The Return of Kid Cooper

The Return of Kid Cooper by Brad Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

It's been a long time since I read a good old-fashioned western, probably because it's not one of my preferred genres and the library has removed the shelf where it used to store them. Now and then, however, I like to read genres I normally pass by and since this is a candidate for the Evergreen awards I thought I'd give it a try.

It was pretty good, a little slow in some places but not so much as to be truly objectionable. Like many westerns the bad guy was a wealthy rancher lording it over those around him. However he wasn't trying for the deed to some poor girl's ranch, he was trying to cover up a land survey swindle that had netted his late father, and by inheritance him, many extra acres of prime pasture - pasture that was supposed to go to a tribe of indians living on a nearby reservation.

There were a few things about this book I didn't care for. First, there was a subplot that just fizzled out. A young ranch hand falls in love with a wealthy rancher's daughter. It seems she loves him back. They're thinking about getting married and then ... and then ... it ends - no reason. It's just over.

I also found the ending a little too pat. Sure this is a western. There's supposed to be a gunfight and bad guys are supposed to die but bodies were stacked up like cord-wood by the time this story ended. In addition, a guy who was once a hero and has pretty much allowed alcohol to take over his life has this sudden reversal back to the man he once was. Hmmmm.

If you like slow-walkin slow-talkin heroes who can rope a cow and shoot straight and true this book may be for you but you have to be willing to accept more than a few stereotypes along the way.



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