Elizabeth Fackler, Bone Justice

Bone Justice

Elizabeth Fackler

Western Star, July 2006

ISBN: 0977738507

In 1875 in Laredo, Texas, twenty-six year old Seth Strummar wins $200 in gold and a Colorado ranch. Euphoric, especially with the spread, he quits outlawing to become a rancher. Feeling he owes his mentor-boss Ben Allister to tell him in person he is leaving, he rides to the outlaw leader's cabin. Instead of Ben being there, Seth finds two females held prisoner by other gang members, who inform him that Ben purchased the two women from Comancheros and plans to sell them in Mexico. They also say that he gave them the wailing younger one, thirteen year old Esther, but only Ben will use the older silent woman Oriana.

Seth abducts both females, knowing that will anger Ben, but feels his former leader has gone too far when he begins to trade women as a commodity. Though he initially planned to dump the females on a small town sheriff, Seth finds the town of El Topo dead. He also realizes that Ben is coming for them, so he can't abandon the females, though the idea is tempting, but he plans to escort the women to Esther's Granny in Kansas. On the road Angel Madera joins them, but shows he desires Esther, leading to Seth not trusting him.

BONE JUSTICE is a terrific western thriller starring an outlaw with ethics, as Seth feels impelled to rescue two women from his former mentor. Seth is a fascinating character, struggling to do the right thing for Esther and Oriana, but not finding it easy, as he tries to deliver the vulnerable Esther to her Granny while attempting to help her mentally recover from her ordeal; Oriana with her barriers is even more difficult for him. Fans who appreciate a powerful character driven tale of the old west will want to read Elizabeth Fackler's terrific Southwest frontier thriller, and seek Seth's other novels (see ROAD FROM BETRAYAL) as this reviewer plans to do.