Sipping Whiskey in a Shallow Grave

by Mark Mitten

It is 1887. Snow is falling in the high country of Colorado. Bill Ewing led a bank heist in the small mountain town of Kinsey City — but just woke up tied to the back of a mule. "Sipping Whiskey in a Shallow Grave" is an epic novel chronicling Bill Ewing’s gang of thieves and the posse that takes after them, the cowhands of the B-Cross-C, and the unexpected turns of life which bring them all together.

Following the Great Die-Up, the harshest winter to ever hit the West, LG Pendleton and Casey Pruitt lead a mixed herd of Polangus and Durham cattle down the stage road in Lefthand Canyon. Their way of life is fading with the changing times. Fences cross what once was open range, locomotives are eliminating the trail drive, and both Casey and LG must learn to change with it — or fade away themselves.

At once both personal and immutable, "Sipping Whiskey in a Shallow Grave" is a sweeping tale of randomness and destiny, reminding us of the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Genres: Westerns

338 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2012

About the author

Mark Mitten was born in Texas and raised in Colorado. He is a member of the Western Writers of America, and is known for his western novels Sipping Whiskey in a Shallow Grave and Hard To Quit. Both books were finalists for the Peacemaker Award. Mark has written a trilogy about a sheriff in the Colorado mountains, dealing with drugs, politics, and the quirks of small town drama:

Breck's Quandary (2019)
Ghosts of the Past (2021)
A Time Between Times (2022).

Praise for Breck's Quandary:

“In addition to dramatizing the issues surrounding marijuana legalization, the novel offers a realistic window into a sheriff’s everyday struggles of budget, staffing, and community relations. Sheriffs are sure to recognize themselves in this action-packed, modern noir.”
—Sheriff & Deputy Magazine

Praise for Hard to Quit:

2018 Peacemaker Award Nominee
Best Western Novel Category

"Fast-paced and at times gripping, this book
was difficult to put down."
—Historical Novel Society

"Gripping material indeed."
—Western Fiction Review

Praise for Sipping Whiskey in a Shallow Grave:

2013 Peacemaker Award Nominee
Best First Western Category

"Lyrical, fresh, and an impressive debut."
—Roundup Magazine

"Mitten awakens images of Gunsmoke and
The Magnificent Seven...Certain to be a
favorite of equestrians, modern ranchers and
history buffs."
—The Summit Daily

"Dialogue and actions resonate with
authenticity."
—Western Fictioneers

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a heckuva western novel that more than lives up to its unusual title. Mitten knows the conventions of the genre and then turns them inside out to create a sprawling narrative that ranges all over the state of Colorado. The cast of characters includes working cowboys, the worthy citizens of several Rocky Mountain settlements, and the members of an outlaw gang.

Their lives converge on a fatal day in 1887 when a stage hold up is interrupted by a cattle drive. A traditional western might start with an incident like this, but Mitten puts it squarely in the middle of his story. The first half of the novel is prologue to it, as we meet his characters and get into the rhythm of their lives, both for good and ill...

Read my review at my blog.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy historical fiction you will certainly enjoy reading this book. Set along the front range of the Colorado Rockies, this historical western fiction takes place during the time when the front range was 'open range' and beginning to change as people starting settling in the area.

The cast of characters is colorful. The plot is engaging. The many twists and turn keep you turning the pages.

This is the author's first published novel and hopefully it will not be the last!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the brutal winter of 1887 descends upon Colorado’s high country, cowhands, miners, townsfolk, lawmen, and even outlaws go about their daily routine, never suspecting their disparate lives are about to intersect in a freakish, though inevitable, series of events that will change them all forever. Metaphorically speaking, no one escapes this tale alive.

Mark Mitten’s debut novel is not for the squeamish or the faint of heart. The landscape is harsh; some of the people even harsher. From the outset, Mitten pulls no punches in depicting death, destruction, and a hollowness of the soul that is difficult to confront. Perhaps that’s the essence of the book, though: By forcing readers up close with both the innocent and the twisted, he forces them to consider the dichotomies inherent in being human.

Sipping Whiskey in a Shallow Grave, nominated for the 2013 Best Western First Novel Peacemaker Award, is not an easy, recreational read. That is a warning, not criticism. Mitten’s voice is distinctive; his characterizations are fresh, engaging, and genuine. Dialogue and actions resonate with authenticity. The cast list is extensive, though, and the novel’s uncommon format frequently leaps between locations, subplots, and character subsets without a hint of segue. Everything ties together in the end, but keeping track of the various threads and players may be a bigger challenge than casual readers feel comfortable undertaking. This book requires a commitment — not that commitment is a bad thing.

Ultimately, Sipping Whiskey is a story of perseverance and survival; of redemption and damnation. As his style matures, Mitten will be an author to watch … if only to ensure one of his characters doesn't sneak up behind you with a weapon.

[Mike Blick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think one of the biggest disservices to the historical fiction written about the push west in the United States, was labeling these books "Westerns". There are many good books in this genre, and this is one of them. It's a pity this genre is often overlooked. -1 star because I wished the stories would intertwine slightly more, but all in all a good historical novel about the people living in the mountains of Colorado post civil war.

[Mark Mitten]

NOMINATED FOR THE 2013 PEACEMAKER AWARD.

This is a western (historical fiction), set in 1887. It takes place mainly in Colorado, and some portions at the XIT Ranch in the Texas Panhandle. It follows a small group of cowmen, a gang of thieves, and the posse that's after them. 338 pages.

It is available on Amazon in paperback, as well as Nook & Kindle.


Amazon:
www.amazon.com/Sipping-Whiskey-Shallo...

Author Site:
www.markmitten.us

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