Review of "Bitterroot" by James Lee Burke

Former Texas Ranger, attorney Billy Bob Holland has left Texas for the mountains of Montana. He is visiting an old friend named Doc just when three men rape Doc's daughter, Mazie. Doc has been battling with a local mining company with bad habits. One of the men involved in the rape is found murdered and Doc is the major suspect. Billy Bob is going to defend his friend.

There are a lot of interesting characters in this novel ranging from the boss of the mining company, his cohorts, the leader of a group of Nazi types and his cohorts, a Hollywood type and the wives and girlfriends. All of the men are mean, out to murder and maim anyone who bothers them in the slightest.

Billy Bob has his old friend's ghost and a couple of tough ladies to keep him company. They will all help him prove that he is the meanest, toughest, killing machine around. Oh yes, I almost forgot about Billy Bob's son and his girlfriend the Indian lady who might be sleeping with the bad guys for the government men who are among the bloodiest nasty men around the plot.

If you've guessed that I did not like this book very much, give yourself a gold star. There was way too much blood, too many nasty characters, including the good old boys and the hero. Also there was too little plot to find. Burke is a very good writer, and it's too bad that he feels that this much violence is called for among his well-woven words.