I very much enjoy Westerns, and I particularly enjoy ones which subvert the genre to some extent. And this one does so very cleverly and effectively. It’s the story of Bobby Hale, who is definitely not your typical Western hero. He spent the Civil War enrolling in the Union Army and then absconding, making some profit on each occasion, and has now, after the conflict, decided to start a new life in California. But events conspire against him, and his adventures multiply in spite of himself. Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota. Wagon trains and Manifest Destiny. Buffalo, Native Americans, outlaws, guns. All the tropes are there but Bobby himself avoids all stereotypes and his trajectory remains constantly unpredictable. The story starts simply enough, but becomes increasingly morally complex as the months and years pass, and I found myself becoming more and more invested in Bobby’s life. What makes him so endearing is that he is, in fact, at heart, an honest well-meaning guy who tries to do the right thing. Even if that means using his gun in typical Western fashion. It’s a sprawling narrative, which felt authentic and historically accurate, and I enjoyed it more and more as my reading went on.

Since receiving this book my interests have changed, therefore I will not be reading or reviewing this title. Thank you.