Book Review

Blue-Eyed Devil by Robert B. Parker

In the fourth and final western novel of the two lawmen; Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, who now have two women in tow they are partnered in maintaining justice. We find them drifting back into Appaloosa, the town their story began with in the first novel of that name, is now a larger, growing town with a police chief, Amos Calico who has twelve policemen on his payroll.

They move into Virgil’s house and both decide to stay around and give the chief grief as well as many of the town’s more aggressive citizens. Allie is trying to raise young Laura, who refuses to speak to anyone but Virgil. Pony, their Indian comrade, has a renegade brother, Kah-to-nay, who plagues the area seeking revenge on the blue eyed devils with his band of Indians.

Vigil is forced to kill a town father’s son and he is then beset by a hired gun, who is taking his time, making his play. The chief of police, who has high aspirations to become the governor engages in unethical behavior, extorting funds from local business owners.

The two men and a few trusted friends must deal with the renegade Indian’s attack on the town when the police chief has been tricked into running around the dusty countryside with his posse. A questionable election for city mayor and the resulting establishment of martial law by the police chief creates a final shootout with him and his men. The shooting ends, the dust settles and things return to normal with Laura and Pony going off together. An action packed leather-slapping final good yarn.

(Note: It is assumed that the death of the author this year marks the end of two western characters.)

Parker, Robert B. Blue-Eyed Devil, G.P. Putnam Son’s: New York, 2010. 276 pages.

Rating: 4

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Type: Western Novel

July 21, 2010