THE TARNISHED STAR by Jack Martin

A Black Horse Western published by Robert Hale Ltd of London.

June 2009

Sam Bowden is one spoilt brat and his dad, Clem Bowden, is always bailing him out of one bit of bother after another. Now he's gone that step to far and killed a saloon girl something where a fine or a night in the cells can't solve.

Sheriff Cole Masters has no choice but to see Sam Bowden stand trial for his crime.

But Clem Bowden is not a man to stand aside and watch his son hang or rot in prison. Oh, no he has a plan to set his son free and frame the lawman for the killing.

Knowing that he has the town in the palm of his hand Clem knows that no one will be idiot enough to stand with the lawman so Cole Masters has no choice but to handle things on his own.

And with Masters' fiance and best friend held hostage there is not much that he can do.

So Cole loses his badge and his self respect. There is only one thing that he can do and that is get to the Judge before anyone else does and explain everything.

Sam Bowden, who his father has made sheriff heads a posse that is joined by two professional guns Boyd and Quill. I loved the interplay between these characters and Sam Bowden who really throws a tantrum as he's supposed to be the one in charge and, therefore, thinks he knows better.

This book is full of real people that I could relate to. As a straight western this is a good read.

I got something more for there is another level in this book and this comes to the surface when Jessie, the schoolteacher fiance of Cole Masters, tackles Clem Bowden head on and discovers the man's weakness and the reader is left in no doubt that he knows that he is in the wrong but he loves his son and must do whatever it takes to protect him. It's a magic moment.

I like writers who can take modern issues and take them back in time. It goes to show that some problems are not as new as people imagine.

This one goes on my list for the new proposed western section at the school library (proving that the Wild West Monday idea can work).