REVIEW of DANGEROUS by LORRIE FARRELLY

 

Lorrie Farrelly is the award-winning author of not only westerns but romance, time travel, suspense and paranormal books.

Lorrie is a finalist for the Orange Rose Award in romantic fiction. Her novels have been awarded Readers' Favorite 5-Stars. TERMS OF SURRENDER is a MEDALIST in the 2014 READERS' FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS and a FIRST PLACE WINNER in the 2014 LARAMIE AWARDS for Western and Civil War fiction. TIMELAPSE is also a 2014 READERS' FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS honoree, as well as a GOLD MEDALIST in the 2014 AUTHOR'S CAVE BOOK AWARDS. It is the TIME-TRAVEL NOVEL WINNER in the 2014 CYGNUS AWARDS for Sci Fi and Speculative Fiction. Her short story THE LONGEST WAY HOME from A COWBOY CELEBRATION is a Western Fictioneers 2015 PEACEMAKER AWARD winner.

Here is the blurb of Lorrie’s novel DANGEROUS:

‘Dangerously burned-out, ex-LA cop Cam Starrett imagines his new job in a small, central California town will be a haven from the tragedy, grief, and anger that have shattered his heart. His battered soul cries out for peace and quiet and merciful boredom. Instead – during his very first day in the new town – he fires a gun, delivers an unusual baby, and hauls a passionate young woman into his embrace for a kiss of pure, scorching hunger. Shaken, he’s left stunned, perplexed, extremely hot and bothered – but not one bit bored. Despite her training as a school guidance counselor, Meredith Hayden secretly admits that people – especially men – baffle her. Confused and embarrassed by her reckless abandon in the arms of dangerous-looking Cam Starrett, she resolves to keep him at a distance, tempting and torturing them both all the more. But when they uncover an escalating pattern of bigotry and violence that threatens the lives of everyone in the community, Cam and Merry face an ordeal that will test not only the limits of their courage and trust, but also the true depth of their passion.’

And here’s my 4 star review of the novel. You can find the review on the usual sites.

‘Gritty, fast-paced thriller with aspects of romance

Cam Starrett is an L.A. policeman who has left the big city after one bad experience too many. He’s also nursing a broken heart after the ugly break up of his marriage. He’s given what appears to be the more peaceful job of policing the rural community of Chima Valley, California. But a group of local teenage tearaways led by Denny Johnson turn out to be more than run-of-the-mill juvenile delinquents. They’re young disciples of a white supremacist organisation with a penchant for violent racist attacks. To counter them, Cam finds an unlikely and at first unwanted ally – high school counsellor Merry Hayden. Merry is a young woman also bruised by romantic failure and, like Cam, reluctant to commit to any new relationships. But these two damaged people are forced to work together when the Johnson Gang turn to arson in terrorising Chima Valley; gradually Cam and Merry start committing again. Romantic fiction is not my thing so I was pleased that DANGEROUS is also a punchy, fast-paced thriller. Farrelly shows the grittiness that made previous novels of hers that I’ve read – her western TERMS OF SURRENDER and the excellent dystopian sci-fi/ time-travel novel TIMELAPSE - so enjoyable. And with DANGEROUS she does it again! Highly recommended.’

I thought I’d take a (very) brief look at the history of juvenile delinquency, which I suspect has always been with us. Back in the 6^th Century A.D, there were disapproving comments made about the youthful antics of the British bard Taliesin before he matured into one of the great poets of the Dark Ages. The term ‘juvenile delinquent’ was in use in Britain by 1851. J. S. MORE, a professor of civil law said it was ‘next to slavery… perhaps the greatest stain on our country.’ CHARLES DICKENS went further, picturing it as a ‘bog’ and prophesying its ‘seed of evil’ would yield 'a field of ruin… that shall be gathered in, and garnered up, and sown again… until regions are overspread with wickedness enough to raise the waters of another deluge.’ Remarkably, 19^th Century Britain managed to survive!

From the beginning of the talkies (and probably before) movies have depicted young tearaways terrorising their elders and betters. In the classic 1931 crime thriller ‘Public Enemy’ we see a young JAMES CAGNEY indulging in juvenile crime before graduating into adult gangsterdom.

In the 1930s HUMPHREY BOGART and others had to deal with wild youngsters like the ‘Dead End Kids.’

Perhaps a key movie in this genre is ‘The Wild One’ (1953) – considered to be the original outlaw biker film. MARLON BRANDO leads a gang of motor-cycle-riding young men and women nicknamed ‘The Beetles.’ The film is based on a 1947 incident when drunken youth on motorbikes ran riot in Hollister, California. The film includes the infamous quote where Brando is asked, “What are you rebelling against?” and he replies, “What have you got?”

(Incidentally it’s sometimes thought the world’s most successful pop/rock band took their name from Brando’s gang. That’s unlikely, as, due to censorship, ‘The Wild One’ was only first shown in Britain in 1974, many years after The Beatles appeared!)

In the mid and late 1950s society was particularly troubled by the perceived threats posed by ‘juvenile delinquents’ – especially in the early days of rock and roll - and this was reflected in popular culture.

ELVIS PRESLEY admitted he copied some of his look from Brando in ‘The Wild One.’

Another iconic film is ‘Rebel without a Cause’ where JAMES DEAN represented the disenchanted and rebellious younger generation.

‘The Blackboard Jungle’ (1955) showed youthful rebellion in the classroom.

‘West Side Story’ (1961) depicted it in a musical.

It even made its way into the western: in ‘The Plunderers’ (1960) four gun-toting youths take over a small community.

In 1958 MICHAEL LANDON committed perhaps the ultimate act of youthful rebellion. He was so unhappy with the adult world he escaped it by turning into a werewolf!

MICHAEL LANDON in ‘I was a Teenage Werewolf.’

Residents in small towns in California seem to have to deal with particularly challenging issues according to film and TV-show makers. In ‘The Wild One.’ they’re beset by biker gangs,

in the classic sci-fi movie ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ (1956) it’s an attack by malevolent aliens who ensure no one is quite who they seem,

in ‘The Outer Limits’ episode ‘The Zanti Misfits’ (1963) the town is over-run by homicidal spiders

and the high school kids of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (which ran from 1997 to 2003) have to contend with not only vampires but any number of demonic forces.

Referring back to Lorrie Farrelly’s fine novels mentioned in my DANGEROUS review, here’s my blog about TERMS OF SURRENDER:

https://andrewmcbrideauthor.blogspot.com/2020/03/review-of-terms-of-surrender-by-lorrie.html

A snippet of my review:

‘A lot grittier than the description ‘romantic fiction’ would indicate… Perhaps the best aspect of this excellent novel is how the trio of brother, sister and damaged stranger bond against their enemies, while Farrelly’s writing skills provide the necessary edge. Recommended.'

Other reviews:

‘Descriptions are evocative and compelling... Readers can expect to find humor, violence, gritty action, and exquisitely-wrought tension throughout… (This) is for readers who seek more depth and layers in their stories.’

‘Another beautifully crafted tale by Lorrie Farrelly… a mixture of passion and nail-biting suspense.’

 ‘I remained captivated by superb characterization and narrative.’

 And my blog about TIMELAPSE:

https://andrewmcbrideauthor.blogspot.com/2017/09/author-favourites-timelapse-by-lorrie.html

A snippet of my review:

‘An ingenious plot fuels a gripping, fast-paced tale, dystopian sci-fi that also manages to reflect our own troubled times.'

Other reviewers:
‘Lorrie Farrelly is an incredible writer. This is such a remarkable novel… This novel greatly moved me.’
‘Lorrie Farrelly… has done a marvellous job of describing a world gone crazy.’

Find DANGEROUS here:

https://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Lorrie-Farrelly-ebook/dp/B004QWZ8I2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Y5L2TUY49O67&keywords=dangerous+lorrie+farrelly&qid=1699794563&s=digital-text&sprefix=dangerous+lorrie+farrelly%2Cdigital-text%2C134&sr=1-1

and here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dangerous-Lorrie-Farrelly-ebook/dp/B004QWZ8I2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NIYWUNLJAVVX&keywords=dangerous+lorrie+farrelly&qid=1699794640&s=digital-text&sprefix=dangerous+lorrie+%2Cdigital-text%2C64&sr=1-1

Review of STAND AND DELIVER by PHILIP CAVENEY

 In a departure from what I normally blog about, this is a review of a novel for Young Adults, STAND AND DELIVER, written by PHILIP CAVENEY.

Phil is a friend of mine but he’s more than that. He was a mentor to me and helped me get started as a writer. I go into further detail about this on THE SIX GUN JUSTICE podcast where I’m interviewed by acclaimed author and podcaster PAUL BISHOP. Here’s a link to the podcast: https://sixgunjustice.buzzsprout.com/795466/10984559-six-gun-justice-podcast-episode-210-the-worldwide-west-tour-england-part-2?t=0

Here’s some of what I say on the podcast: ‘I have to credit a friend of mine called Phil Caveney… I went to a writing group he was running and he took me aside. He said ‘I think… you should become a writer. I think you’ve got talent’ … This was the first published author I’d ever met… he was successful. I gave him a lot of respect because he’d actually done it. He was a professional writer… what he was doing worked.’

Phil’s first novel, ‘THE SINS OF RACHEL ELLIS’ was published in 1977 and he produced a series of adult thrillers over the following decades. His first novel for younger readers, ‘SEBASTIAN DARKE: PRINCE OF FOOLS’ was released in 2007. Since then, he has concentrated on writing exclusively for younger readers. He also writes under the pseudonym DANNY WESTON. Danny's debut novel ‘THE PIPER’ won the Scottish Children's Book Award in 2016 and in 2018, ‘THE HAUNTING OF JESSOP RISE’ was shortlisted for the Scottish Teenage Book prize and nominated for a Carnegie Medal. 

STAND AND DELIVER is specifically pitched at Young Adult readers.

Here’s the blurb for STAND AND DELIVER:

‘THE ADVENTURES OF NED WATLING, AN ORPHAN AND HIGHWAYMAN’S ASSISTANT
Ned is like any other teenage boy: awkward, a little shy, and just trying to find his place in the world. The only difference? Ned also happens to be the assistant to the nation’s most feared highwayman, The Shadow . . .
Travel back to a time when highwaymen ruled the roads and follow Ned as he is reluctantly swept up into a whirlwind of adventure. Whilst escaping the grasps of the thief-takers, Ned soon finds himself stepping into his master’s shoes and an unwanted life of crime.
The pressure is building with new friends and enemies galore when Ned stumbles upon a long-infamous gem, The Bloodstone, which forces him to make an important choice. Can he ultimately escape this new threat and finally free himself from the grips of The Shadow?
A brand-new middle grade adventure from the author of Sebastian Darke, Philip Caveney.’

And here’s my four star review:

‘An exciting ride through the 18^th Century underworld.

Essex, England c. 1735. 15-year-old Ned Watling only wants to make an honest living as a carpenter. But fate intrudes and Ned ends up as the assistant to Tom Gregory, aka ‘The Shadow,’ a notorious highwayman from whom no traveller in Epping Forest is safe. Ned wants to escape his life of crime but events keep forcing him deeper into the murky 18^th Century underworld. He soon has a renowned ‘thief-taker’ and his wilful daughter on his trail. But when Ned inadvertently becomes the owner of ‘The Bloodstone,’ a fabulous jewel reputed to bring death and disaster to those who possess it, things take an even worse turn. Now he also has the sinister Lem Turner after him, a fearsome villain who will stoop to any means to recover this gem. An exciting, enjoyable romp with some nice touches of humour, counterbalanced by plenty of gritty action.’

I did some browsing on related matters, getting most of my information from Wikipedia.

The most famous historical highwayman was DICK TURPIN.

Briefly, Richard (Dick) Turpin was born at the Blue Bell Inn in Hempstead, Essex, in the east of England.  We don’t know his actual birthdate but he was baptised on 21 September 1705.

An artist’s depiction of the legendary Turpin (and the mythical Black Bess.)

Testimony from his trial in 1739 suggests that he had a rudimentary education and that in about 1725, he married ELIZABETH MILLINGTON. He worked as a butcher and innkeeper. Turpin may have started his life of crime in the early 1730s as a receiver of deer poached by a gang of thieves operating in the Royal Forest of Waltham.

By October 1734 this gang moved away from poaching, instead breaking into peoples’ houses in Essex and London. Turpin was now an actual participant in these raids. Some of them turned violent; in one a victim was cut around the face ‘in a barbarous manner’. A contemporary report said: ‘Five rogues entered the house of the Widow Shelley at Loughton in Essex, having pistols &c. and threatened to murder the old lady, if she would not tell them where her money lay… they threatened to lay her across the fire, if she did not instantly tell them.’ In another incident, the gang brutally beat a 70-year-old farmer and raped one of his maidservants.

In 1735 ‘The London Gazette’ described Turpin as a ‘fresh coloured man, very much marked with the small pox (in other words pock-marked,) about 26 years of age, about five feet nine inches high… wears a blue grey coat and a natural wig.’

This gang was eventually broken up by the authorities and Turpin turned to the crime he became most noted for – highway robbery. In 1735 and 1737 (he seems to have dropped out of sight in 1736) he robbed travellers and coaches in Essex (including in Epping Forest) and London. Mostly he worked with two other highwayman, including MATTHEW KING (then, and since, incorrectly identified as Tom King.) In April 1737 the authorities cornered this trio in Whitechapel, London. During the resulting mêlée, King was fatally wounded by gunfire; inconclusive reports suggest Turpin shot him by accident.

Epping Forest

After this, Turpin hid out in Epping Forest, where he was seen by THOMAS MORRIS, a servant of one of the Forest's Keepers. Turpin shot and killed Morris when, armed with pistols, Morris attempted to capture him. A reward of £200 (about £34,000 as of 2021) was offered for his capture and Turpin fled to Yorkshire, in the north of England. Calling himself John Palmer, he posed as a horse trader, and often hunted alongside local gentlemen.

Turpin stole several horses while operating under the pseudonym of Palmer. In September 1738 he was arrested for horse theft. By the wildest coincidence, a letter he wrote from his gaol in the city of York to his brother-in-law fell into the hands of an old school mate, who recognised the handwriting. This person travelled to York and identified Palmer as Turpin, receiving the £200 reward.  

On 7 April 1739, followed by his mourners, Turpin was taken through York by open cart to the gallows and hung. Reports say Turpin ‘behav'd himself with amazing assurance’, and ‘bow'd to the spectators as he passed.’

So why did this seemingly unsavoury character involved in the squalid underworld of the 18^th Century – who was only briefly involved in highway robbery – become a legend? The main impetus behind the legend seems to be the story of a fabled ride from London to York that author WILLIAM HARRISON AINSWORTH included in his 1834 novel ‘Rookwood.’

In the novel Turpin completes a 200 mile overnight ride from London to York on his mare Black Bess, at the end of which the noble steed expires. The only problem with this story is - it never happened! Ainsworth may have been inspired by an episode recorded by DANIEL DEFOE in 1727. Defoe reports how, after committing a robbery in south-east England in 1676, WILLIAM NEVISON rode to York to establish an alibi. However, nobody claimed Nevison rode about 200 miles in less than a day, which is impossible. Nevertheless, Ainsworth's legend of the epic ride was repeated in later works transforming Turpin into ‘a gentleman of the road [and] a protector of the weak’, (for which there is no evidence.)

I also think Turpin may have become a legend by dint of having such a memorable name!

Phil Caveney also tells me one of his characters was inspired by JACK SHEPPARD (1702 – 1724.)  No time to look at Sheppard in detail. Very briefly, he wasn’t a highwayman, but a thief and burglar operating in 1720s London. He became a notorious public figure, wildly popular with the poorer classes, after escaping no less than four times from prison. (His short stature and slight build helped him escape.) STAND AND DELIVER also features a daring attempt at an escape from custody.

JACK SHEPPARD sketched in 1723

Arrested a fifth time, Sheppard, like Turpin, ended his short life on the gallows.

Turpin (usually in romanticised form) has continued to be featured in novels, plays and film. Although there were silent films about him, I’m not aware of any Turpin biopic in the sound era, which is surprising; I would have thought Disney, who, in the 50s, were plundering British legend for biopics of Robin Hood and Rob Roy, would have found Turpin (the legendary figure not the real one) a good subject to tackle. (I’m not counting SID JAMES performance as Turpin in one of the ‘Carry On’ films!)

I vaguely remember a British TV series ‘Dick Turpin’ which ran from 1979 – 1982, with RICHARD O’SULLIVAN.

Jack Sheppard went on to inspire the character of MaCHEATH, in JOHN GAY’s ‘The Beggar’s Opera’ (1728.) FRANK and JESSE JAMES must have been admirers as they wrote letters to the Kansas City Star signed ‘Jack Sheppard.’

TOMMY STEELE played him in the 1969 film ‘Where’s Jack?’

BTW, there are recorded instances of 18^th Century highwaymen actually calling ‘Stand and Deliver’!

Find STAND AND DELIVER here: https://www.amazon.com/Stand-Deliver-Philip-Cavaney-ebook/dp/B0BJQ4DPZC/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?crid=34E8SP60W75K1&keywords=stand+and+deliver+philip+caveney&qid=1683688883&s=books&sprefix=stand+and+deliver+philip+caveney%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C221&sr=1-1-fkmr0

and here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stand-Deliver-Philip-Cavaney-ebook/dp/B0BJQ4DPZC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2CCGA80H2IWYE&keywords=stand+and+deliver+philip+caveney&qid=1683688789&s=books&sprefix=stad+and+deliver+philip+caveney%2Cstripbooks%2C139&sr=1-1

REVIEW of BY STRANGERS MOURNED by J.R. LINDERMUTH

 

I recently read BY STRANGERS MOURNED by JOHN LINDERMUTH (writing as J.R. LINDERMUTH.) I liked it very much and my four star review, on Amazon.co.uk and Goodreads, is below.

I’d forgotten how many other blogs I’ve done about John’s other fine novels. He has written across genres, from thrillers to period mysteries to westerns. So after my BY STRANGERS MOURNED review, I include links to those other blogs, and some reviews of the novels featured.

Here’s the blurb for BY STRANGERS MOURNED:

'Spring is usually heralded as a time of renewal, not murder.

Preparations are underway in the spring of 1899 for the wedding of Deputy Cyrus Gutshall. Sheriff Tilghman is hopeful this will put his sweetheart Lydia Longlow in the marital mood.

But then a woman is found drowned in a local creek.

Doc Mariner's autopsy reveals the woman is a victim of foul play. The sheriff’s investigation soon puts him on the trail of a mysterious man named Bauer and a gang preying on young immigrant women.

One of the women escapes her captors and comes to their small town in search of help. A coal miner she encounters, a fellow Pole, brings her to Tilghman and helps translate the story of her ordeal. The girl is befriended and sheltered by a coworker of Lydia's, an act of kindness that puts both young women in danger.

Sylvester Tilghman will need all his detecting skills and the help of his friends to unravel the many skeins of the case before he can dream again of marriage.'

Here’s some Pennsylvania policemen c. late 1890s:

And here’s my review:

‘Warm, engaging and convincing period crime novel.

I’ve read some of J. R. Lindermuth’s fine westerns but this is the first time I’ve read one of his police/crime novels, the third of a series featuring Syl (short for Sylvester) Tilghman. It’s 1899. Syl is sheriff in a Pennsylvania town. A woman is found drowned in a nearby creek, and foul play is suspected (even the possibility of witchcraft.) Syl’s investigations put him on the trail of a ruthless gang of human traffickers who are bringing in women from Eastern Europe and selling them into prostitution. This isn’t an action-centric novel; instead Lindermuth focuses on character and atmosphere, painting a believable picture of police work in that time and place, replete with red herrings and false trails etc. His writing is conversational and very readable. It’s a book full of gentle humanity, of people who aren’t overtly heroic but still strive quietly to do the right thing, told with warmth and humour (Syl is particularly irked by the new-fangled telephone.) To paraphrase one of the characters: ‘Sometimes a little compassion goes a long way.’ Highly recommended.’

A Pennsylvania police badge from 1900

OTHER J.R. LINDERMUTH NOVELS:

As mentioned, BY STRANGERS MOURNED is third in a series featuring Syl Tilghman, sheriff of a Pennsylvania town in the late 1890s.

First in the series was FALLEN FROM GRACE.

Here’s some reviews of it:

‘Intriguing.’

‘The novel achieves a texture and richness that sets it apart.… Lindermuth's writing style is practiced and assured and always a pleasure to read.’

‘I enjoyed this entertaining historical mystery.’

‘Truly a treasure!’

Find my blog about FALLEN FROM GRACE here: https://andrewmcbrideauthor.blogspot.com/2018/10/author-favourites-fallen-from-grace-by.html 

Second in the series was SOONER THAN GOLD, of which reviewers said:

‘This is a sneaky, twisty, fun ride of a mystery.’

‘Characters are fun. The writing is superb with colorful descriptions and snappy dialogue.’

Find my blog about SOONER THAN GOLD here: https://andrewmcbrideauthor.blogspot.com/2018/10/author-favourites-sooner-than-gold-by-j.html 

WATCH THE HOUR is a stand-alone novel set in Pennsylvania in the 1870s. 

Snippets of some 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.’

 

Here’s my blog about WATCH THE HOUR:  https://andrewmcbrideauthor.blogspot.com/2018/08/author-favourites-watch-hour-by-jr.html

SHARES THE DARKNESS is part of the ‘STICKS’ HETRICK series, a thriller set in a small town in modern-day Pennsylvania.

 

From 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.’ 

Find my blog about SHARES THE DARKNESS here: https://andrewmcbrideauthor.blogspot.com/2018/08/author-favourites-shares-darkness-by-j.html

And John has also written some excellent stand-alone westerns, such as BLAKE’S RULE, THE TITHING HERD and GERONIMO MUST DIE.

Here’s a bit of my review of BLAKE’S RULE: ‘One reason J. R. Lindermuth’s westerns are worth reading is that he always provides unusual twists to what is a very familiar form. … Out-of-the-blue twists – the intervention of a swarm of bees, a train wreck – keep things surprising in a brisk, entertaining novel.’

OTHER REVIEWERS of BLAKE’S RULE:

‘A good western, a romance, and a mystery.’

‘This latest work from John Lindermuth is a fine Western in the traditional mold, but with some intriguing twists and distinctions that make it a high cut above average… Lindermuth's effortlessly smooth prose moves along at a perfect pace, rich with historically accurate details yet never at the cost of interfering with a riveting tale.’

 Find my blog about BLAKE’S RULE here:  https://andrewmcbrideauthor.blogspot.com/2020/04/review-blakes-rule-by-j-r-lindermuth.html

A snippet of my review of THE TITHING HERD: ‘Unusual, satisfying western… Lindermuth handles the action expertly, but he’s just as good at creating tension, mood and atmosphere. A satisfying, enjoyable read.’

And of GERONIMO MUST DIE: ‘Thoughtful, intelligent, a western that’s also a mystery and a mood piece. An enjoyable, intriguing ride.’

Find BY STRANGERS MOURNED here: https://www.amazon.com/Strangers-Mourned-Sheriff-Tilghman-Book-ebook/dp/B09Z7GCX49?ref_=ast_author_dp 

and here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strangers-Mourned-Sheriff-Tilghman-Book-ebook/dp/B09Z7GCX49/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8