Scan barcode
eososray's review
4.0
This is not a genre of books I typically read but a theatre troupe that robs banks? Such a book could not be dismissed.
Johnny Vermillion loves the theatre. He uses a lifetime of listening to his father’s backroom deals to rob banks across the American West under the guise of the Prairie Rose Repertoire Co. The 'Ace in the Hole' gang under the leadership of Black Jack and a lone Pinkerton man on his first field assignment raise the stakes.
This was a great story. The narrative style was written like a newspaper article but gave the feel of a film noir. It really drew me into the tale. The characters do not have any real depth but this wasn’t a detraction for me. I found it amusing, unique and just a little clever.
Johnny Vermillion loves the theatre. He uses a lifetime of listening to his father’s backroom deals to rob banks across the American West under the guise of the Prairie Rose Repertoire Co. The 'Ace in the Hole' gang under the leadership of Black Jack and a lone Pinkerton man on his first field assignment raise the stakes.
This was a great story. The narrative style was written like a newspaper article but gave the feel of a film noir. It really drew me into the tale. The characters do not have any real depth but this wasn’t a detraction for me. I found it amusing, unique and just a little clever.
booksnguitars's review
3.0
Fun stuff. Johnny Vermillion turns a checkered past and a group of misfit third string actors into a traveling theatrical troupe with a more-profitable sideline, robbery between acts. Great writing, very evocative silent film reel allusions, and enough history thrown in to make this a little more substantial than your typical western.
raesengele's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book had a really promising start but became distracted halfway through and bogged down with one too many perspectives which prevented any real depth from the characters.
Also, seeing as this is the only Estleman book I've read so far, I'm not sure if it is just this book or if Estleman has some real issue with fat people. I'm hoping that it's the same as some of the mysogyny that seemed to be played differently according to character POV, but the fat thing seemed to be irregardless of whose POV we were in. Not sure why it stood out to me as much as it did, however. I guess it may have been because there was so little else going on for long stretches of the book.
Also, seeing as this is the only Estleman book I've read so far, I'm not sure if it is just this book or if Estleman has some real issue with fat people. I'm hoping that it's the same as some of the mysogyny that seemed to be played differently according to character POV, but the fat thing seemed to be irregardless of whose POV we were in. Not sure why it stood out to me as much as it did, however. I guess it may have been because there was so little else going on for long stretches of the book.
More...