This, my friends, is as good as it gets: an unapologetic western originally conceived by Mickey Spillane, the father of Mike Hammer, and brought to completed literary form by Max Allan Collins, Spillane’s hand-picked torchbearer of his legacy. Spillane envisioned THE LEGEND OF CALEB YORK to be a screenplay with John Wayne in the movie’s starring role. This was back in the day, an arguably better day, when western films were fairly commonplace.

Those who know Spillane’s work are aware that he was anything but a one-trick pony, the fame and fortune of his Hammer books notwithstanding. This is a guy who wrote text stories in comic books before Hammer was even a gleam in his eye. Believe me when I tell you that THE LEGEND OF CALEB YORK is the real deal. Fans of thriller and adventure fiction will enjoy it, even if the closest they’ve ever been to a western is a steakhouse or chain motel.

"THE LEGEND OF CALEB YORK is great entertainment, proof that it is not true that they no longer write books the way they used to. Collins still does, with Spillane no doubt nodding approvingly as he stands over his shoulder."

I loved every word of this book. Is it clichéd? Yes, but in the best of ways. There’s a crooked sheriff who holds a town in his sway, a principled landowner making a last stand, a fallen angel who runs a brothel and finds herself the victim of her own desires, and, best of all, the mysterious stranger who rides into town and is the last best hope of goodness and decency to set things right.

Harry Gauge is the crooked sheriff of Trinidad, New Mexico, an outlaw turned lawman who has been forcing local cattle owners to sell out to him so he can achieve his ultimate goal of becoming a cattle baron. The only person in his way is George Cullen --- the principled landowner --- who, though hampered by blindness, refuses to sell out to Gauge. Cullen instead chooses to use the remains of his fortune to hire a gunslinger to rid Trinidad of Gauge for good. Cullen’s beautiful daughter, Willa, is opposed to the plan, but finds herself oddly attracted to the handsome stranger who rides into town shortly thereafter and quickly and violently makes his presence known. However, he will not reveal his name. He could be one of two notorious gunmen for hire, both of whom are rumored to be dead. Or is he someone else?

Interestingly enough, the man also attracts the attention of Lola, who shares ownership with Gauge in the local saloon/brothel. Lola, the fallen angel of the piece, is indirectly responsible for Gauge’s presence in town, and has cause to regret their partnership. She is too worldly to think that the handsome stranger with the quick draw can be her salvation, but maybe, just maybe, he can put things right. Cullen and the man who or may not be his hired gun are outnumbered and outgunned, yet they’re not going down without a fight. And Lola? She may have a trick or two up her sleeve as well, to be revealed by the time the dust settles and the smoke clears at story’s end.

THE LEGEND OF CALEB YORK is great entertainment, proof that it is not true that they no longer write books the way they used to. Collins still does, with Spillane no doubt nodding approvingly as he stands over his shoulder. And the best news of all is that this is to be the first in a series. Let me know when the line forms to buy the next installment.