Congratulations to the winners of the last contest. An Extravagant Death is going to Larry C. from Newhebron, MS. Dianne C. from Elk Grove Village, IL will receive The Silent Shooter. The books are going out in the mail today.
This week, I’m giving away two frontier mysteries. There’s just something about Larry D. Sweazy’s writing, gritty but beautifully phrased, that appeals to me. The Lost are the Last to Die looks back at the life of a former Texas Ranger. After Sonny Burton lost an arm in a shootout with Bonnie and Clyde, he thought his career was over. But, when Billy Bunson takes a warden’s wife hostage and escapes from prison, the Rangers, including Sonny’s son, come to him for help. Sonny has a long, complicated history with Billy, one that sometimes took him away from his own wife and son. It’s a fascinating look back and to the present, with the son Sonny has, and the pseudo-son he tried to save.
It’s back to Texas for Reavis Z. Wortham’s Laying Bones. In January 1969 in Center Springs, Texas, Constable Ned Parker is looking into what appears to be the accidental death of his nephew, R.B., found in his overturned pickup truck. Eventually, his investigation leads Parker back to a dangerous honky-tonk. Despite all the illegalities connected to the case, it’s the series of murders that eliminated all possible witnesses from that January night that troubles Ned the most.
Which book would you like to win? You can enter to win both, but I need separate entries. Email me at Lesa.Holstine@gmail.com. Your subject line should read either “Win The Lost are the Lost to Die” or “Win Laying Bones.” Please include your name and mailing address. The contest will end Thursday, April 1 (no fooling!) at 5 PM CT. Entries from the U.S. only, please.
I’ve read some of Reavis Z. Wortham’s Sonny Hawke series. They’re not really mysteries, more Men’s Adventure/Modern Western. I haven’t read any of his Red River Mysteries.
The Sweazy book is a great read. Wortham is not men’s adventure.
I read Hawke’s Prey, where Texas Ranger Sonny Hawke pulls a DIe Hard in a small town Texas Town, along with the next two books in the series. I don’t know what else to call them.
The Red River Mysteries are entirely different, I understand, but I’ve never read one.
Which is why you entered to win them, Glen. Good luck!
I have got to read more of Sweazy’s books. I have (but haven’t read) A Thousand Falling Crows and See Also Proof. I have read the first two Marjorie Trumaine mysteries.
And I was just reading about Wortham at another blog.
Sweazy’s books are so atmospheric, dark, but beautifully written.