Synopses & Reviews
The next gritty, gun-slinging entry in the New York Timesbestselling series, featuring itinerant lawmen Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. Territorial Marshals Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch are back in Appaloosa, where their work enforcing the law has been exceptionally quiet. All that is about to change. An ominous storm rolls in, and along with it a band of night riders with a devious scheme, who show up at the Rio Blanco camp, where a three-hundred-foot bridge is under construction.
Appaloosas Sheriff Sledge Driskill and his deputies are the first to respond, but as the storm grows more threatening, news of troubles at the bridge escalate and the Sheriff and his deputies go missing.
Virgil and Everett saddle up to sort things out but before they do the hard drinking, Beauregard Beauchamp arrives in Appaloosa with his Theatrical Extravaganza troupe and the promise of the best in lively entertainment west of the Mississippi. With the troupe comes a lovely and mysterious fortune-teller who is set on saving Everett from imminent but indefinable danger.
The trouble at the bridge, the missing lawmen, the new arrivals, and Everetts shoot-out in front of Hals Café arent the only things on Cole and Hitchs plate as a gang of unsavory soldiers ease into town with a shady alibi, shadier intentions, and a soon-to-be-discovered wake of destruction.
As clouds over Appaloosa continue to gather, things get much worse for Cole and Hitch
Review
Praise for Robert B. Parkerand#8217;s Ironhorse
and#8220;Hits with the intensity of an eight-gauge shotgun blast. Ironhorse is written by first-time novelist Robert Knott, taking over this series by the prolific Robert B. Parker. Knott was co-writer of the screenplay for the film version of Appaloosa, and it's obvious from Ironhorse that Virgil and Everett's fates are in excellent hands. Local readers will also enjoy the descriptions of 19th-century Oklahoma, as well as the joys and troubles of rail travel during that time, in addition to a rip-snorting tale full of sparse dialogue seasoned with wit as dry as an Oklahoma prairie wind and enough flying bullets and buckshot to fill a caboose.and#8221;and#8212;Tulsa World
and#8220;Robert B. Parker's legion of fans will be thrilled with Ironhorse. Robert Knott, co-writer of the screenplay for Appaloosaand#8212;Bob's remarkable westernand#8212;has penned the next great saga featuring itinerant lawmen Everett Hitch and Virgil Cole. Knott's new novel reads just like vintage Parker and the storyline crackles with all the excitement and humor of what is a perfect continuation of the Hitch/Cole series. Parker fans are going to love it!and#8221;and#8212;Ed Harris, Academy Award-nominated actor
and#8220;Knott effortlessly handles the nonstop plot complications.and#8221;and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
and#8220;Continues the classic Western tradition that the late Robert B. Parker featured in novels such as Appaloosa and Blue-Eyed Devil.and#8221;and#8212;NewsOK
and#8220;[Knott] breathes life back into the characters Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch without missing a beat. He has the dialogue, the timing and the character of the two gunslingers-turned-marshals down. He has a new story. So it makes for a refreshing read. Parker would approve.and#8221;and#8212;Deseret News
Additional Praise for the Cole and Hitch Novels
Blue-Eyed Devil
and#8220;You read Parker because he could tell a story and make you care about his characters. Blue-Eyed Deviland#8230;only hones Parkerand#8217;s legacy as an ace storyteller, in any genre, to the end.and#8221;and#8212;Chicago Sun-Times
and#8220;The dialogue crackles. The writing is as crisp and tight as anything Parker ever wrote. And Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, soft-spoken gunmen who live by a code of honor, are enormously appealing heroes.and#8221;and#8212;The Associated Press
and#8220;Excellentand#8230;[Blue-Eyed Devil] continues the saga of gunslinging saddle pals Virgil Cole and Everett Hitchand#8230;as they trade wisecracks and hot lead with back-shooting owlhoots and murderous Apaches in the town of Appaloosaand#8230;.Lean, fast, and full of snappy dialogue, itand#8217;s everything a series fan would expect.and#8221;and#8212;Publishers Weekly
Brimstone
and#8220;The story is riveting, but as usual with a Robert B. Parker Western, the great attraction is the writing itself, especially the brilliantly rendered dialogue.and#8221;and#8212;The Associated Press
and#8220;Thereand#8217;s murder and showdowns and lots of great action. As always, Parkerand#8217;s dialogue is the star of his books, especially the laconic conversations between Cole and Hitch.and#8221;and#8212;Lincoln Journal Star
Resolution
and#8220;The most memorable Western heroes since Larry McMurtryand#8217;sand#8230;Lonesome Doveand#8230;. Parkerand#8217;s prose is at its very best.and#8221;and#8212;The Associated Press
and#8220;[Parkerand#8217;s] back with both barrels blazing.and#8221;and#8212;The Greenville (MI) Daily News
and#8220;This novel makes it clear [Parkerand#8217;s] storytelling skills and great dialogue go well beyond the escapades of the private eye.and#8221;and#8212;Minneapolis Star Tribune
and#8220;Parker applies his customary vigorand#8230;a sparse, bullet-riddled rumination on law and order, friendship and honorand#8230;Parkerand#8217;s dialogue is snappy and his not-a-word-wasted scenes suit this Spartan Western.and#8221;and#8212;Publishers Weekly
Appaloosa
and#8220;Pure, old-fashioned storytellingand#8230;the work of a master craftsman. Parker captures the West as neatly as he does the streets of Boston.and#8221; and#8212;The Washington Post
and#8220;A classic Westernand#8230;with a twist.and#8221;and#8212;Boston Herald
and#8220;Tough-guy appealand#8230;Parker provides plenty of action.and#8221;and#8212;The Wall Street Journal
and#8220;Powerfully goodand#8230;straightforward and entertaining yarn.and#8221;and#8212;Entertainment Weekly
and#8220;Like the Spenser books, itand#8217;s a study of Parkerand#8217;s enduring themes: buddy relationships, the weight that honor and responsibility put on a man, the consequences of violence, the way good can shade into bad and vice versaand#8230;a melancholy and sometimes moving tale of a lost but fascinating era.and#8221;and#8212;The Seattle Times
and#8220;Dryly amusingand#8230;a conclusion that had to make Parker smile as much as his readers will.and#8221; and#8212;Los Angeles Times
and#8220;A galloping taleand#8230;[a] classic Westernand#8230;magnificent. As always, the writing is bone clean. One of Parkerand#8217;s finest.and#8221;and#8212;Publishers Weekly (starred review)
and#8220;Forand#8230;readers with a hankering for the Wild West, including a high-noon shoot-out and all the accoutrements.and#8221;and#8212;USA Today
and#8220;As always, [Parker] is a masterand#8230;his plot gallops to a perfect, almost mythical ending. Like a great gunfighter, Parker makes it look easy.and#8221;and#8212;St. Petersburg Times
and#8220;If Spenser and Hawk had been around when the West was wild, theyand#8217;d have talked like Cole and Hitch. Wonderful stuff: notch 51 for Parker.and#8221;and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
Review
Praise for Robert B. Parkerand#8217;s Ironhorse
and#8220;Hits with the intensity of an eight-gauge shotgun blast. Ironhorse is written by first-time novelist Robert Knott, taking over this series by the prolific Robert B. Parker. Knott was co-writer of the screenplay for the film version of Appaloosa, and it's obvious from Ironhorse that Virgil and Everett's fates are in excellent hands. Local readers will also enjoy the descriptions of 19th-century Oklahoma, as well as the joys and troubles of rail travel during that time, in addition to a rip-snorting tale full of sparse dialogue seasoned with wit as dry as an Oklahoma prairie wind and enough flying bullets and buckshot to fill a caboose.and#8221;and#8212;Tulsa World
and#8220;Robert B. Parker's legion of fans will be thrilled with Ironhorse. Robert Knott, co-writer of the screenplay for Appaloosaand#8212;Bob's remarkable westernand#8212;has penned the next great saga featuring itinerant lawmen Everett Hitch and Virgil Cole. Knott's new novel reads just like vintage Parker and the storyline crackles with all the excitement and humor of what is a perfect continuation of the Hitch/Cole series. Parker fans are going to love it!and#8221;and#8212;Ed Harris, Academy Award-nominated actor
and#8220;Knott effortlessly handles the nonstop plot complications.and#8221;and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
and#8220;Continues the classic Western tradition that the late Robert B. Parker featured in novels such as Appaloosa and Blue-Eyed Devil.and#8221;and#8212;NewsOK
and#8220;[Knott] breathes life back into the characters Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch without missing a beat. He has the dialogue, the timing and the character of the two gunslingers-turned-marshals down. He has a new story. So it makes for a refreshing read. Parker would approve.and#8221;and#8212;Deseret News
Additional Praise for the Cole and Hitch Novels
Blue-Eyed Devil
and#8220;You read Parker because he could tell a story and make you care about his characters. Blue-Eyed Deviland#8230;only hones Parkerand#8217;s legacy as an ace storyteller, in any genre, to the end.and#8221;and#8212;Chicago Sun-Times
and#8220;The dialogue crackles. The writing is as crisp and tight as anything Parker ever wrote. And Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, soft-spoken gunmen who live by a code of honor, are enormously appealing heroes.and#8221;and#8212;The Associated Press
and#8220;Excellentand#8230;[Blue-Eyed Devil] continues the saga of gunslinging saddle pals Virgil Cole and Everett Hitchand#8230;as they trade wisecracks and hot lead with back-shooting owlhoots and murderous Apaches in the town of Appaloosaand#8230;.Lean, fast, and full of snappy dialogue, itand#8217;s everything a series fan would expect.and#8221;and#8212;Publishers Weekly
Brimstone
and#8220;The story is riveting, but as usual with a Robert B. Parker Western, the great attraction is the writing itself, especially the brilliantly rendered dialogue.and#8221;and#8212;The Associated Press
and#8220;Thereand#8217;s murder and showdowns and lots of great action. As always, Parkerand#8217;s dialogue is the star of his books, especially the laconic conversations between Cole and Hitch.and#8221;and#8212;Lincoln Journal Star
Resolution
and#8220;The most memorable Western heroes since Larry McMurtryand#8217;sand#8230;Lonesome Doveand#8230;. Parkerand#8217;s prose is at its very best.and#8221;and#8212;The Associated Press
and#8220;[Parkerand#8217;s] back with both barrels blazing.and#8221;and#8212;The Greenville (MI) Daily News
and#8220;This novel makes it clear [Parkerand#8217;s] storytelling skills and great dialogue go well beyond the escapades of the private eye.and#8221;and#8212;Minneapolis Star Tribune
and#8220;Parker applies his customary vigorand#8230;a sparse, bullet-riddled rumination on law and order, friendship and honorand#8230;Parkerand#8217;s dialogue is snappy and his not-a-word-wasted scenes suit this Spartan Western.and#8221;and#8212;Publishers Weekly
Appaloosa
and#8220;Pure, old-fashioned storytellingand#8230;the work of a master craftsman. Parker captures the West as neatly as he does the streets of Boston.and#8221; and#8212;The Washington Post
and#8220;A classic Westernand#8230;with a twist.and#8221;and#8212;Boston Herald
and#8220;Tough-guy appealand#8230;Parker provides plenty of action.and#8221;and#8212;The Wall Street Journal
and#8220;Powerfully goodand#8230;straightforward and entertaining yarn.and#8221;and#8212;Entertainment Weekly
and#8220;Like the Spenser books, itand#8217;s a study of Parkerand#8217;s enduring themes: buddy relationships, the weight that honor and responsibility put on a man, the consequences of violence, the way good can shade into bad and vice versaand#8230;a melancholy and sometimes moving tale of a lost but fascinating era.and#8221;and#8212;The Seattle Times
and#8220;Dryly amusingand#8230;a conclusion that had to make Parker smile as much as his readers will.and#8221; and#8212;Los Angeles Times
and#8220;A galloping taleand#8230;[a] classic Westernand#8230;magnificent. As always, the writing is bone clean. One of Parkerand#8217;s finest.and#8221;and#8212;Publishers Weekly (starred review)
and#8220;Forand#8230;readers with a hankering for the Wild West, including a high-noon shoot-out and all the accoutrements.and#8221;and#8212;USA Today
and#8220;As always, [Parker] is a masterand#8230;his plot gallops to a perfect, almost mythical ending. Like a great gunfighter, Parker makes it look easy.and#8221;and#8212;St. Petersburg Times
and#8220;If Spenser and Hawk had been around when the West was wild, theyand#8217;d have talked like Cole and Hitch. Wonderful stuff: notch 51 for Parker.and#8221;and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
Review
Praise for Robert Knott
“Knotts third shot at re-creating the Cole-Hitch partnership is by far the best…the two reflects the dry humor that helps bond them. There is also a very clever mystery mixed in, and the Seraphine subplot adds a Twilight Zone finish to an extraordinarily entertaining novel.”
—Booklist, on Robert B. Parker's The Bridge
“Clever detective work and considerable shooting…it reads lightning fast…suspenseful.”
—Booklist, on Robert B. Parkers Bull River
“Robert Knott has penned the next great saga featuring Everett Hitch and Virgil Cole. It reads just like vintage Parker, and the story line crackles with excitement and humor. Parker fans are going to love it!”
—Ed Harris, Academy Award-nominated actor
Review
Praise for Robert B. Parkers Bull River
“A twisting, turning ride…and a welcome second edition to the return of these delightful western characters.”—The Oklahoman
“Straddles that boundary between the whodunit and the gunslingers. The result is one that should be particularly satisfying to fans of both genres.”—Bookreporter.com
“Clever detective work and considerable shooting. It reads lightning fast...Suspenseful.” —Booklist
“Provides fans exactly what theyre looking for.”—Kirkus Reviews
And for the Cole and Hitch Novels
“Hits with the intensity of an eight-gauge shotgun blast.”—Tulsa World
"Robert Knott…has penned the next great saga. Parker fans are going to love it!"—Ed Harris, Academy Award-nominated actor
“Hitch and Cole, reminiscent of the steely eyed, soft-spoken lawmen Randolph Scott played in the movies, speak volumes to one another with a few words and a nod of the head.”—The Associated Press
“Add Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch to all the great characters that Robert B. Parker created over the decades to give us enjoyment and entertainment.”—BookReporter.com
“A page-turner of the first order, and updated western that feels as fresh as anything out there….Virgil Cole never misses, not when it matters. Parker didnt either.”—The Boston Globe
Synopsis
THE NEW COLE AND HITCH NOVEL
Newly appointed as Territorial Marshals, Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch are traveling by train on a mission to escort Mexican prisoners to the border. But when the Governor of Texas climbs aboard with his wife, daughters, and $500,000 in tow, the journey becomes a lot more complicated. An old enemyand#151;still carrying plenty of scars from the last time he saw Virgiland#151;has hitched a ride. Heand#8217;s not alone. And heand#8217;s got vengeance on his mind.
Synopsis
THE NEW COLE AND HITCH NOVEL"ADD [THEM] TO ALL THE GREAT CHARACTERS THAT ROBERT. B. PARKER CREATED."BookReporter.com
A bank robbery in San Cristóbal is yielding its fair share of surprises for Territorial Marshal Virgil Cole and Deputy Everett Hitch. It also draws the duo into a mystery involving the bank president himself, the daughter of St. Louiss most prominent millionaire, and a notorious desperado who holds the key to unlocking a family secret that raises revenge to a whole new level.
About the Author
Robert B. Parker was the author of seventy books, including the legendary Spenser detective series, the novels featuring Police Chief Jesse Stone, and the acclaimed Virgil ColeEverett Hitch Westerns, as well as the Sunny Randall novels. Winner of the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award and long considered the undisputed dean of American crime fiction, he died in January 2010.
Robert Knott is an actor, writer, and producer. His extensive list of stage, television, and film credits includes the feature film Appaloosa, based on the Robert B. Parker novel, which he adapted and produced with actor and producer Ed Harris. He is also the author of Robert B. Parkers Ironhorse, a Cole and Hitch novel.