Even though he’s cool as a cucumber, Gideon Miles is the
kind of US Marshal who creates waves wherever he goes. It’s not just the badge he carries that sets
people against him, it’s the colour of his skin.
In Miles To Little Ridge (US), the folk he meets when he rides in
to town don’t take kindly to him for other reasons, namely that he’s there to
pick up a clean-living pillar of the community who’s also the only living
parent of a young girl. The Miles is to
take the man in for trial, the charge being armed robbery.
Serendipity has it that the guy he should be paying attention
to, an axe-wielding Swede, is the first to set eyes upon him. The Swede and Miles have history and the
Swede is determined to get his revenge.
Problem for Miles is that the sheriff in Little Ridge is racist enough
to want to tilt the odds in The Swede’s favour.
It’s a great tale.
The opening description sets the scene perfectly. The flavour of Western
is so strong I could practically smell the body odours, the heat and the
horse-sweat. Great, too, the way the
blacks and the whites are merged to greys as the plot unfolds.
I’ve also picked up a new line in swearing – ‘You stumblebum
fiddlefoot’; I’ll be trying that one if I ever get into a tight spot.
A very enjoyable and stylish read.
Just what we've come to expect.
ReplyDeleteAnother winner from Heath!
ReplyDeleteAnd Heath has already outlined a second Miles adventure that will take place in 20th century New Orleans.
ReplyDelete