Lone Calder Star

While the rest of the rural Texas community cringes cravenly in fear, a handsome, virile stranger, aided by a codger and his spirited daughter, challenges the absolute power of the unscrupulous rich rancher and his brawny, randy son. An entry in the bestselling author's Calder family saga, this Western skimps on character depth and freshness, and lards on clichés of style and (we use the term loosely) substance. Anna Fields contributes excellent diction and accurate phrasing but seems eager to get the assignment over with. Sounding a bit more nasal than usual, she doesn't quite "phone it in" but frequently sounds unengaged with the text. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

May 30, 2005
Debuting in 1981, the eight western romances chronicling the saga of Montana's Calder family are the superstars among Dailey's more than 100 books. This ninth novel follows young ex-lawman Quint Echohawk (a grandson of the series' original protagonist, Chase Calder) on an undercover mission from the family's Montana homeground to Texas, where the rival Rutledge millionaire clan is attempting a hostile takeover of neighboring ranches, including the Calders' sole Lone Star state ranch, the Cee Bar. With virtually the entire town intimidated or bribed into conspiring in the Rutledges' ruthless dealings, loner Quint faces perils ranging from fire to starvation to anthrax, with no allies save two small, out-of-business ranchers: crusty old-timer "Empty" Gardner and his grandaughter, Dallas. Characterizations are somewhat less complex than in early Calder novels. They're also less consistent. A plot twist in which the supposedly whip-smart, principled and gutsy Dallas is motivated by fear to spy on Quint for Rutledge's almost stereotypically slimy son, for instance, is not entirely convincing. (Or appealing; the charm of all Dailey's Calder women lies in their clear-headed grit.) Still, the passion, spirit and strength readers expect from a Calder story-and a Calder hero-shine through, as does the author's gift for vividly bringing the western landscape to life.