GREAT READS

Roy Bean's Gold: A Western Story

by W.R. Garwood.

Roy Bean's Gold by W.R. Garwood is the fictional story of Judge Roy Bean in his younger days - the "prequel" if you will. This plot-driven, first person narrative is set in the years immediately following the 1849 California gold rush days, where 23-year-old Bean briefly partners with an outlaw, then later goes on a quest for the outlaw's buried gold. The writing style is beautifully visual, and the reader will learn quite a bit about the California history of that time. Full of action and more than one pretty senorita, this western keeps your interest right up to the surprising ending.

Recommended by Angela Prandini