Blue-Eyed Devil

Parker passed away earlier year, so this is likely the last ride with laid-back but deadly cowboys Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. The novel is filled with Parker's vivid descriptions and entertaining characters. Multiple plotlines keep listeners intrigued with lusty and violent action. Titus Welliver's voice comes across as natural and appropriate for the Western genre. He excels in portraying the male characters and is successful at softening his voice and raising its pitch to portray credible females. The relationship between Virgil and Everett is filled with camaraderie. Listeners will enjoy their offhand jokes as well as Parker's descriptions of the Old West. S.C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

March 29, 2010
This excellent posthumous western from bestseller Parker (1932–2010) continues the saga of gun-slinging saddle pals Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch (after Brimstone
) as they trade wisecracks and hot lead with back-shooting owlhoots and murderous Apaches in the town of Appaloosa. Cole and Hitch used to be the law in town, but now Appaloosa has a corrupt, ambitious, and deadly police chief named Amos Callico backed up by 12 rifle-toting cops of dubious background, and though Callico sees Cole and Hitch as impediments to his plans for extortion and high political office, his threats don't worry the boys much. Meanwhile, Cole kills the son of a prominent rancher in a fair fight, renegade Apaches plan an attack on the town, and a mysterious dandy arrives in town with a sinister agenda. Fortunately, Cole and Hitch are smart and resourceful, and there's trickery, gunplay, and throat-cutting until only a few folks are left standing. Lean, fast, and full of snappy dialogue, it's everything a series fan would expect.