New York Times-bestselling author Robert B. Parker takes aim at the Old West with this brilliantly crafted follow-up to Resolution...
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Mar 29, 2011
Barbara
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While reading this book, I heard the sad news that Robert Parker had died, ironically while sitting at his desk writing. Over 40 years he had written about 75 mysteries, most of which I have read. A touching tribute to him was in today's Boston Globe by a close fiend, Gary Goshgarian. He said, " He was probably the smartest person I've known and the quickest wit. His observations, never labored, were always incisive and sensible.His writing was brilliant and lean..." Later his friend s
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Dec 19, 2011
Mandy
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Brimstone is written by the same author as my last book "Appaloosa" and is just as good. The same two men are featured riding and revenging anyone in their path. They are in need of some peace and try to find it in Brimstone living with Cole's lover Allie French. They realize that this town like all others has its bad features. In this case it is the Reverend that is not as good as they come. The two come to find that everywhere they look they find nothing but hardship and lots of wome
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Jun 14, 2010
David
rated it: 
There are those who claim that Parker had been writing Western novels for years- disguised as private eye novels. I cannot help but sort of agree.
First, I have to give Parker kudos for writing gritty westerns. The characters are mean and Parker portrays shootouts for the most part as they really were... nasty, violent, kill-em-all and show-no-mercy events. No warnings, not a lot of words.. just pull your gun and put the other guy down.
Second, the lead characters, Eve More...
First, I have to give Parker kudos for writing gritty westerns. The characters are mean and Parker portrays shootouts for the most part as they really were... nasty, violent, kill-em-all and show-no-mercy events. No warnings, not a lot of words.. just pull your gun and put the other guy down.
Second, the lead characters, Eve More...
May 12, 2009
Richard
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Aug 06, 2011
Justin
rated it: 
Granted, i've never heard of Robert Parker before picking this book up, i had however seen a movie called Appalosa which i believe is based off of his previous book, who's name unfortunately escapes me at athe moment. My reason for only giving this book 3 stars instead of my usual 3.5 or 4 stars out of 5 is for the simple reason of i wasn't too enthralled with the "cadence" if u will of how the book went. I personally am used to smooth flowing books that don't seem to pause at differen
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Jun 10, 2011
Charles
rated it:
I'm a bit ambivalent about this one. I enjoyed it, and liked the characters a lot. I was impressed with how much information Parker conveyed in the dialogue. The action was decent.
On the other hand, it had very little of one thing I really enjoy in westerns. There was virtually no visual description at all. Definitely minimalist description. We didn't "see" the landscapes or really even the town where most of the action took place. We got only the briefest of descriptions More...
On the other hand, it had very little of one thing I really enjoy in westerns. There was virtually no visual description at all. Definitely minimalist description. We didn't "see" the landscapes or really even the town where most of the action took place. We got only the briefest of descriptions More...
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Nov 01, 2011
Thomas
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There are writers whose prose will hold the reader’s attention as if the words being read are more a conversation being had than a story being told. Not since reading Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men has a book held me in such a grip as did Brimstone. Mr. Parker pens a western in the “old” tradition – the horses are real, the guns plentiful, the good guys are wearing white hats and the bad guys are known by the hired guns surrounding them. What an adventure.
This book picks up a More...
This book picks up a More...
Dec 04, 2010
Jay
rated it:
Here's an Old West that Louis L'Amour or Larry McMurtry would recognize: the classic prodigal gunmen, living by their own code traveling from dusty, unpainted clabbered towns dotting the southwest, who dispense justice as they see fit.
In his parchment brittle writing style, Robert B. Parker leaves characterization to inference and plot to hearsay. Few authors do such a complete job of charging their readers to fill in the blanks. In a world where good is an abstraction, righteousne More...
In his parchment brittle writing style, Robert B. Parker leaves characterization to inference and plot to hearsay. Few authors do such a complete job of charging their readers to fill in the blanks. In a world where good is an abstraction, righteousne More...
Aug 30, 2009
Carrie
rated it:
Lot of killing in the Wild West before policemen were everywhere and laws in place that put people in jail for murder. The characters were interesting: Virgil cole, and his best friend, Everett Hitch. The story is told from Everett's point of view. Allie, the girl Virgil loves is also quite an interesting character.
Robert B. Parker makes the story as well as the place and time seem so real. It's fun to walk around the small town in that time and place. A little bit scary too. The setti More...
Robert B. Parker makes the story as well as the place and time seem so real. It's fun to walk around the small town in that time and place. A little bit scary too. The setti More...
May 10, 2009
Grey853
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May 30, 2011
Villager
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Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch are two great characters created by Robert B. Parker. Virgil and Everett are lawmen in the old West who uphold the law ... except when they don't. Virgil is in love with a very flawed woman ... a woman who cheats on him with others, who ran away from him and ended up in a pathetic brothel on the US/Mexico border ... and a woman who can't cook, clean, iron or sing for a damn! This is a simple story that showcases the skills and character of Virgil as he becomes
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Aug 10, 2011
This is the third and final book in Robert B. Parker’s ‘Everett and Cole’ series. I know this because I’ve discovered to my horror that Robert B. Parker died earlier this year. I was devastated. I’d always liked his Spenser and other crime series novels, but when I read ‘Appaloosa’, the first Everett and Cole book, I thought that this series, about two guns for hire in the Old West, was what he was born to write. I just loved all three of these books (the other is ‘Resolution’) – this one proba
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Aug 06, 2010
Charlie
rated it:
As far as I can tell from the "Also by" page, Parker published 61 novels before his death, two more this year after he died, and there are two more coming. So of his 65 novels, I've read 56. I read them compulsively; he appears to have written them compulsively, too. The same questions of masculinity, competence, fidelity, and compassion come up in his books, over and over and over again, whether he wrote a detective novel, police procedural, crime thriller, or western. Lots of the
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Dec 26, 2009
Kathy
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virgil and everett catch up with allie... save her from a whore house. virgil acknowledges that he loves her, but questions whether she can change. She hooks up (literally) with the Brimstone pastor (with a god complex) who is working in cahoots with one saloon owner to get rid of all the town's saloons. The saloon owner is ex military, and envisions a town where he is in charge. The story also includes an indian who is making trouble... mainly for the saloon owner... he kills a man, kidnaps
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Jul 13, 2011
Les
rated it:
Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch track Allie French down in Texas working in a lowest class as possible bordello. Cole rescues her, killing some men in the process. Cole isn't sure why he does even after examining the aspects of love, but he loves her.
Fleeing to another town, Cole and Hitch become deputies there and watch a power struggle eventually develop between a former outlaw now a saloon owner and a preacher. A renegade Indian has been killing people near the town and Cole and Hi More...
Fleeing to another town, Cole and Hitch become deputies there and watch a power struggle eventually develop between a former outlaw now a saloon owner and a preacher. A renegade Indian has been killing people near the town and Cole and Hi More...
Mar 21, 2011
Mary
rated it: 
Robert Parker wrote quick read books. The stories are fast paced and he builds the action along a morality theme. Virgil Cole is noble. His buddy Everett is more educated and yet Virgil is the heroic center, whom Everett interviews periodically to get Virgil's perspective on right and might. He is the Boswell to Virgil's Johnson. The first Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch title, Apaloosa, became a movie. Virgil loves a woman, Allie, with no moral center. Her inability to do the right thing o
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Dec 02, 2010
Joshua
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I think this may have been Parker's last novel before recently passing away--maybe I'm wrong? He revisits the world of the western and the characters Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch--who were featured in the film APPALOOSA. It's a western with shoot outs, bad guys, horses, saloons, dusty streets, clipped dialogue. The dialogue is so short it feels more like conversation from a crime novel (where Parker has done most of his writing) than a western. These two worlds are kind of similar when it comes
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Dec 16, 2010
Mike
rated it:
For the first 50 pages I thought that Parker might have finally written a great novel, but the story strayed from the concerns of his protagonists to good-doing in the typical Parker fashion. The story becomes desultory as a continuing group of characters move through three plots, each with its own climax. This is still one of Parker's better written books due to an unusual lack of cute dialog. He would have been well-advised to cut the last sentence from each chapter, and sometimes the last thr
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Jul 19, 2009
Steve
rated it:
Robert Parker's books are short sharp blasts of dialogue-driven plot. The read is always too quick; the reader wants more. Fortunately, Parker turns out at least two books a year. This volume is from his ongoing "Appaloosa" Western series, which finds Virgil and Everett in yet another small town, facing another set of unlawful characters and some outstanding longstanding moral and ethical issues they are never really able to resolve with any satisfaction. I will admit that Parker's Spe
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Jun 10, 2009
Jacqueline
rated it:
What I learned: why "Appaloosa" was such a mediocre movie despite the great cast...cause it was based on a previous book in this series.
I always feel kinda mean-spirited, dissing something I couldn't do...write novels. And I HAVE read most of Robert B. Parker's novels. But... They used to be like butterscotch brownies. Now they are more like meringue cookies.
On the plus side;
1)he sure can write dialogue
2)easy on the eyes cause it's mostly dialogue More...
I always feel kinda mean-spirited, dissing something I couldn't do...write novels. And I HAVE read most of Robert B. Parker's novels. But... They used to be like butterscotch brownies. Now they are more like meringue cookies.
On the plus side;
1)he sure can write dialogue
2)easy on the eyes cause it's mostly dialogue More...
Jul 04, 2010
Ron
rated it:
There's not much depth to the Virgil Cole/Everett Hitch series by Robert B. Parker, but the books sure are fun. BRIMSTONE reunites the duo with Allie, the woman who stole Virgil's heart. There is no plot per se but lots of little bits of action, vignettes that show the steely resolve of Virgil Cole. The team battles white slavers, a renegade Indian, a fire-and-brimstone preacher, and a power-hungry saloon owner. More wisecracks than pistol shots, but still enjoyable. PS. It is impossible to
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Mar 26, 2011
Steve
rated it:
book on tape
When Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch track down the woman who stole Virgil's heart, they find a dispirited prostitute rather than the innocent beauty she once was. Now they must save her, even if murder is the price of redemption
terrific car book. still can't believe i'm reading westerns and loving it.
funny thing.... i Googled the 8 gauge shotgun and fell into a rabbit warren of NRA readers. Who knew?
still can't find a drawing or photo of an 8 gau More...
When Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch track down the woman who stole Virgil's heart, they find a dispirited prostitute rather than the innocent beauty she once was. Now they must save her, even if murder is the price of redemption
terrific car book. still can't believe i'm reading westerns and loving it.
funny thing.... i Googled the 8 gauge shotgun and fell into a rabbit warren of NRA readers. Who knew?
still can't find a drawing or photo of an 8 gau More...
Oct 22, 2011
Tom
rated it:
An enjoyable western - the dialogue is sparse, but effective. To express the sentiment that these sometimes lawmen/pardners are willing to die for each other, they'll say things like "I'm with you, Virgil," and "Yep."
Women in the story are either whores or hostages. Natives are noble, but only in their savagery, if that makes any sense.
So if you're looking for Social Studies class, look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a few hours of squinty-e More...
Women in the story are either whores or hostages. Natives are noble, but only in their savagery, if that makes any sense.
So if you're looking for Social Studies class, look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a few hours of squinty-e More...
Jan 03, 2010
Randy
rated it:
Virgil and Everett are marshaling in the town of Brimstone. With two factions at work, neither very palatable, the two friends try to keep damage at a minimum.
Brother Percival seems intent on closing all the saloons in town and has a band of militant deacons at his bidding. He seems to be leaving the largest saloon alone and Virgil suspicions there may be a deal there. Then Percival and the owner have a falling out.
Virgil knows neither of them likes Everett and him and kn More...
Brother Percival seems intent on closing all the saloons in town and has a band of militant deacons at his bidding. He seems to be leaving the largest saloon alone and Virgil suspicions there may be a deal there. Then Percival and the owner have a falling out.
Virgil knows neither of them likes Everett and him and kn More...
Sep 06, 2009
Donna
rated it:
Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch have finally found Virgil's lost love Allie in a brothel. Virgil can't leave her but he can't quite resume their relationship either. Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch take jobs as local deputy sheriffs and rent a house for Allie and themselves. Their jobs are complicated by the conflict with a fire and brimstone preacher who is determined to close all of Brimstone's bars and a Indian who is murdering outlying farmers.
If you liked Appaloosa and Resolution, you More...
If you liked Appaloosa and Resolution, you More...
Jun 25, 2009
Quinn
rated it:
I have really enjoyed the three books in this series. Parker does not waste a lot of extra text to his stories which I think successfully sets the mood in these books. He doesn’t spend a ridiculous amount of time describing every nook and cranny. The writing is to the point, just like the characters in the book. Virgil Cole is the "Hero", but Everette Hitch is the most interesting character. Parker does an excellent job of making you relate with the characters without a whole lot of
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Nov 27, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
One might be forgiven for having hoped that when Virgil Cole finally did find Allie French it would be dead in a ditch somewhere. Instead, Parker delivers her back to her beau (mostly) safe and sound, and sets the slow mend of their relationship against the backdrop of wild violence in an untamed Texas town. Given that French is a slutified Susan Silverman, one might also be forgiven for wondering if the near-mute girl added to the family unit at the end of the tale isn't a stand-in for Pearl t
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Jun 09, 2011
Ed
rated it:
Third in this four book series featuring Virgil Cole and his companion, Everett Hitch. Narrated by Everett but full of Parker's terse dialogue, this was a most enjoyable read. I finished it in less than 24 hours. As I so often do with Parker's books, I read this too fast. Somehow, I want to drag out the pleasure of his stories since there are so few left to read and he will be writing no more of them.
This story begins with Virgil and Everett still searching for Allie French, Virgi More...
This story begins with Virgil and Everett still searching for Allie French, Virgi More...
Jul 09, 2009
Linda
rated it:
I like Everett Hutch and Virgil Cole. They are typical Parker formula buddies but I enjoy them as much as I do Spencer and Hawk although Everett is not Hawk and Virgil is not Spenser. If the story was just about the two buddies in the old West town of Resolution, I would have added a star. Sadly, Parker can't let go of his Susan fixation so we have Allie. Good grief Parker's women are annoying. Well read by Welliver. Enjoy the boys and press the skip button whenever the Allie nonsense star
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Jun 26, 2009
Wayne
rated it:
Another audio read for me. The narrator was great. The book way too short. A 3rd in the Western series starring Virgil Cole and Everitt Hitch. The book begins as they try to find the gal that keeps leaving Cole and Cole just can't live without her.
For me this was not nearly as good as Appaloosa or Resolution, maybe it was just a little too much like the other two without the twists and turns that made Resolution the best of the three for me. Still I could read 50 more books with Cole More...
For me this was not nearly as good as Appaloosa or Resolution, maybe it was just a little too much like the other two without the twists and turns that made Resolution the best of the three for me. Still I could read 50 more books with Cole More...
