Hello western fans. Today I read Trailsman 33 Red River Revenge. This tale dates from
1984 so I suppose
one could rightfully say that it is a vintage yarn in the long running
series. I got to say right off that I enjoyed this one. Of course the Trailsman books are
written by several different authors and sometimes, especially in the early years, the
quality can vary. Series creator Jon Messmann can be counted on to spin a very good
tale but some of the other guys stink it up occasionally. I'm not sure who wrote this one
although it was probably Messmann. However, there are signs indicating that it wasn't
one of his...who knows? Regardless, this is a fast paced, well plotted
adventure with
memorable characters and plenty for our hero Skye Fargo to do.
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Things get interesting really quick as Fargo gets framed for a murder. The book opens
with him waiting for the noose. He does manage to get away and then proceeds to search
the wild west for the ornery varmit or varmits who set him up. Even more infuriating for
the Trailsman is the fact that somebody is impersonating him. The question is why? And
Fargo is hell bent to answer that question
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The first half of the novel contains a lot of sex as Fargo has encounters with no less than
four sassy women. It never ceases to amaze me how he can find so many hot young babes
running free out there in the badlands but hey, that's why he's the Trailsman and I ain't!
Anyhow, he eventually finds himself riding trail with three of these lusty ladies as he tracks
that lowdown and dirty killer who has been using Fargo's name. There is a lot more going
on here than meets the eye as the bad guy is very nearly a match for Fargo and somehow
always seems to stay one step ahead of our hero. Things are further complicated by
no less than two different bands of hostile injuns who would like nothing better than to
scalp Fargo and take possession of his smokin' hot female companions. And then there
is the big storm that comes dang near to drowning everyone in a canyon. The author
truly builds some suspense when Fargo is forced to claw his way up a sheer cliff in order
to escape raging floodwaters...with a woman clinging to his back no less! There are lots
of fun events is this little novel to keep you interested. You will lose count of the times
our guy barely escapes death via hanging, bullets, arrows, flood waters, an ingenious
booby trap, and of course, the mysterious women who create the most trouble.
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Now there are a few plot holes and inconsistencies that pop up here and there but I doubt
that you will suffer from any serious slowdown in turning them pages brother. This is a
very fast paced, pulp style adventure that is cleverly plotted and definitely action packed.
There is a lot of sex in this one, especially early on as Fargo gets to know all the ladies in
ways that only he can. The story settles down a bit later on and as things cool off you
will really get pulled into the narrative. Like most Trailsman editions there isn't a ton of
character development or situations requiring deep thinking but that is just fine with me.
I am already well acquainted with Skye Fargo and he usually delivers just what I'm looking
for; macho western adventure with plenty of no holds barred violence and close calls.
Being one of the older novels, Red River Revenge might be a little hard to find (my copy
is getting a bit dog eared to say the least) but, if you ever do run across it and you like
The Trailsman or adult westerns in general...I strongly advise you to grab it and get
ready to clear leather on some shootin', womanizing, and injun fightin'. It's a good one
that I'm sure most western fans will enjoy...especially if you like em fast and pulp-like
with very little time to catch your breath. Grab them reins and hold on tight pardners,
Red River Revenge delivers with guns a'blazin'.