"BUTCH CASSIDY: The Lost Years," by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone, Kensington Publishing Corp., $25, 282 pages (f)
A recent novel by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone tells the story of Butch Cassidy if he might have survived. "Butch Cassidy The Lost Years" picks up the legend of Butch Cassidy after his infamous shootout with the Bolivian army in South America. The shootout cost the life of Butch's longtime partner in crime, the Sundance Kid.
While many believed Butch was also killed in South America, this novel tells how Butch escaped and returned to the United States to tell the Sundance Kid's girlfriend of his death.
With this mission complete, Butch finds himself riding alone in Texas on a cold winter night. It is on this ride that Butch encounters a Texas rancher who has been shot by cattle rustlers. The dying man offers Butch a deal. If Butch promises to kill the men who shot him, the rancher will give him the deed to his ranch.
Thus begins Butch's new life as a peaceful rancher named Jim Strickland.
As Strickland, Butch finds he can blend in with the residents of a small Texas town called Largo. Here he meets a group of men who agree to work for him as cowhands and soon starts to thrive as the new owner of the Fishhook Ranch.
For a while, Butch is content with his new life. He discovers he has raised the suspicion of the local sheriff, but with his new identity he seems to be able to avoid trouble with law.
All is going well until the father of one of his cowhands is killed in a railroad accident and the greedy railroad owners decide not to help the family. Suddenly, Butch sees an opportunity to use his past skills to develop a new "wild bunch" capable of robbing trains and returning the money to those who truly need it.
From here the story becomes a classic western tale of train robberies and dangerous rides to escape the law. The authors even throw in a new love interest for Butch that just happens to be the local preacher's daughter.
"Butch Cassidy The Lost Years" is a fun read. For those who enjoy a good western novel, this book has it all. The characters are well-developed and seem true to the wild nature of a dying western lifestyle.
This book contains a number of violent gun and fist fights. It also contains some harsh language and a few references to sex.
Steve Larson is one of the founders of Information Alliance, a Utah-based data collection company. He serves as vice president of sales. He spends his free time writing and practicing photography. He also enjoys spending time outdoors.