Ride a Fast Horse (A Captain Tom Skinner Western)
In this cinematic western, part of a series set in Arizona in 1889, the plot moves as fast as the horses. Kevin Warren’s horsemanship is well-informed, as is his geographical knowledge. His main character, a cavalry officer named Tom Skinner, is a manic Clint Eastwood figure, obsessively bent on revenge and retribution for the evil deeds of a gang of outlaws. These “bad men” fancy themselves “the last of the worst” as they cut a bloody swath through the civilian population. They are abysmal outdoorsmen, however – they lean their backs against needle-sharp Saguaro cacti, lack campfire skills, and eat raw javelina and barely-dead horsemeat. Jessup, their twisted leader and a thoroughly bad bad man, is perhaps the most memorable character in the novel besides Skinner and his heroic steed, Too Tall. Sadly, the death toll, both human and equine, is high. Happily, Veronica, the indomitable heroine, survives many horrors to begin life anew amidst the graves and ruins, reunited at last with the hot-headed but slightly chastened hero. This book offers any fan of westerns a very enjoyable ride.
