Coffin Creek

By: Ben Bridges

Narrated by: J. Rodney Turner

Length: 4 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

It was the kind of sleepy little Texas town where nothing ever happened. Then eight masked men robbed the train from Sterling City and left a handful of bodies behind them, and pretty soon the marshal was up to his badge in problems.

First of all there was the murder of one of Coffin Creek's most respected citizens to solve. Then there was the sudden, unwelcome appearance of a federal lawman who figured Marshal Baker was too old for his job. And to top it all there was a feud of sorts building between Lane, an enigmatic one-time gunfighter from Sacramento, and the men from the nearby Flying O ranch.

When all hell broke loose and the air grew thick with blood and gunsmoke, the sleepy little town of Coffin Creek had to wake up-real fast.

©1992, 2011 Ben Bridges (P)2014 David Whitehead

4.45/5

Narrated by J. Rodney Turner
Summary:
Starts with a bang, ends with a bang. A train robbery that ends tragically with several deaths is just one of a long string of robberies perpetrated by several masked men. Lane was once a gunslinger but had that beaten out of him long ago. He may have to return to those roots to protect what and who he loves.

Additional Comments:
• The back cover copy does a thorough job of spelling out the story. You’re better off NOT reading it.
• This is classic western. I had to stop at one point because it seemed the bad guys were getting too much page time.
• Performance was solid. I’d listen to the narrator again.
• It weaves a halfway decent mystery in and around the high action.
• Fairly clean. Oh, there’s plenty of violence, but nothing is really described in gruesome detail.
• Lane’s likable. The Marshall’s niece is likable. There’s not much memorable about anybody else, even the bad guys, but I don’t think it’s mean to be a story where you fall deeply in love with every character.

Conclusion:
If you’re looking for a classic, high action Western, this is a good choice.
*I got the book on a free code site. I understand I do not have a set-in-stone obligation to share my thoughts, but have freely chosen to do so anyway.

Lots of Action

Let’s face it. When you’re looking for a western with a little old-fashioned gunplay in it, a title like Coffin Creek is definitely going to catch your eye—and this novel delivers with tense action all along the way. But there’s also a tight little mystery and two great subplots—one about a lawman that may be past his prime and one about a crippled man who doesn’t know he needs to regain his self respect. Put it all together and you have a story Louis L’Amour would have enjoyed. I’m going to have to try a couple more of Ben Bridges’ tales.