This short novel is a curious cross between a standard western and an
Agatha Christie murder mystery. The central character, Oliver Colfax, is
something of a range detective, with a license to kill, should he be so
inclined. But he’s grown weary of the work that has been his livelihood and is
looking to retire from being a gunman for hire. It is, as he says, “quitting
time.”
Considering a job for a Colorado cattleman who believes he is the victim
of rustlers, Colfax travels to a small frontier town, drawn in part by the
opportunity to see a touring theater company perform Shakespeare’s bloody
tragedy, Titus Andronicus. Agreeing
with the cattleman to find out who, if anybody, is rustling his stock, Colfax
gets to work and determines before long that a gang of cowboys at a nearby camp
are the only likely suspects.
But matters take a sudden turn when the traveling actors begin being
brutally murdered. One mystery solved, Colfax begins tying to figure out who
has reason to be knocking off thespians. The resolution, though a bit implausible, is an interesting one and calls to mind accounts recorded
elsewhere during this period of unexpected behavior from theater patrons not
used to stage illusion.
 |
| Scene from Titus Andronicus |
Colfax is an enjoyably urbane character, if you can get past his history
as a contract killer. Having changed his ways, he no longer wishes to be a gun for hire
for men wealthy and powerful enough to simply exterminate others who get in
their way.
He likes good whiskey and a hot bath poured for him in his hotel
room. He knows how to do business and can skillfully handle an awkward client. Socially
progressive, he demands that a black actor be served at a hotel with the same
consideration as whites. Meanwhile, his apparent appeal to the opposite sex
wins him the welcome interest of one of the actresses in the touring company.
Quitting Time is currently
available in paper, audio, and ebook formats at amazon, Barnes&Noble, and AbeBooks. For more of Friday’s
Forgotten Books, click on over to Patti Abbott’s blog.
Further
reading/viewing:
BITS reviews of Robert J. Conley’s novels
The Saga of Henry Starr (1989) with interview
Image credits:
Wikimedia Commons
Coming up: Western movie themes
Hi Ron,
ReplyDeleteThank you again for all of your reviews which give me big pointers about "something to read next".
I seem to have lost all of my own picking and choosing 'terms' and at the moment, though I am in the middle of reading two biographies of a Scotsman from the Northern Isles (Orkney) - George Mackay Brown - I also need some lighter reading in the hours when my sleep is constantly broken.
I tell you what, I just received "Andy Adams' Campfire Tales" through the mail, a book you mentioned not too long ago and your notes sent me searching for it. I bought it through Amazon UK at a real bargain price from a bookseller in Atlanta. I only opened it last night and was immediately lost in another world.
I have bought many, many books over the past dozen or so years using Amazon, and many of them after reading your reviews and recommendations. I really do appreciate the US booksellers who put their books up there at virtually no more than shipping cost. It is often the only way I can find such books. Many thanks to them, *and* to you for pointing me to the titles.
Please keep up your good work. Your own striving on as you do, helps maybe weaker persons like myself to try and "come along for the ride". Your posts really do pick me up on many down days.
Best wishes.
Many years ago I got fascinated with the offshore islands around Britain and came upon George Mackay Brown. His writings made me want to visit the Orkneys, but I had to settle for Guernsey, Coll, and Islay. Glad to hear you are enjoying Andy Adams' Campfire Tales.
DeleteThis sounds like something I would like, another nice review.
ReplyDeleteI've always thought Western and mystery stories were a nice mix.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very interesting setting with the actor group. I liked the Bowdrie Mysteries of L'Amour pretty well.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that mixing a mystery with a western appeals to more people than just a straight western tale. Another nice review, Ron.
ReplyDeleteRon, this is a contemporary work of fiction and I seem to have missed it completely. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDelete