Book Review: HOLMES ON THE RANGE by Steve Hockensmith

Title: HOLMES ON THE RANGE
Author: Steve Hockensmith
Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur
Publication Date: February, 2006 (Hardcover); February, 2007 (Trade Paperback)
Cover Price(s): $22.95 (HC); $12.95 (TP)

A while back, I received an email from Mr. Hockensmith who informed me that he was "kind of a western writer" and would I be interested in taking a look at his book, HOLMES ON THE RANGE. The title was enough to catch my interest, so I told him to send it along. Now, I wish I'd asked for his second book while I was at it.

HOLMES ON THE RANGE received rave reviews from Publisher's Weekly (starred), Booklist (starred), the Boston Globe, Forbes, and Entertainment Weekly. On reading it, it's easy to discover why. In this western mystery, Hockensmith does everything right.

From the back cover: "1883 is a tough year in Montana, and any job is a good job. When brothers Big Red and Old Red Amlingmeyer sign on as hands at a secretive ranch, they're not expecting much more than hard work, bad pay, and a few free moments to enjoy their favorite pastime: reading stories about Sherlock Holmes. When another hand turns up dead, Old Red sees the perfect opportunity to employ his Holmes-inspired "deducifyin" skills, and sets out to solve the case. Big Red, like it or not (and mostly he does not) is along for the wild ride in this clever, compelling, and completely one-of-a-kind mystery."

Okay, now here's the interesting thing. This book was published and marketed as a mystery. And it is a mystery. It's also a western and a damned fine one. All the elements are there, and Hockensmith doesn't stint on period details that show he actually knows what constitutes a western. This novel is a fantastic example of precisely how western writers today can rebuild their market space.

The story itself is funny at times, hilarious at others, and the ranch, the hands and the working life of a cowpuncher described with great flair and accuracy. Overlooked as a western novel, but praised as a mystery, HOLMES ON THE RANGE delivers the goods on both genres with wit, charm and excellent writing. That said, there are also plenty of times where the storyline is serious and the scenes intense.

If you like good stories - western, mystery and/or both - get out and pick up a copy of this book. You absolutely won't be disappointed.

And if Mr. Hockensmith happens to read this review, I have two things to say to him directly:

1) I laughed so hard I spilled coffee on the copy you sent me, when I read the line on page 87, that said: "What kind of stock you think a hand like that would work?" Tall John asked. "Poodles?" I don't suppose you've got another you'd like to send for my collection?

2) You wouldn't want to send the next book, ON THE WRONG TRACK, along with it, would you?

And in case your deducifyin skills are a little off today, those were clues.

Russell Davis