Robert B. Parker's Ironhorse

A Robert B. Parker Western

By: Robert Knott

Narrated by: Titus Welliver

Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

For years, Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch have ridden roughshod over rabble-rousers and gun hands in troubled towns like Appaloosa, Resolution, and Brimstone. Now, newly appointed as Territorial Marshalls, they find themselves traveling by train through the Indian Territories.

Their first marshaling duty starts out as a simple mission to escort Mexican prisoners to the border, but when the Governor of Texas, his wife and daughters climb aboard with their bodyguards and $500,000 in tow, their journey suddenly becomes a lot more complicated.

The problem is Bloody Bob Brandice. He and Virgil have had it out before, an encounter that left Brandice face-down in the street with two .44 slugs lodged in him.

Now, twelve years later on a night train struggling uphill in a thunderstorm, Brandice is back – and he’s not alone. Cole and Hitch find themselves in the midst of a heist with a horde of very bad men, two beautiful young hostages, and a man with a vendetta he’s determined to carry out.

©2013 Robert Knott (P)2013 Random House

Critic reviews

“Hits with the intensity of an eight-gauge shotgun blast. Ironhorse is written by first-time novelist Robert Knott, taking over this series by the prolific Robert B. Parker. Knott was co-writer of the screenplay for the film version of Appaloosa, and it's obvious from Ironhorse that Virgil and Everett's fates are in excellent hands. Local readers will also enjoy the descriptions of 19th-century Oklahoma, as well as the joys and troubles of rail travel during that time, in addition to a rip-snorting tale full of sparse dialogue seasoned with wit as dry as an Oklahoma prairie wind and enough flying bullets and buckshot to fill a caboose.” (Tulsa World)

“Robert B. Parker's legion of fans will be thrilled with Ironhorse. Robert Knott, co-writer of the screenplay for Appaloosa—Bob's remarkable western—has penned the next great saga featuring itinerant lawmen Everett Hitch and Virgil Cole. Knott's new novel reads just like vintage Parker and the storyline crackles with all the excitement and humor of what is a perfect continuation of the Hitch/Cole series. Parker fans are going to love it!” (Ed Harris, Academy Award-nominated actor)

Drove me up the wall

1st, Everett 'said something' to Virgil about Allie multiple times! 2nd, Virgil doesn't govern by committee. 3rd, where is the editor? The guy specifically said he didn't call the authorities. Several continuity errors and repetitive sentences happen because the book was not edited. 4th, this writer made the characters stupid, foolish, inexperienced. 5th, if you're going to hire someone to continue the legacy of a man who wrote 68 novels, don't hire the guy who has never written a novel in his life and can't remember the name of Pony's wife. 6th, I don't believe Virgil Cole is discussing his feelings for Allie in the middle of some action based on what he stood for in book one, Appaloosa. 7th, even Titus Welliver couldn't muster his enthusiasm for this reading. He reads as if he would rather have been the editor.

The factoids about telegraphing and telegraphers were interesting, The women were not believable. i fell asleep at one point and woke up to the same action being described as slowly and minutely as possible without missing any insight. Too many were shot, governor had no backstory, and Hitch was separated too long from his 8-gauge. And Everett Hitch used the wrong words in conversation and narration several times!

Too much of the action to come was discussed by characters as though they indeed had not been doing this for a long time. A lot more hesitant and in need of reassance than they have proven to be in the past.

I don't believe Virgil would go back to Appaloosa for that telegram or to fight that one man and I don't believe that man would put himself in a position to have to fight Virgil over that situation. The characters grew already. A lot of unbelievable, uncharacteristic things are suggested. I listened to the end despite chapter after chapter ending at the start of many a conversation. Tphe bad outweighed the good qualities of the story.

Not the same

What would have made Robert B. Parker's Ironhorse better?

If Parker would have written it!

What was most disappointing about Robert Knott’s story?

His writing is different as are his vocabulary choices.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The characters are generally the same and if I had never read the originals I would have enjoyed it.

Any additional comments?

There is just too much that has changed with the new author. I appreciate the effort put forth however I think I will just stop at the last book written by Parker.