AUTHOR FAVOURITES: SHARES THE DARKNESS by J. R. LINDERMUTH

John Lindermuth (writing as J. R.) writes across genres, from thrillers to westerns. SHARES THE DARKNESS, part of the ‘Sticks’ Hetrick series, is a thriller set in small town modern-day Pennsylvania.

Police Office Flora Vastine is investigating the murder of a school teacher, but her probing opens personal wounds, as she observes the cost of obsessive love.

Wikipedia mentions various possibilities for first the world’s female police officer, including ALICE STEBBINS WELLS, hired in 1910 in Los Angeles.

But her claim seems highly dubious to me, given that PHOEBE COUZINS was appointed to the position of deputy U.S. Marshal in eastern Missouri when her father was named the U.S. Marshal there in 1884. Upon her father's death in 1887, President GROVER CLEVELAND appointed Phoebe interim marshal. However, two months later, Phoebe was replaced by a man.

Women law officers in the Old West deserve a separate blog, but they also include F.M. MILLER in Paris, Texas, appointed in 1891, who served in perilous Indian Territory (now Oklahoma); ADA CARNUTT, SADIE BURCHE and MAMIE FOSSETT, also in Oklahoma; Mrs. JACK STRINGER of Seattle, Washington; and NELLIE BURCH of Kansas.

A contender for first female deputy in the United States is CLAIRE HELENA FERGUSON just 21 years old when she received her commission in Salt Lake County, Utah. She was reportedly the only woman to ever visit the Robber’s Roost, a Utah cattle thieves’ den — at least, as of 1899. She was also trained to use a gun like any other deputy.

EDITH SMITH was the first female police officer in the United Kingdom with full power of arrest, appointed In August 1915. Her duties were to deal with cases where women were involved. She was concerned with trying to reduce the number of prostitutes in Grantham in eastern England.

The woman police investigator in small town America aspect of SHARES THE DARKNESS reminded me of ‘The Calling’ with SUSAN SARANDON.

But there have, of course, been many other female cops in film and TV including:

FRANCES McDORMAND in ‘Fargo’

HELEN MIRREN in UK TV series ‘Prime Suspect’

And SOFIA HELIN in Scandi-Noir TV series ‘The Bridge.’

ANGIE DICKINSON played the lead in the U. S. TV series ‘Police Woman’ (1974-1978.)

Special mention should be made of ‘Decoy’ (1957-1958) the first American police TV series with a female protagonist - a typically feisty performance as an undercover cop by BEVERLY GARLAND.

Reviews of SHARES THE DARKNESS:

‘Colorful characters, some surprises and twists, nice touches of wry humor, all served up with crisp dialogue and the clear, straightforward narrative of a talented writer.’

‘J.R. Lindermuth uses great foreshadowing and strong dialogue to promote a strong story line.…’

‘The excitement of the hunt has a kind of hushed tension.’ 

https://www.amazon.com/Shares-Darkness-J-R-Lindermuth-ebook/dp/B01KU08URE/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

and https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shares-Darkness-J-R-Lindermuth-ebook/dp/B01KU08URE

AUTHOR FAVOURITES: WATCH THE HOUR by J.R. LINDERMUTH

John Lindermuth (writing as J. R.) tells me a favourite of his novels is WATCH THE HOUR because ‘it deals with the hard times of the miners in my home area and the strength they needed to survive.’

In the 1870s in Pennsylvania's anthracite coal region, mine owners and their employees, particularly the Irish immigrants, are in conflict over working conditions. Private police forces commissioned by the state but paid by the coal companies are sworn to protect mine owners property. The miners know their real purpose is to spy upon targeted agitators and intimidate and break up strikers.

The MOLLY MAGUIRES, a secret society some see as working to improve the lot of the Irish and which others damn as a terrorist organization, are viewed as an increasing threat.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN YEAGER is a coal company police officer. Despite his efforts at fairness, Yeager's job makes him the enemy of the Irish. And that's the crux of his troubles. For Ben is in love with an Irish girl.

Some Pennsylvania miners

The Molly Maguires was 19th-century secret society originating in Ireland. To distinguish themselves from other such organisations the Mollies blackened their faces with burnt cork.

They spread to where Irish immigrants spread, in the waves of migration following the Irish Potato Famine.

The Mollies are first mentioned in Liverpool, England in 1853.

They were active in the ‘hard coal’ mining areas of north-eastern Pennsylvania from at least 1863. Members of the Mollies were accused of arson, kidnapping and other crimes, plus fifty 'inexplicable murders' between 1863 and 1877 in Schuylkill County, in part based on allegations by FRANKLIN B. GOWEN.

Gowen, the president of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company and 'the wealthiest anthracite coal mine owner in the world', hired Pinkerton Detectives to deal with the Mollies. Pinkerton Detective JAMES McPARLAND went undercover against the Mollies.

Using the alias ‘James McKenna’, he claimed to have become a trusted member of the organization. He was also working secretly with a Pinkerton agent assigned to the Coal and Iron Police (a private police force basically entrusted with strike breaking.) Partly as a result of his investigations, twenty suspected members of the Molly Maguires were convicted of murder and other crimes and were hung in 1877 and 1878.

Most notable of those executed was perhaps JOHN KEHOE, known best by his nickname ‘Black Jack.’ Kehoe was a miner who became a tavern-keeper and businessman. Kehoe's rallied miners toward unionization and was an eloquent spokesman for the rights of coal miners, who, according to one historian, lived lives of ‘bitter, terrible struggle.’  

Black Jack was hung following a conviction for his alleged involvement as a Molly Maguire in an 1863 murder.

In 1979, Pennsylvania Governor MILTON SHAPP granted a posthumous pardon to Kehoe after an investigation by the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons. Shapp praised Kehoe, saying ‘the men called "Molly Maguires" were "martyrs to labour" and heroes in the struggle to establish a union and fair treatment for workers.’

Before John Lindermuth SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE based his SHERLOCK HOLMES novel ‘The Valley of Fear’ partly on James McParland's infiltration of the Mollies.

John’s story naturally brought to mind the 1970 movie THE MOLLY MAGUIRES, starring RICHARD HARRIS as McParland and SEAN CONNERY as Kehoe.

RICHARD HARRIS and SEAN CONNERY in ‘THE MOLLY MAGUIRES’

Irish miners out west featured in The High Chaparral episode ‘No Irish Need Apply.’

HENRY DARROW and JOHN VERNON in ‘No Irish Need Apply’

And ‘The Big Valley’ episode ‘Heritage’ showed the Mollies active in the California mines. It would be interesting to know if that has any historical basis.

LEE MAJORS, FORD RAINEY and PETER BRECK in ‘Heritage’

WATCH THE HOUR reviews:

‘All the earmarks of the epic… Wonderfully tactile descriptions.’

‘With Lindermuth's usual depth of characters and story… an exciting, well-wrought read.’

‘An intriguing cast of characters and richly detailed settings bring this work of historical fiction to life.’

https://www.amazon.com/Watch-Hour-J-R-Lindermuth/dp/160313476X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

and https://www.amazon.co.uk/Watch-Hour-J-R-Lindermuth-ebook/dp/B01E9D5648

AUTHOR FAVOURITES: THE TAINTED DOLLAR by CHRIS DERRICK

Chris Derrick  (like me, a Brit who writes westerns) is one of many authors to tell me he likes his first novel best.

THE TAINTED DOLLAR introduces U.S. Marshall Jake Base, raised by the Cheyenne, who comes to Laredo, Texas in the 1850s in pursuit of two killers. In the course of his manhunt Jake encounters bar room brawls, brutal murder, cattle rustling and the lovely Maria Sanchez. Throughout everything one thing remains constant, the one silver coin: The Tainted Dollar.

Laredo features in 'The Streets of Laredo,’ the TV miniseries from Larry McMurtry’s novel, with JAMES GARNER.

It was also the central location for the tongue in cheek TV western series ‘Laredo’ (1965-67.)

NEVILLE BRAND in action in ‘Laredo’

DUSTIN HOFFMAN played a white man raised by the Cheyenne in ‘Little Big Man.’

On TV we’ve also had western heroes raised by the Cheyenne:

CLINT WALKER starred in the long running (1955-1963) series ‘Cheyenne.’ This show was the first hour-long Western, and was the first hour-long dramatic series of any kind, with continuing characters, to last more than one season.

The character portrayed by KURT RUSSELL in ‘The Quest’ had also been raised by the Cheyenne.

I couldn’t resist having a sidelong glance at the song, ‘Streets of Laredo,’ also known as the ‘Cowboy's Lament’, in which a cowboy tells his story as he lays dying.

The lyrics appear to be primarily descended from an Irish or English folk song of the late 18th century called ‘The Unfortunate Rake.’  The same tune is more or less used in the Irish lament ‘Bold Robert Emmet’ the blues tune ‘St. James Infirmary’ and the sea shanty ‘Spanish Ladies.’

FRANK H. MAYNARD, who worked as a cowboy on the Southern Plains between 1872 and 1881, claimed he put new words to what became ‘Cowboy's Lament’ as early as 1876. The song was first published in 1910 in JOHN LOMAX’s Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads.

Recordings of the song have been made by scores of artists including JOHNNY CASH, ROY ROGERS, MARTIN ROBBINS through to MERCURY REV and SUZANNE VEGA. I would have liked more of HARRY CAREY JR.’s haunting rendition in JOHN FORD’S 1948 movie ‘Three Godfathers.’

Here’s BURL IVES’s version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs-1npQ0jM8

TAINTED DOLLAR reviews:

‘Hard-hitting Old School Style Western.’

‘If you enjoy… Louis L'Amour or Zane Grey... give The Tainted Dollar a read.’

‘The character development, scene setting and colourful descriptions make for compelling reading.’

‘Wonderful… This was a great fun read with a very likeable and tough hero.’

https://www.amazon.com/Tainted-Dollar-Chris-G-Derrick-ebook/dp/B00Q1I1QGC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489503534&sr=8-1&keywords=the+tainted+dollar+chris+derrick  and https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tainted-Dollar-Chris-G-Derrick-ebook/dp/B00Q1I1QGC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1533366352&sr=1-1&keywords=the+tainted+dollar+chris+derrick

AUTHOR FAVOURITES: WAGON MOUND TO SANTA FE - THE SEARCH FOR SARAH by CHRIS DERRICK

Chris Derrick is like me a Brit who writes westerns. He tells me a favourite of his own works is WAGON MOUND TO SANTA FE - THE SEARCH FOR SARAH (The Wagon Mound Series Book 1.)

Although this novel features Jake Base, prominent in Chris’s two previous novels, the main character here is Alex Sawicki. After Alex’s parents are killed by Apaches and his sister, Sarah, is taken captive, he goes in pursuit, aided by an old Comanche nicknamed Fingers.

Many Native American tribes had a tradition of carrying off white children as captives and raising them as their own. Initial treatment of captives was often brutal. They might suffer physical abuse and they were frequently used as slaves or beasts of burden. After a time, though, a captive might earn the respect of their captors and be adopted into a family. As such they were accepted as just another member of the band. They were then free to leave if they wished, but many chose to stay. In ‘Comanches’ T.R. Fehrenbach writes: ‘There is no question that many captives… came to have affection for their captors. The feeling was mutual.’

Noted white captives of Indians included CYNTHIA ANN PARKER. She was captured in 1836, during one of the earliest clashes between Comanches and American settlers in Texas. After 24 years with the Indians, during which time she married a war chief, she was rescued when Texas Rangers (including future ranching legend CHARLES GOODNIGHT) attacked a Comanche camp.

Cynthia Ann and her baby daughter were returned to her white family, but attempts to assimilate her into white society failed. Cynthia had ‘turned Indian.’ She begged to be returned to her Comanche family on the High Plains. When her baby daughter died, she mourned the loss like a Comanche woman, cutting her hair and her arms. She then ‘sank into deep apathy and starved herself to death.’

CYNTHIA ANN PARKER and baby daughter

As for her Comanche family, they mourned her loss and her husband never took another wife. Her eldest son, QUANAH went on to be arguably the greatest Comanche chief, holding out until 1875 when he finally surrendered. After which he was as resolute in defending his people in times of peace as he had been in war, and became known as QUANAH PARKER.

Other captives of Native Americans include SANTIAGO (or JIMMY) McKINN, a Mexican-Irish boy held by Geronimo’s band of Apaches until 1886.

OLIVE OATMAN was travelling with her family across Arizona in 1851 when she was captured by Yavapais. She was later traded to the Mohaves who gave her their distinctive tribal tattoos, and brought back into white society after 5 years.

HERMAN LEHMANN was almost 11 when he was captured by Lipan Apaches in Texas in 1870. After 5 years with the Lipans, during which time he rose to the rank of minor chief, he joined a band of Comanches who refused to surrender and go on the reservation. After several years with these hold-outs he and they were persuaded to surrender by some reservation Comanches led – ironically – by QUANAH PARKER.

Native American captives have often featured in western movies and TV. The prime example is, of course, ‘The Searchers’

although John Ford also dealt with the subject in ‘Two Rode West.’

Paul Newman in ‘Hombre’

and Charlton Heston in ‘The Savage’ played white men partly raised by Indians.

The short-lived TV series ‘The Quest’ was about the search by two brothers for their sister, held captive by the Cheyenne.

Kurt Russell and Tim Matheson in ‘The Quest’

Also on TV Michael Landon turned up as a white boy raised by Indians in the ‘Cheyenne’ episode ‘White Warrior.’

A white girl held captive by Apaches is also the subject of ‘The High Chaparral’ episode ‘Ride the Savage Land’ – which I would argue is perhaps the greatest TV Western episode ever made.

Claire Wilcox held captive by Apaches in ‘Ride the Savage Land’

Reviews for THE SEARCH FOR SARAH:

‘Having previously read Derrick's other westerns 'The Tainted Dollar' and 'The Sheriff's Sister' I couldn't help but to read his third… Derrick didn't let us down… Can't wait for the next if this author continues along this line.’

‘Awesome.’

‘A gripping story with plenty of intrigue…’

‘An enjoyable book from cover to cover.'

https://www.amazon.com/Wagon-Mound-Santa-Fe-Search-ebook/dp/B01A6YAACW/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1490562326&sr=1-1&keywords=chris+derrick+search+for+sarah

and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagon-Mound-Santa-Fe-Search-ebook/dp/B01A6YAACW/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1532779322&sr=1-7&keywords=chris+derrick