It took me a long time to get into this novel. I picked it up and started it a half-dozen times before finishing it, but it is a good book for mystery lovers. It is sometimes hard for me to get into books that are set in a different time period. This is set in the '50s during the early Hollywood days and stars an interesting protagonist - an ex-film cowboy - who has recently been released from prision and has burned most of his bridges with the exception of his former "Indian" co-star. Once I finally got into the story - about halfway through the book - I found myself forgetting that this wasn't set in the 1980s or even in current times. With the exception of the casual misogyny and racism, that is. Once you get into the meat of why the stepdaughter, Clea, is missing, it certainly takes on a more modern edge. I ultimately enjoyed it, but some of the non-PC language is a bit jarring. It is appropriate for the time period, but I sometimes forget that people used to speak this way. ( )

First in what is an excellent series. ( )

John Ray Horn, a former actor in B-movie westerns, now works as a debt collector for his former costar's casino in post World War II L.A. He begins sleuthing when a friend is murdered and his former stepdaughter goes missing. Well written and enjoyable. ( )