Jenny’s Revenge by James Best

Jenny’s Revenge is sometime WWTFT contributor, James Best’s new novel featuring hero Steve Dancy, Captain Joseph Mcallen, and Jeff Sharp, and of course, femme fatale Jenny Bolton.

Best’s latest Dancy adventure starts off at a measured pace with Dancy roped into helping out his friend, the dour-faced Joseph Mcallen with one last job – so Mcallen can raise the last few thousand dollars he needs for his horse ranch – and secure a lucrative contract with the Pinkertons.  The job is to nab some cheating poker players who fleeced a wealthy businessman now eager to revenge his wounded pride.

Dancy and his fiance, the lovely Virginia Baker, stay at the famous Inter-Ocean Hotel in Denver and briefly interact with owner and early civil rights activist,  Barney Ford.  The crooked gambling was taking place at the nearby Windsor Hotel.

Dancy, playing a rich rube, resolves this seemingly unconnected plot line with unexpected speed, leaving the reader to wonder where the story is going.

The answer – Carson City.  When Dancy receives a telegram pleading for help from an old friend, he and Sharp lose no time hastening to their old stomping grounds to find out what the beautiful and alluring Jenny has been plotting in their absence.

From here on, the story picks up speed and even does a few loops and turns for good measure.  As in his previous books, Best spins a good yarn and sprinkles historical tidbits seamlessly throughout the story.  In one particular such vignette, Best has his characters attend Montgomery Queen’s Circus, during which the author describes the  equestrian exploits of  (although unnamed) little Molly Brown.  The episode concludes with an entertaining shooting competition in which Dancy learns that there is more to his mother than meets the eye.

The story races along at break-neck speed and concludes with some surprising alliances and betrayals. Along the way, there are slimy politicians, crooked lawyers and lethal gunfighters.

In short, if you’re looking for a way to wile a way a few pleasant hours lost in the old west, it’s worth picking up Best’s new western to find out if Jenny gets her revenge!