It is with sadness that I read this book after the author passed away earlier this year.

Virgil Cole and Everett Hatch return to Appaloosa where they had formerly enforced the law.

Currently, the town is run by Amos Callico, an ambitious, corrupt chief of police, and his twelve lawmen. Callico is always looking for personal gain and his method of providing justice is to demand kick-backs from the businessmen and town residents.

Virgil and Everett are hired to provide personal safety by Lamar Spec, who disagrees with the kick-back idea. He own The Boston House, a saloon. When this happens, Callico comes to the two former lawmen and tells them that they're taking money that should be his. Then he asks if they would like to join him but he is rebuffed.

Soon after this, the two former lawmen are providing honest security for all of the saloons in town.

One day, there is an incident at one of the saloons and a shooting occurs. One of the most influential men's son tried to outdraw Virgil Cole. The story goes on from there.

Parker is a master story teller. As I breezed through the pages, I kept thinking of Gary Cooper in "High Noon" and found myself humming the theme song from that movie.

Parker's visual descriptions and entertaining characters make the reader want the story to go on and on.

I really enjoyed the book and felt that I was sitting at a ring-side seat as the realistic action was unfolding before me.