 |
It is 1911. John Lourdes is a member of the Texas Bureau of Investigation. He is tasked with finding "The Whiteman"—a man in a hood wanted for murder. This man and his followers have been killing Mexicans and running them off their land in Texas. They see a Mexican as just another foreigner encroaching on the manifest destiny of the white man in America. Many Texas Rangers are part of a group called “The Society” and align with the beliefs of “The Whiteman.” Lourdes is chosen for this task because he is half-Mexican, even though he can pass as a white man in appearance. John will have to do one of the things he does best, killing, in order to survive an ordeal that will put a mirror on the inner and outer conflicts he faces as a man of two worlds.
Teran has written a top-notch Western set in an interesting transition period in America. The rifle and revolver, along with a good horse, still fill most of the needs of a lawman. However, the rising influence of the automobile, electricity, and the press is clearly presented by the narrative, which skillfully displays the changing times. Teran’s writing is direct and bold, a bit like Hemingway at times, while also managing poignant and insightful moments of lyrical presence. The relationships between characters, both major and minor, are handled deftly and bring the reader in close contact with their motivations and actions. On top of that, the action pieces are quick, brutal, and deadly, reminiscent of the explosive action found in the 2011 movie Drive. This book is easy to recommend to readers who love Westerns and action novels, as well as to those with a taste for more literary, historical fiction with a backdrop of violence.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review