Flintlock by William W. Johnstone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is nearly flawless. This is not a simple good guy vs. bad guy western. It’s a complex tale of many characters with many stories that lead to hard to expect conclusions.

The writing is way above average for a Johnstone Clan novel. Characters, what i feel is the Johnstone hallmark, are excellent in depiction. Considering how many are included, each is distinctly built. Most are written with more than a few views and develop during the novel. The settings are also very well described and flourishes of settings detailed throughout the narrative.

The author of this Johnstone book does stray from the normal Johnstone writings with a cross-dressing bar owner with an identity crisis. There’s also an odd writing of views of blacks and more than one character reacting as if the view of black people was different at that time, which it wasn’t. In other words, this is the first time I’ve seen political correctness creep into a Johnstone novel.

Another trouble I have with the book is another poorly executed cover. The Flintlock character is so well defined by height, mustache and flamboyant tattoo that the typical western hero model on the cover is obviously disconnected.

Still another issue is the extensive use of mysticism throughout the book. If the reader pays attention it all relates to other activity in the book. It’s a bit too subtle for an average reading. The worse part of it is that there are too many characters that claim mystic experiences. That was not out of the ordinary in the west at that time, though political correctness was. This was also a major change in a Johnstone Clan novel, a turn to science fiction.

All of my complaints are mostly superficial. The book otherwise is excellent and fulfilling.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 9 out of 10 points.

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Murder On High by George Kennedy
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I followed reading the first George Kennedy book, ‘Murder on Location’, with his second book, ‘Murder on High’. Both supposedly handled by, or with, a ghost writer. Again, I feel Kennedy was more involved than not with this volume, too.

However, after the slew of bad writing in the first book, I cannot forgive repeating the same from the first and making it all worse. Best to see my review of the first book.

Here, again, are first person writing problems, believing – even more – what is said, murders ending chapters, etc. Worse nearly the entire book is trapped in an airplane, so at least some inside should be expressing panic of being trapped in a plane with a killer with a gun. There’s also the issue of a gun being repeatedly fired with a silencer and never a problem of bullet passing through individual and piercing plane or concern of such occasion.

This is all pretty awful and ending that is preposterous with non-stop gabbing bad guys explaining the whys and wherefores. Maybe if they had done that to each person about to be murdered, the intended victims could have gotten away.

Characters are mostly detailed. Again, real actors are best depicted, especially Jimmy and Gloria Stuart, indicating Kennedy’s involvement. Setting is nearly non-existent. Huge exception is observation by first person George that is dead on accurate: Why do mid-east countries keep money from the people and pour all they have into airports???? Included is observing the vast difference to U.S. airports and mid-east airports.

Bottom line: I do not recommend this book. 2 out of 10 points.

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Murder on Location by George Kennedy
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I meant to read Geroge Kennedy’s two books before his eath. So happened that his death coincided with my finishing John Gilstrap’s ‘No Mercy’. So i began what i thought was a George Kennedy novel. Come to find out, a ghost writer wrote the novel. That’s great, because this book can fade anyone’s view of Kennedy.

The setting is not surprisingly a movie set and here is where I believe Kennedy was far more involved with this project than just handing it off to a ghost writer. Too much is accurately written not to believe Kennedy didn’t contribute anything. Unfortunately where is also evidence that someone not knowing how to write a mystery was involved, also indicating involvement of Kennedy. I think this is much more a Kennedy project than not.

Novice writer is written all over any novelist that ends multiple chapters with a murder. Also, writing in first person and then trying to go around that by reflecting on what was told to writer and all is perfectly repeated. Also, there’s an axiom, a writer friend, G.K. Sharman always points out as a failed writers ploy: All said is to believed. The problems continue.

The best part of the book is the fun depictions of stars, Dean Martin, Glenn Ford, Raquel Welch, etc. Depictions of the non-fiction characters are all wanting and too many a bit flamboyant. There’s also the significant issue of lack of real panic so many people are dying. The settings are OK, but deficient in details.

The mystery becomes far too convoluted and by the end, I was glad to move on…to George Kennedy novel #2.

Bottom line: I do not recommend this book. 4 out of 10 points.

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Interesting what a father sets aside. Found a few decades of my artwork in a box of his. Newspaper art, comics strips, advertising pieces, comic books and personal artwork.

Spent weekend moving my father’s things to my house. Great thanks to brother Jeff Smith, his friend Steve and old pal James Goddard for the enormous amount of help! James even found a 40th birthday comic book I had done for him and his twin brother.

No Mercy by John Gilstrap
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Never realized reading ‘No Mercy’ that it would be read during some of toughest years of my life as my father died rather suddenly. Events like that would usually cloud a book being read. I can not tell you anything of books I read during far worse times in my life. Despite such tragic times in my life, I was able to take in this book and pick up where I had been as intrigued as I was when I put it down to deal with various hospital, family and funeral home issue. To that I have to write this book was put to the test and came out shining.

The story is of still another modern day lone wolf who sets out to right wrongs. This one a mite different in being independently wealthy, much like, another literary “Lone Wolf”, Michael Lanyard and Bat-man’s Bruce Wayne. There’s even a sanctum sanctorum. All of this is a bit much and the story is filled with a bit much. All not beyond the realm of possibility, but needing to be read with the acceptance of reality written.

The story is part mystery, part action and part chase. The plotting is good, though could have had a very tighter ties done in parts to support the whole. Mostly involving the bad guy(s) whose evil is well defined but otherwise a bit loose as to the whys and therefores. The evil is enough to propell through to conclusion.

The characters are very well written. Though, again, the bad guy(s) needed more definition. The settings are also well written.

Overall the book is fun ,as such, not all that complex, which I would have liked much more of. One of my favorite parts of the fun is one of the last lines that ends the good guys vs. the bad guys.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 7 out of ten points.

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Fun with pals William Morgan, Tana Porter, me and Leigh Anne Morgan at Pine Castle Pioneer Days in south Orange County, Florida! — with William Morgan at Pine Castle- Pioneer Days Family Festival.

Back to the drawing board!

After the past few days it is catch up time. On the way home stopping at another Steak ‘n Shake and some speedy pen to paper! So much more to do Tuesday!!!

Looking forward to a hike along the Suwannee River Thursday!

It’s Andy Capp and Nancy from the February 3rd, 1966 edition of the Ocala Star-Banner, Florida!