me that so many Western thrillers and mysteries these days have insurrectionists at the heart of the plot, although it shouldn't be surprising. Minor spoiler - no horses die. I spent most of the book fearing for Stewball's life, but whew.
First Line: Du Pré and Madelaine and Pallas were standing in the Billings Airport.
When Du Pré's Aunt Pauline asks him for help in finding her missing husband, Badger, Du Pré reluctantly agrees. The first thing he finds is Badger's body out in the middle of nowhere with a bullet hole in the base of his skull.
Since Badger was known to be mixed up in all sorts of things that agencies like the FBI would be interested in, Du Pré calls his FBI friend, Harvey Wallace, with the information. Before you know it, Du Pré has gone undercover with a pair of horses and a jockey in the world of illegal brush racing.
I enjoy the interactions of Du Pré, his partner of many years, Madelaine, and his children and grandchildren, and this book has plenty of that. When Stewball goes into the world of brush racing, it is as if the book has wings. Bowen could easily have included a hundred more pages about this and I would not have tired of it.
This is another strong entry in one of my favorite series, but I can't help being rather sad. There's only one book left, and then there will be no more new entertaining tales of this wonderful, colorful fiddle player.
When Du Pré's Aunt Pauline asks him for help in finding her missing husband, Badger, Du Pré reluctantly agrees. The first thing he finds is Badger's body out in the middle of nowhere with a bullet hole in the base of his skull.
Since Badger was known to be mixed up in all sorts of things that agencies like the FBI would be interested in, Du Pré calls his FBI friend, Harvey Wallace, with the information. Before you know it, Du Pré has gone undercover with a pair of horses and a jockey in the world of illegal brush racing.
I enjoy the interactions of Du Pré, his partner of many years, Madelaine, and his children and grandchildren, and this book has plenty of that. When Stewball goes into the world of brush racing, it is as if the book has wings. Bowen could easily have included a hundred more pages about this and I would not have tired of it.
This is another strong entry in one of my favorite series, but I can't help being rather sad. There's only one book left, and then there will be no more new entertaining tales of this wonderful, colorful fiddle player.
