WESTERNS - FICTION

"Shannon: Carrying the Star" by Charles E. Friend

A great western and the best Shannon book yet!

This is book four in the Shannon series and a pleasant prequel that gives insight into what made Shannon the honest and determined lawman in "Shannon's Law", "Shannon's Way", and "Shannon: US Marshal".

In the small Kansas town of Dry Wells, 19 year old Clay Shannon takes his father's place as town marshal when his father is murdered by Pete Catlett. He manages to arrest Pete and is talked into remaining marshal and dealing with the trouble bound to come from the feared Catlett clan. The young marshal seeks out retired Marshal Lane to get advice. Lane tells him: expect the unexpected; if you have to shoot, shoot to kill; and take every advantage you can. These words of sound advice are taken to heart by Clay and he will learn their value and the cost for not heeding them..

Clay has to kill Pete while taking him to the county seat for trial and the inevitable showdown with the Catlett clan is a close thing, but fortunately at the last minute, Clay gets unexpected help. For all his efforts, the mayor fires Clay because of all the violence he brought to the town. Clay moves on to the town of Longhorn where he gets a job on the recommendation of Lane as a town deputy under Marshal Hollister. When the other deputies see the old sidearm Clay is carrying, they suggest he will need something better. Clay takes their advice and spends almost everything he has to buy his Colt 45 Peacemaker. This Colt will save his life in Longhorn and many times in the future. The experiences Clay has in the rough and tumbled town of Longhorn forge him into a formidable lawman.

Reviewed by Kenneth S. Smith 20 June 2002

An Avalon Western
Published by
Thomas Bouregy & Co., Inc.
160 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016

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