THE COMPLETE EDGE - 3: APACHE DEATH

This third book in the long running western series, is to my mind, the best of the early books and completes a cycle of sorts - when we first met the character he had returned home from the Civil War to find his kid brother brutally murdered by men who had once served under his command. That set the man known then as Joe Hedges on a blood thirsty trail of vengeance, during which time he dropped his given name and became simply Edge. From there he went after a gang of bandits who had robbed him only to meet an old man who told him an enticing story of, Ten Thousand Dollars American. Well Edge went after the money but some greedy rodents beat him to the bounty, but not before Edge had paid back his robbers in hot lead.

The third book follows on with Edge wandering across the scene of an Apache attack - "I should have taken notice of you, fella," he (Edge) murmured softly. "Mexican trouble we can handle. It's been a long time since I had a run in with any Apaches." Edge of course is talking to the westerners best friend - his horse.

Fleeing the Apaches Edge ends up in the town of Rainbow - The US cavalry are there and so is an English gambler while outside the town waits Cochise and his Apaches.

Previously to this book the secondary characters in the Edge novels were only developed as far as necessary for the plot and story but this time out the author creates a character every bit as compelling as Edge himself. This is a cultured Englishman called Fallowfields with a penchant for gambling and gold hunting whom Edge refers to as English.

The interplay between Edge and the Englishman is a delight to read and the author takes great delight in sketching scenes where each tries to one-up the other. Both are equally good shots, each of them can give as good as the other in a fist fight and each of them have an interest in a map that may lead to a fortune in gold bullion.

Now although the previous two books had their humorous moments amongst all the carnage, it is with this book that the humour really comes into its own. And for anyone new to the series I would recommend reading this one as quickly as possible. It's gloriously entertaining and literally moves with the speed of an express train, not for one moment does the story let up but what is remarkable is that amongst all this chaos the characters are lovingly developed.

"Breathing deeply, the air rattling in their throats, both men pulled themselves up into a squatting position and looked at each other's bruised and battered faces.

'This is ruining my suit,' the Englishman said.

'Ain't doing much for your face,' Edge pointed out.

'You don't exactly look like a lady killer yourself, old boy,' came the reply."

The humour really shines through and offers a great contrast to the violence of the Apache attacks, but more than anything this is a story of a town under siege. And of the heroism and cowardliness that will be played out at Rainbow's end.

As I've said this book completes a sort of cycle - the next book would see the author experiment with the formula by telling two stories simultaneously - one of Edge and the other of Joe Hedges and his wartime experiences.

But we'll keep that for another time - Edge will return in Killer's Breed.