Hangings

by Bill Pronzini

Marshal Eden McCabe is baffled by the hanging of Frank Badger, and the situation only worsens when Frank's brother Jack comes to town and is also hanged, leaving McCabe to figure out a motive for the townspeople's vendetta

Genres: Westerns

182 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Mystery Writers of America Awards "Grand Master" 2008
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1999) for Boobytrap
Edgar Awards Best Novel nominee (1998) for A Wasteland of Strangers
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) for Sentinels
Shamus Awards "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) 1987
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1982) for Hoodwink

Married to author Marcia Muller.

Pseudonyms:
Robert Hart Davis (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Jack Foxx
William Jeffrey (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Alex Saxon

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

The basic idea is that a stranger is found hanged in a small town and the Sheriff has to solve the mystery. The book was interesting to me as a writer. It's not highly action driven. In fact, in many ways relatively little happens. The mystery is not that hard to figure out. Yet, I kept turning the pages and was very interested in it. I really enjoyed the characters and their stories, and the writing, which didn't get in the way of the story but had enough poetry in it to keep my attention. Much enjoyed.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closer to a 3.5, it's a very solid western, a mystery in a western setting. A small town, with just a constable and a part time deputy as law enforcement, has a hanging and no one knows who did it. The dead man was a drifter that no one knew, then when another hanging took place the town started to crack. It's up to the constable to figure it out.

Recommended, it has a solid story and I enjoyed the characters for the most part. The action is lacking, much more a mystery than a typical pulpy western.

[Abby Stopka · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf

[Ken Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dated, but readable. I would recommend it.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read, the kind I might just read again someday. A whodunit, and a lot more.