Robert B. Parker’s Buckskin (A Cole and Hitch Novel)

Written by Robert Knott
Review by Jeff Westerhoff

Near the turn of the 20th century, U.S. Marshals Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch are the law in Appaloosa, located west of the Mississippi. Gold is discovered on the outskirts of the town, and two rival businessmen are in opposition. Each hires gunmen to protect their interests. When a miner is discovered missing and later found murdered, the marshals begin to investigate the crime while violence escalates.

Meanwhile, a killer is traveling towards Appaloosa with vengeance against the marshals on his mind. All these activities are coming to a head on Appaloosa Day, a major holiday in the town, when many people may discover themselves in the crosshairs.

This novel is another in the continuing series created by Robert B. Parker, prior to his death in 2010. Sharp dialog and page-turning action dominate the storyline. Cole and Hitch are two opposites who feed off each other while they attempt to maintain the law-abiding town of Appaloosa. The storyline in Buckskin deviates slightly from the earlier novels in that most of the action takes place in Appaloosa. Although a stand-alone story, I suggest trying to read the previous novels in the series to get a true flavor of these two characters and the supporting cast.