Review: Simple and Spectacular
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 25, 2013
I've been on a Western tear lately, and Van Holt has been the author I've turned to more than any other. His writing is simple and straightforward, without the unnecessary flowery language and complex sentences of other genres. Not that I mind a "deep" book, but a Western is about emotion, tension, and action, which is precisely what Van Holt delivers. I particularly liked the mystery elements in this novella, which I hadn't really experienced in his other books. Showing that he can bridge both styles is yet another reason why he is proving himself to be one of my new favorite authors. The dialogue is predictably cliche at moments, but it doesn't bother me too much. What I like best are the realistic elements of his stories, like when John Parker makes the tough guy punch a tree to prove a point. It's not brilliant writing, but it's honest, and when you want a quick afternoon or two of entertaining writing, Van Holt's ever-growing list of books is a perfect place to turn. Maben isn't my favorite of his novellas, but it has certain moments where I laughed out loud, and others when I refused to put the book down until I got to the resolution of a particular crisis. It's gripping, simple, and extremely enjoyable. Whether you like Westerns or not, check out at least one of Van Holt's novels - you won't be disappointed.