Synopses & Reviews
In his latest triumphant novel, Aaron Latham pits Texas guts against Hollywood glitz when a modern-day cowboy turned screenwriter dusts off his Stetson in order to solve a murder.
Chick Goodnight has arrived in Hollywood to write a screenplay about his great-great-great-ever-so-great grandfather Jimmy Goodnight -- the legend who more or less invented the Texas cowboy during the 1870s (and who was featured in Latham's Code of the West and The Cowboy with the Tiffany Gun).
As the film's director -- smart and beautiful Hollywood veteran Jamie Stone -- shows Chick how to write for the screen, he finds his quaint Western-inspired code of ethics challenged by an industry in which casting departments pimp for their producers and overzealous method actors feel obliged to seduce their costars. But culture shock becomes the least of Chick's worries when his cousin, a young aspiring actress, dies under suspicious circumstances. Shortly, Chick -- taking a few heroic pages from his own script -- is forced to investigate before someone else meets his maker.
As Chick's misadventures take him from Hollywood to Texas and back again, Aaron Latham treats us to a bravura piece in which art imitates life imitating art.
Review
"Aaron Latham's page-turning novel, Riding with John Wayne, is at once a love story, a murder mystery, and a funny exposé of the movie business in Hollywood and on location in West Texas. And it's populated with odd-ball characters who add spice to the mix." -- Larry L. King, author of In Search of Willie Morris
Review
"Riding with John Wayne is extraordinary entertainment. I read it in one sitting. The characters are rich. The story is compelling -- and accurate. This novel describes the drama behind the making of a movie in exquisite detail." -- David Brown, producer of A Few Good Men and Angela's Ashes
Review
"Hollywood and the Old West collide hilariously in this lively tale of cinematic skullduggery." -- Peter Bart, editor in chief of Variety
Review
"A series of murders, a Hollywood set transported to West Texas, and a smart, sexy cowboy hero -- I can't think of a better combination of elements for a killer read. Aaron Latham is back in the saddle in winning style in Riding with John Wayne. His insider knowledge of the movie business and big cowboy heart give us a witty, fast-paced, mysterious ride through the very wild west that he knows so well." -- Linda Fairstein, author of Death Dance
About the Author
Aaron Latham is best known for his novels and screenplays, including Urban Cowboy, Perfect, Code of the West, and The Cowboy with the Tiffany Gun. He has been a regular contributor to such publications as Rolling Stone, Esquire, and The New York Times. He lives in New York with his wife, Lesley Stahl.