Review: A Western Done Right
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 30, 2013
There is no denying that a Western typically hinges on some decent shoot-outs, hard-drinking cowboys, and a snapshot of a romanticized culture that has almost completely disappeared. When you add some high-quality storytelling to that mix, then you've created a perfect combination that will enthrall and thrill fans of Westerns, whether they love John Wayne movies or television shows like "Justified". Van Holt knows what makes for a good Western, and Dead Man Rising fits the bill. There is mystery, action, suspense, drama, and a whole lot of hunting, shooting, and horseback riding. I don't expect much when I pick up a Western; it is always more of an escape for me, but Van Holt made it a full-contact reading experience that kept me coming back to it every day.Although the names Fanton and Stanton get mixed up as you get sucked into the story, the mystery swirling around the characters continues to build and the tension is almost palpable with every successive chapter. I enjoyed how additional characters continued to be plugged into the story, but it worked so well, and the plot simply bubbled and grew, without ever becoming too confusing or difficult to keep track of. It was a sophisticated construction for a Western, which might sound like a strange thing to say, but it was clear that Van Holt knew exactly where the story was going from the very beginning. It made it a pleasure to read, and the unpredictable twists of the story kept me engaged from start to finish. I may have found my newest Western author, and it looks like he has plenty of books to enjoy!