An Innocent Man Caught in a Bloody Range War
When the ranchers rush into the Sagebrush bank, the safe is gaping open, $40,000 in gold is missing, the cashier is dead, and Bill Saxon, a cowboy from Texas, is unconscious on the floor with a gun in his hand. Was Saxon part of the robbery crew? Is he a murderer? Saxon must prove his innocence amidst a range war between the gunmen of the Diamond Spread and local nesters.
“This one is peppered with a saucy supporting cast that livens up even a plot as stale as this one. West throws in a corrupt lawman with a stubborn streak, colorful heroine, drunken lawyer, doughty squatters, and best of all, a colorful detective, Scripture Sam, who goes about methodically collecting clues and sifting evidence in the best tradition, while mis-quoting the Bible and ventilating side-winders. Ghost Gold is worth reading just for this, but it also offers a few well-paced chases, gun-battles and a dandy wrap-up for the hombres. In all, a lively time and I’m glad I stuck with it.” Dan Stumpf, Mystery File
Fred East (1885-1983), who wrote under the name “Tom West,” was born in London, England. After being badly injured in France while serving in the British Army in WW1, he turned to writing, eventually moving to the United States, where he became a journalist and editor. In 1944, at age 59, he published his first western novel, and went on to write 60 more, including some under other pseudonyms.
Tom West /
Historical, Western
