Finished Resolution by Robert B. Parker. I was looking for a quick read and spotted this one at the library. Plus, the setting intriguied me, since Parker leaves Spenser and his other Boston characters behind in this western. Yep, it’s a western. And I do love me some westerns. 😎

Tough guy Everett Hitch hires on as a lookout at a saloon in the dusty town of Resolution and soon finds himself in the middle of a fight for control of the town. The players include a saloon owner, a miner, a ragtag group of ranchers, and a couple other gunslingers. But Hitch always remains cool under pressure, especially after his friend Virgil Cole comes to Resolution to help him sort things out. Gunfights and more ensue.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Nobody does tough-guy dialogue better than Parker. His books are almost completely dialogue, which makes them quick reads. I just love his breezy style.

The plot, well, it’s a pretty typical Parker story. An honorable tough guy with his own code stands up to some unsavory characters. But it works well in the western setting. I would have liked Hitch to have to work a little more to sort things out (especially since he kills the town’s reigning gunslinger a couple days after he gets into town). I also thought the mine owner (another one of the bad guys) bit the dust a little too early.

But overall, if you’re looking a quick summer read or want to try Parker, pick up this book. It’s a good introduction to his style without the backstory involved in his other detective series. Thumbs up.

Up next: Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas.

Books in my TBR pile: 17 or so. I keep adding and subtracting books …