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36th out of 57 books
—
66 voters
Cottonwood
by
Scott Phillips (Goodreads Author)
In his "New York Times" notable debut, "The Ice Harvest," Scott Phillips gave readers an instant noir classic that spanned twenty-four eventful hours in the life of a mob lawyer hoping to skip town (namely Wichita) with a small fortune. Phillips followed with the acclaimed sequel, "The Walkaway," showing how a seeming windfall can wreak wicked havoc on the lives of its rec...more
Published
(first published February 3rd 2004)
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It took me a while to get into this book. Bill Ogden, a rough and tumble homesteader and bar owner in a small Kansas town, leads us through the tumultuous era of early life on the prairie, splitting his decision making between a ruthless self-reliance and business aptitude and his desire for female company (to put it much more delicately than he does).
We read this book for my mystery book club and it was interesting in that the mystery is a sideline to the character of the town. Ostensibly, the...more
We read this book for my mystery book club and it was interesting in that the mystery is a sideline to the character of the town. Ostensibly, the...more
I was so enthused about this book--described on the cover as "crime fiction at its best" and set in "Cottonwood, Kansas" in 1872. The setting of this typical Kansas town is well-developed and adds much to the story, and the development of the community is a considerable part of the story. However, the book hinges not on the crimes committed, but on the narrator's affair with the lead community developer's wife.
The narrator is strangely cold and unfeeling towards his wife, his son, and even his n...more
The narrator is strangely cold and unfeeling towards his wife, his son, and even his n...more
Jul 19, 2008
Pauline
added it
This came out well before HBO's "Deadwood" - I think Scott should sue!
A fictional retelling of the famous Bender serial-killer case in Kansas, as told by the ladies man Bill Ogden, a photographer/saloon owner who has a dalliance with the wife of the wealthy patron of the town of Cottonwood. Although interesting, the narrative never really catches fire, and even dramatic events are somewhat blandly related. I think most readers will enjoy the book, though I found it somewhat lacking. I will have to try his earlier efforts, however.
It's hard to believe this was written by the same author that wrote "The Ice Harvest". I liked this book but not as much as I liked his other. This one is part western, part romance and part mystery. I loved the elegant language that Scott Phillips uses in his story. It's slow to get started but an entertaining read in the end.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book. Bill Ogden is a likable character and Cottonwood is a fantastic setting which at times had me nostalgic for Deadwood. This was loosely based on true events though Cottonwood itself is fictitious - some nasty murders by very unsavory people. Personally I would've liked this to continue the sold opening sequences in Cottonwood rather than take a different direction. However this is an enjoyable read and a nice insight into life in the late 1800's. 3 st...more
great noir western.
Murder, mayhem, and sex on the prairie. Small town America never looked so seedy. Cottonwood it's all out criminals and fornicators. Awesome bit of writing from Scott Phillips.
1st edition, signed by author
One of the best books I've read in the past few years; wish he would write another. Reminiscent of Deadwood.
Apr 19, 2013
Michael
marked it as to-read
Mar 16, 2013
Erik Scott
added it
Feb 23, 2013
Craig Cottingham
added it
Feb 20, 2013
Stuart Elliott
marked it as to-read
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