The Case of the Deadly Desperados

December 12, 2011
Lawrence’s energetic, vividly written series opener begins with 12-year-old P.K. Pinkerton trapped in a mine shaft, facing certain death and recording the wild adventure that led him there. In 1862 the twice-orphaned, half-Sioux P.K. hops a stagecoach from his tiny home in the Nevada Territory for the rowdy streets of Virginia City, fleeing from the much-feared outlaw “Whittlin’ Walt,” who just scalped and murdered P.K.’s second set of parents. The outlaws are after a silver mine deed, left to P.K. and worth millions. P.K., who is wily but has almost no emotional intelligence, slowly comes to understand that he can trust no one; he adopts various disguises and picks up some street smarts from a slew of equally lively characters, including substantial cameos from Samuel Clemens and others. Lawrence (the Roman Mysteries series) easily captures the chaos and tension of the Wild West, complete with gamblers, “Soiled Doves,” and plenty of slang (defined in a glossary) and gunfire. With cliffhangers ending most of the chapters, this agile story should keep readers’ attention from first page to last. Ages 8–12. Agent: Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.

Starred review from January 1, 2012
Twelve-year-old P.K. "Pinky" Pinkerton was born with a poker face--he can't show or read emotion--but it's not until he lands in Nevada Territory's silver-mining country that he comes to terms with the hand he's dealt. This fast-paced and deadpan-funny Wild West adventure is Pinky's first-person account, scrawled out as "last words" on ledger sheets in a mine shaft while three desperados hunt him down. These outlaws, seeking something valuable Pinky's Sioux ma had left behind, murdered his foster parents. Pinky narrowly escapes, jumping a stage to "Satan's Playground," or Virginia City of 1862, with its colorful mix of greedy gunslingers, "Celestials," "Soiled Doves" and even Sam Clemens with the occasional jarring witticism. Best of all, he runs into Poker Face Jace who teaches him how to read people's feet, "the most honest part of a man's body." Pinky is likable. A wannabe detective, he's resourceful and smart, gutsy but not foolhardy…and partial to black coffee. Jace's detailed lessons in human "tells" drag on a smidge, but readers will fully grasp how thirsty Pinky is for this information that's more precious to him than silver. Wonderfully dry humor, vivid sensory descriptions of the mountain town and a genuinely appealing protagonist make this a stand-out. A rich vein of wisdom runs through this highly entertaining, swashbuckling series debut. (1862 map of Virginia City, glossary) (Historical fiction. 10-14)

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March 1, 2012

Gr 6-8-In 1862, 12-year-old P. K. Pinkerton discovers his foster parents murdered in their cabin. He feels no grief, apparently because he is autistic. The killer is ruthless desperado Whittlin Walt, who then pursues P. K. for his valuable mine claim. The boy flees to lawless Virginia City, Nevada Territory, to register his document. There he meets many motley citizens of the Wild West town: Belle Donne, a Soiled Dove who robs him; Samuel Clemens, a newspaperman who quotes Mark Twain; Grafton T. Brown, an African American artist; "Chinamen"; and Jace, a cardsharp who teaches grateful P. K. to decipher body language. The denouement takes place in a mine shaft amid a startling revelation. This book is more an adventure story than a mystery. While it contains appealing elements and an intriguing premise, it seems flat at times because P. K. does not comprehend emotion. His oblique references to that fact may confuse readers. Numerous characters and scenarios have him bouncing from saloon to shop without much connection. The biggest concern, however, is audience. Descriptions of prostitutes and desire, while not detailed, indicate older readers. P. K.'s age and innocent manner suggest an elementary audience, but the mature concepts make that problematic. Middle schoolers may wish to try Jean Ferris's Much Ado About Grubstake (Harcourt, 2006).-Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 15, 2012
Grades 4-6 *Starred Review* The year is 1862, and P. K. Pinkerton, on his twelfth birthday, finds his stepparents brutally scalped. He realizes that vicious outlaw Whittlin' Walt and his two henchmen now have their sights set on him. Seems P. K. has something they want: a mysterious deed, which is a legacy from his railroad-detective birth father. So P. K. takes off running, with the terrible trio in relentless pursuit, from tiny Temperance to the lawless silver-mining town of Virginia City. As things intensify, P. K. must use his wits (and occasional disguises) to survive. A winning blend of Wild West and classic detective lore, this first book in the Western Mysteries series is a fast-paced, engrossing read, from beginning to end. P. K. is a wonderfully drawn, engaging protagonisthalf Sioux, half white, and a self-proclaimed misfitwho has difficulty reading others and expressing emotion. But he also has gifts, like exceptional memory, keen observational powers, and resourcefulness. His vernacular, colloquial first-person account vividly brings characters to life, from cunning Belle Donne to slick, unexpectedly kind gambler Jace. Both settings and eventsincluding exciting, occasionally gory, confrontationsare filled with droll touches, period details, and poignant moments. Though literary allusions (including Charles Dickens and Mark Twain) sprinkled throughout may elude some readers, it doesn't matter; they'll cheer P. K. on and anticipate his next adventure. An appended glossary includes referenced real-life people and details.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)