Bounty of Greed: The Lincoln County Wars
Paul Colt continues his Bounty series with a historical dramatization about the Lincoln County wars. James Dolan, a businessman with strong political ties, owns Lincoln County, New Mexico, until Englishman John Tunstall arrives in town with commercial ambitions of his own. When Tunstall is murdered by corrupt sheriff’s men on Dolan’s orders, those loyal to Tunstall, including the infamous Billy the Kid, decide to take matters into their own hands and seek revenge for his death.
What ensues is a battle of epic proportions. With New Mexico on the verge of achieving statehood, power, greed, and politics clash as the Wild West faces the push of civilization. The conflict comes to a bloody climax when the United States Army is sent in to settle the fight for Lincoln.
For anyone not already familiar with the more minor players in this story, the sheer speed at which they are introduced is dizzying. I found myself creating a map of characters just to keep them all straight. Colt does a wonderful job, however, bringing these characters to life with realistic detail and shedding light on the complex forces behind the situation in Lincoln. Recommended.
