Stephen Mertz writes thrillers (sometimes
with a political tinge) as well as westerns.
He tells me BLAZE! A SON OF A GUN is a favourite of
his own works. It’s ninth in a series of westerns with the same leading
characters – J.D. and Kate Blaze – written by a variety of different authors. J.D.
and Kate are two of the deadliest gunfighters in the Old West. They also happen
to be husband and wife.
They
set off in pursuit of the Ludlow brothers, a trio of crazed and vicious outlaws
wanted by the Pinkertons, and trail them to a deserted Arizona ranch. They’re
ready for the unexpected – but not running into a young gunfighter who claims
to be J.D.’s son! This same young man has troubles of his own: a ruthless
cattle baron and a gang of bloodthirsty nightriders on his trail.
Here’s
ALAN PINKERTON, head of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, with President ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Real
outlaw hide-outs included the ranch run by the BASSETT sisters – ANN and JOSIE – at Brown’s Hole (now Brown’s Park) on the Utah/ Colorado border.
Ann
Bassett
Others
were Robbers Roost in Utah
and
Hole-in-the-Wall in Wyoming.
All
were frequently used as hide-outs by BUTCH CASSIDY and his Wild Bunch in the
1890s.
Before
then, Brown’s Hole was frequented by less well known outlaw bands such as the TIP GAULT Gang, the TOM CROWLEY Gang, the ‘MEXICAN JOE’ HERRERA Gang,
the ‘DOC’ BENDER Gang, the MCCARTY Gang and others.
‘Rancho Notorious’ was a 1952 movie
featuring a ranch used as a headquarters by outlaws.
Arthur
Kennedy, Marlene Dietrich and Mel Ferrer in ‘Rancho Notorious.’
REVIEWS
of ‘BLAZE’ A SON OF A GUN:
‘Pure
pulp joy. Its plot is simple, linear and well executed.’
‘Blaze at
its best.'
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