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Robert B. Parker's The Bridge: A Cole and Hitch Novel

Review

Robert B. Parker's The Bridge: A Cole and Hitch Novel

I have a special fondness for Robert B. Parker’s Cole & Hitch series. While Parker is best known for his detective and crime novels, he was also a great fan of westerns and completed (among other stand-alone titles in the historical western genre) four books featuring an iconic pair of lawmen set roughly in the geographical area of what is now New Mexico: Virgil Cole, the territorial marshal, and Everett Hitch, his deputy and the first person narrator of the series. However, there is the subtle sense, inferred but never explicitly stated, that their professional relationship is more equal than their titles may suggest and that their strong friendship forms their true and primary bond.

Since Parker’s death in 2010, the series has been carried on quite ably and wonderfully by actor, writer and producer Robert Knott without a misstep.

"Knott brings some serious literary chops to THE BRIDGE, creating an atmospheric tale with an intriguing mystery at its heart. Fans of Parker, westerns and mysteries should be reading these books religiously, as they comprise one of the better series in any genre currently being published."

Cole is a man of few words, and Hitch matches him in that department, at least as far as dialogue is concerned. While Parker’s Spenser is quite eloquent, neither Cole nor Hitch will use four words where one will do. This element provides a touch of humor to the books, which are set in an unpredictable and violent time, within a couple of decades of the conclusion of the War Between the States. While that time is separated from ours by well over a century, the event that begins THE BRIDGE, the latest installment in the series, is nothing more or less than an act of terrorism as persons unknown blow up a bridge under construction at Rio Blanco.

When word of the violent attack comes down, the sheriff at Appaloosa, where Cole and Hitch are ensconced, and two of his deputies ride to the scene of the crime to see what has occurred. Unfortunately, the three men seemingly vanish without a trace, leaving it to Cole and Hitch to determine not only who was behind the bridge destruction but also what has happened to the sheriff and his deputies.

Their investigations, which quickly intersect, are not without distractions. As the weather does its worst, a traveling theater troupe arrives in Appaloosa, headed up by a man with a shady past who has somewhat of an unpleasant history. A mysterious and exotic woman named Seraphine also accompanies the troupe, insinuating herself into Hitch’s life in a manner that he finds most welcoming. She brings succor to his life but also a series of enigmatic warnings that initially appear to be prophetic and later come true.

It seems that Cole and Hitch are riding straight into trouble, and the only way they can come out on the other side unscathed is to determine who is behind the destruction of the bridge. They do not lack for suspects, likely and otherwise, and it quickly becomes evident that they must depend as much on their powers of detection as they do upon their formidable and eveready firepower in order to bring rough justice to the developing and hostile territory.

Knott brings some serious literary chops to THE BRIDGE, creating an atmospheric tale with an intriguing mystery at its heart. Fans of Parker, westerns and mysteries should be reading these books religiously, as they comprise one of the better series in any genre currently being published.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub on January 8, 2015

Robert B. Parker's The Bridge: A Cole and Hitch Novel
by Robert Knott

  • Publication Date: December 1, 2015
  • Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Western
  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Berkley
  • ISBN-10: 0425278085
  • ISBN-13: 9780425278086