Review: Classic Western in the Modern Age
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 14, 2013
I have read a couple of other books by Van Holt, and I appreciate his consistency in writing style between different books.  Often times, an author will use a new book to experiment with a new technique or completely branch into a new genre, but Van Holt has found his niche and is sticking to it.  He is an expert in Westerns and really knows how to intrigue his reader into picking up more of his books."Wild Country" tells the story of Jeff Pickett, the stereotypical man minding his own business but gets caught up in trouble anyway.  When an "honest gambler" arrives at Pickett's campsite, fatally wounded by a gunshot, he gives Pickett all of his winnings as well as his possessions with strict instructions to not let outlaws steal it from him.  And so begins an epic chase filled with inner conflicts, interesting characters, and a plot line that makes you want to keep turning the pages.The entire novel reminded me a lot of "No Country for Old Men", so those who are fans of Cormac McCarthy will love this book.  There is enough action to keep the reader invested, but Van Holt expertly reveals characters' backgrounds continually through the plot, providing an immediate hook and rewards the reader as they make their way through the book. There is so much inner dialogue that you really get to know Jeff Pickett as a person, not merely a character in a book.The only confusing part for me was the beginning, as it is necessary to introduce an entire gang of characters right away, many of whom are related or have deep history with each other. It was challenging at times to differentiate between them, since I had no image of what they looked like or their personality traits, so they all blended together.  However, as I kept reading, characters began to have their own sub-plots and came into their own. So if you find yourself struggling, keep reading, since it clears up later in the novel!