Shannon's Way

This is the second of three books in the Shannon Saga ("Shannon's Law" and "Shannon: U.S. Marshal" are #1 and #3). These books are first-rate westerns. Several years after cleaning up Whiskey Creek, Shannon is now happily married to Kathy Winters and has a young son. He has remained at Whiskey Creek as the Deputy Sheriff and things are downright peaceful. One evening, a stranger smashes his way into Shannon's home with vengeance on his mind. Kathy surprises the stranger before he can kill Shannon and Shannon kills him. Shannon knows something bad is about to happen but can't piece it together.The next day, Bully Drago and his gang show up, kill Shannon's deputy, rob the bank, and capture Shannon. It turns out that one of the Ace Parker gang that Shannon killed was Drago's brother and he wants to make Shannon suffer. He kidnaps Shannon's son for the purpose of killing the boy before Shannon's eyes. The townsmen rally and in the ensuing gunfight, several of the townsmen and gangsters are killed, but as Drago is escaping, he slams the boy to the ground and a passing horse kicks the boy's head. Shannon wants to take after the gang, but his boy is in a coma. He tries to stop a bunch of hot heads that form a posse to chase the robbers but to no avail.Shannon can't wait and sets off after the gang. Outside of town he finds the posse ambushed and all dead. Determined, Shannon heads into the high country in pursuit to bring the killers to justice. He is later joined by his old friend Pedro Rodriguez and the two of them fight the elements and ambushes and doggedly track Bully Drago and his gang to a final showdown.

This is a book that is filled with sadness but yet filled with tremendous love and strength. It shows how families stick together no matter what. How they endure to the end. It is a togetherness that not many people have in their lifetime. I loved the characters of Clay and Kathy. I was saddened by the young boy but know that the west was filled with outlaws that did exactly what they wanted to do. But with good men like Clay, the bad guys didn't last long. This western is filled with power and gripping love. It deserves a five stars.