Crossing Fire River

Gunfighter's Reputation #8

by Ralph Cotton

Lawrence Shaw is well-known as the fastest gun alive-and for other reasons he'd just as soon forget. But when he kills two bushwhacking banditos, he becomes quarry for ruthless bounty hunters led by a cunning Mexican agent-and finds a chance for redemption...

Genres: Westerns

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have absolutely enjoyed the Gunman’s Song series by Ralph Cotton, who I consider one of the top five western authors ever. This series focuses mainly on two characters: Fast Larry Shaw—a notorious gunfighter who, despite his age, continues to maintain his reputation, and Clayton Dawson—his best friend, an excellent shot in his own right, and a lawman. Of the two, Dawson probably has more ethics and morals, but Shaw always fights for what’s right, and always stands up for the indefensible. Each of the novels in this series focuses usually on one of the characters, though the other often appears in a secondary role, but the focus of the story is always on one of those characters. Here, Shaw takes center stage.
The plot is fairly straight-forward. Shaw is coming out yet another one of his drunken two-month stupors, finds himself in the middle of the desert on the US/Mexico border, quickly kills two bounty hunters, and eventually finds the body of a dead man and brings that man’s body back to his widow. The “bad guy” is a Mr. Hewes, who has just stolen a load of gold from a Mexican bank and is trying to smelt down the gold bars so they cannot be identified. Of course, he has his cadre of hired guns and killers—most of whom Shaw dispenses with rather quickly and easily along the way. Dawson and Caldwell (a minor character who rides with Dawson) show up eventually, and all help Shaw in his quest to find the gold and kill the bad guys.
I like all of Cotton’s novels, as I find him a strong writer of this genre, but I didn’t love this particular entry in the series. I didn’t find anything about it exceptional. I wasn’t overwhelmed with any aspect of the story, the violence, or the characters’ actions, though I continue to enjoy learning a little bit more about Dawson and Lawrence as each novel progresses. The fight scenes happened quickly, and they weren’t set up as satisfactorily as I’m used to by Cotton, so the payoff just wasn’t as sweet (though I must admit that I did enjoy the ultimate demise of one of the whores in the story). It looks like the next novel follows immediately after the events of this one, so I should probably read that one sooner rather than later. I’ve read eight and have four more to go. After that, I’m going to start on the Sam Burrack series Cotton wrote earlier. I’ve heard that one is excellent. For now, this gets 3.5 stars at the most...it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t as great as I’m used to.

[Victoria Embry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gunman reputation series is a good read

If you like western fiction then this is a very good series. As are all of Ralph cotton books. Western fiction at its best.

[Michael Barnette · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book contained some of the worst editing I've ever seen. The use of BURROW instead of burro was one of the most glaring mistakes, but, sadly, far from the only one.

There were other descriptions that left me shaking my head in disbelief. One example: She jaunted her chin proudly.

Since 'jaunt' means to walk in a certain manner the fact her chin was doing this left me both horrified and laughing at the really terrible editing.

There were other problems. At one point 'hoofprints' are racing away when it should be 'hoof beats'.

It's a real shame because the book was otherwise enjoyable, but the mistakes were so bad it ruined the story for me.

[Jeff]

vg