ACROSS THE RED The Nations, Book 4

Listening to coauthor Ken Farmer narrate this novel, set in the 1890s, is akin to sitting in a "movie house" watching a well-made Western with a dollop of romance thrown in. Texas Ranger Bodie Hickman is so desperate to catch the Red River Gang of ruthless cattle rustlers that he enlists the help of Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves, who is black (and who was a real person). Reeves always gets his man. Farmer expertly portrays African-Americans, Indians, Texans, immigrants, and gritty but genteel ladies. He also realistically conveys cowboy wit, wisdom, and emotion, along with the sounds of hard drinking and being treated by a doctor with only a bit of laudanum to lessen the pain. Listeners will enjoy this fast-paced look at Americana, which brims with entertaining and informative situations. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2015]