Clay Randall

 Amos Flagg Has His Day

(AKA The Killing of Billy Jowett)

Amos Flagg #5

by

Clay Randall

Amos Flagg was a good sheriff, and the town set up a day to honor him, but that happened to be the day Ira Krug, the richest man in the Panhandle, picked for his wedding. Then Billy Jowett rode in to kill Krug for stealing his girl and was shot down by Krug's hired gunman. Things really got bad when the local ranchers went out to get revenge, and Amos Flagg had to ride out alone to stop the bloodshed.

Amos Flagg finds himself caught in the middle of a deadly tangle of jealousy, greed, and vengeance.

Hot-headed Billy Jowett has sworn to kill Ira Krug, convinced the older man stole his girl. The problem is that the young woman has already set her sights on a bigger prize. With dreams of wealth, Billy is yesterday's news and Krug is the new golden goose.

To protect himself, Krug hires Harvey Ross, an old friend of Flagg's, as both bodyguard and hired gun. Ross has been given a simple assignment: keep Krug alive and put an end to Billy Jowett.

As if that weren't enough, a blue norther is bearing down on the country, threatening to unleash its own brand of havoc. Surrounded by trouble on every side, Flagg has to wonder what will get him first.

Originally published as The Killing of Billy Jowett, this is another enjoyable Amos Flagg adventure featuring the hard-bitten sheriff and his ex-convict father, Gunner. In the previous story, Gunner was wrestling with problems involving old friends. This time it's Amos's turn, though that is only part of the trouble. With the reckless Billy Jowett running loose and danger building from all directions, the stakes remain high throughout.

This was a thoroughly entertaining read. The story moves along at a steady pace, the writing is sharp, and the characters are engaging enough to keep the pages turning. I'm still surprised there aren't more Amos Flagg stories available. A highly enjoyable western and an easy 5/5.

These are available from Amazon or direct from Piccadilly Publishing.