OUTLAW (Post-Civil War Violence in Missouri)

Jim Chapman was the legend who refused to die. He had made a fool of Alan Vickers and his team of detectives for years as they followed him and his outlaw gang across the west. And the only solution was to hire someone who would shoot Chapman in the back like Jack McCall did Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood. Frank Gruber books are known for his historical personages either showing up in his books are at least mentioned. And he is known for his action and his abrupt scene changes--that most likely came from the fact he wrote dozens of screen plays for the movies over the years, and indeed his books read a lot you are watching a movie. He uses short sentences and few adjectives in describing things, but his books are fun reading, entertaining, and well worth reading. Today, he is under appreciated as a master of both the western and mystery/crime genres.