Review: A Worthy Successor for a Great Tradition
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 20, 2013
I had a feeling that Van Holt, whose "Dynamite Riders" I read and enjoyed recently, might actually be the successor to Zane Grey, a master Western storysmith, whose novels set the style of a generation. Holt's latest excursion, "The Stranger From Hell," shows he has honed his skills like a fine steel blade and has improved his  his already excellent writing skills to the point where he may snatch Grey's crown as "King of the Oat-Burners." His already fine characterization is better, while his use of plot and style to move you the work speaks volumes about his growth as a writer. True, it's a hay-burner, but it is one  with many characters who zip in and out in surprising ways and who meet surprising ends. Holt's foil in this is Ben Campbell, a rider who may have been a lawman once. Now, he plays things on both sides fast and loose and knows how to use a double-rack of six-guns. Under Holt's authorship, Campbell has rounded into a real character whose backstory may be emerging. Holt's real improvement is merging his plot work and characterization into a seamless story. For example, Campbell has to deal with the murderous Dibble family -- thre's an army of them, all mean people, at the start of their associations, anyway. Campbell also deals with a crooked self-proclaimed sheriff, murderous "deputy" and cowardly backshooter, all of whom get what's coming to them. Indeed, Holt even gives Campbell a brief love interest that he renews right at the end of this work, which is where I'll leave it. No use giving away everything. Holt's workmanship is spot on; characterization is excellent and his knowledge of the West voluminous. Welcome to Zane Grey's successor. I just hope Campbell has a few more escapades in him before he rides into the sunset.