Hard Trail to Follow by Elmer Kelton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Elmer Kelton was recommended to me by Anthony Whitt, who is a western writer. I have to say this book did not disappoint, but the beginning was a little slow. About the 3rd chapter, it started to pick up and I ended up reading it in one sitting, which is amazing considering I have some happy munchkins in need of my attention most days. It was full of gunfire but the story was split between the outlaw being followed and the Ranger after him. The outlaw in his fifties realized he had wasted his life away for none too glorious lifestyle on the wrong side of the law but he hadn’t been able to get out from under the shadow of his old deeds to live a new lawful life with a family. By the end of the book, you don’t want him to get caught even though he should. He did rob a bank after all.
The Ranger after him wants revenge for the death of his former Ranger friend and the towns’ sheriff. He is annoyed and confused by the people along the outlaw’s trail that paint a different picture of his friend’s murderer.
For afternoon read, I would recommend it, especially if you grew up watching John Wayne specials.
Whitney Buckley 