Sudden Country is an adventure-filled coming of age story set during the last decade of the 19th century, ranging from the story's beginning in the Texas panhandle to the Black Hills of South Dakota. The tale is spare and well-written and in some ways reminded me of Treasure Island, in that it deals with a young first-person narrator who leaves home to experience adventure among a collection of colorful cutthroats and thieves. I would say, however, that Estleman's story is presented in more straightforward, less colorful fashion, as you would expect from a book written for adults in 1991 rather than 1881 (the year Treasure Island was published). At any rate, RLS comparisons aside, Sudden Country is a good, well-written yarn. ( )

This is a great coming-of-age story as well as a superb western that reaches beyond the stale cliches inherent in the genre today. His in-depth research is evident in the solidity of the main characters and the historical veracity rounds out the effort. Probably my favorite after Lonesome Dove. ( )