Blue-Eyed Devil, by Robert B. Parker, $25.95
Author of more than 60 novels, the recently deceased Robert B. Parker left what is probably one of his best — “Blue-Eyed Devil” — for last.
Heading the cast is former Chief of Police Virgil Cole, who has no problem with killing as long as the rules are followed.
As the story opens, his friend Everett Hitch and Matt Talbot, a scout, are waiting for the present chief of police, Amos Callico. A man known for shaking down local merchants for protection money, Callico also has an eye on the state’s governorship.
Added to the mix is Matt, who, though assured safe conduct, is attacked by a band of defiant Cheyenne braves.
“Blue-Eyed Devil” provides an unusual approach to the reality of the West in the years when the American Indians had their backs to the wall.
Beecher Island, by Tim Champlin, $25.95.
Tim Champlin, with 18 other Western novels to his credit, now brings readers another well-researched and thoroughly readable story in “Beecher Island.”
Using the Army’s actual attempt in 1868 to capture a defiant band of young Cheyenne braves headed by the infamous Cheyenne chief, Bull Bear, as its base, the story centers on a scout traveling with the chief in hopes of learning the tribe’s plans soon enough to head off a confrontation with the Army.
At first, when the scout manages to elude the attack by the braves and finds Grover alive, he considers his exploits as adventure.
He soon is scouting, unaware of the growing number of hostile Cheyenne being led by infamous war chief Roman Nose.
Taken together, “Beecher Island” is a thoroughly readable story.
Sybil Downing is a Boulder novelist who writes regularly about new regional fiction.
