Caleb Marlowe #1
“You have a strong relationship with the land. I know you’ll find where they’re hiding.”
Preacher
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Nikoo and Jim are masters at crafting unique, vibrant characters. Branching out into the Western genre doesn’t change that. Elkhorn, Colorado, is a growing town teeming with life and enough trouble to keep Caleb Marlowe on his toes.
This was the first Western that I recall reading, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. A wide variety of unique characters, a boomtown with growing pains, the untamed wilderness, and more action and shootouts than you can shake a stick at was the answer. It’s almost a wonder that Caleb didn’t run out of ammunition with how many rounds are fired off.
Like other McGoldrick books, it is the magnificent characters that make the book shine. Even minor characters have distinct histories that shape their lives, and strong, female characters like Imala and Sheila hold their own on the frontier. Caleb has seen both sides of the law, and while jaded, is still willing to stick his neck out for others.
The action moves from one location to another quickly, but there are still glimpses of the vast world Caleb inhabits. Everything feels alive, from the shattered peace of a ranch to the bustle of town streets. It’s easy to lose yourself in the details of the Colorado wilderness or the action of numerous shootouts.
At the end of the day, it’s the characters that bring this story home. The first Caleb Marlowe book is a solid series starter, and I look forward to reading the other books to come.
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