Review: Classic and modern at the same time!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 7, 2013
Dynamite Riders is a unique and interesting book. It is a classic western tale, but with a modern twist. The year is 1875. A small and isolated town called Richman is the target of a terrorist attack. All is quiet on the western front when suddenly, one day a man by the name of Alf Gant rides through the town with a team of men. They destroy a few buildings by throwing sticks of dynamite into them, killing innocent bystanders. One of those bystanders happened to be married to a rancher who lives behind the mountain range surrounding Alf Gant's village. From here, we learn that Gant's real name is Omar bin Laden and that the attack was not an isolated incident. The attack came without warning and appeared to be out of the blue, but it was the first step in a holy war that Gant had been planning and preparing for many years.The writing is very well done. The parallels between Richman and 9/11 are familiar enough to make the story easy to understand, but there are also many differences and plot twists which keep the story new and exciting. The pacing is excellent and the author maintains momentum the whole way through. Dynamite Riders is a real page turner, and you will be at the edge of your seat as you try to figure out what happens next. It is very hard to read just a little at a time, and you will be completely engrossed in the story.I am not usually a fan of westerns, but Van Holt is able to breathe new life into this classic genre and make the story come alive. The descriptive writing draws you in and makes you feel like you are a part of the world as you read. I was very impressed with how the author writes about the characters. They are all richly developed, and you will be interested in reading their story. You will want to get to know them and will feel invested in what happens to each and every one of them. The story is exciting and captivating from beginning to end.Whether you normally read westerns or not, I would definitely recommend Dynamite Riders. This is the second book I have read by Van Holt, and I was very impressed. I look forward to reading the rest of this author's works!