The Law at Randado by Elmore Leonard

Elmore Leonard (Get Shorty) began his career writing westerns. The Law at Randado was his second novel, a slow boiler, heavy on back story and character. The pace is leisure and the plot treatment unusual.

Kirby Frye is the young deputy of his hometown Randado. Growing up around Apache people he has a more open view of them than the older ranchers. In his cells are a young Coyotero named Tloh-ka that people call Dandy Jim, and two Mexicans who were caught rustling cattle from the largest landowner Phil Sundeen. While Kirby is out of town, Sundeen incites the locals to take the Mexicans out and hang them in the street. Kirby returns to find only Dandy Jim on his side, and the Sundeen mob remove the pairs shoes before running them out of town. They didn't count on the survival skills of Frye and Tloh-ka. When they manage to return to town with the county Sheriff Danaher, it's the Sundeen mob who escape justice, running into the desert. The manhunt is on.

This is an unusual western, a story with a few simple events leisurely stretched out. There is a lot of time for character back stories and relationship building, rather than action. As an honourable young deputy, Frye has a lot to prove, and believes in achieving it through non-violence if possible, while Dandy Jim is an excellent tracker, well respected for his Apache skills. They make a great team.

The balanced story and weaving in of each character's history was impressive (as was the portrayal of the Coyotero as a valued partner) made this stand out.

Really enjoyable.

My other Elmore Leonard reviews:

The Bounty Hunters

3:10 To Yuma

Hombre

Escape From Five Shadows

Last Stand At Saber River

1954 / Paperback / 291 pages