Roundup (G K Hall Nightingale Series Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Sturdy and functional Western
Review: Willis Todhunter Balalrd employed a range of pseudonyms to write a great many novels and stories across a wide genre range and this is an example of his work in the Western ,where in my view he did his best work .
It is set in Wyoming range country .It opens with a small and somwhat feckless rancher ,Cornish McTague,about to be beaten to a pulp by Boyce Hardiday ,the foreman of the largest ranch in the area ,McTague having accused him of rustling his steers .He is aaved by the timely arrival of Len Garrett who steps in to face Hardiday down .
Garrett has his own reasons for the action -his friend ,Apt Hempstead has disappeared ,having been sent to investigate suspicions that Hardiday is stealing from his employers and is about to go into business for himself .He is keen to get to the bottom of the matter and avenge the death of his friend .
Trouble flares when he goes to the annual steer roundup with Janey McTague ,the daughter of the rancher he saved earlier .She is coveted by Hardiday and Swenson another prominent local rancher

Garrett survives two ambush attempts set up by Hardiday and in escaping from the second stumbles across the town Of Roach ,ruled over by a wheelcahiar ridden local Mr Big ,Joanas Frost and his black assistant Joeby .Frost reveals that Hempstead was killed by Hardiday and Swenson who have been conspiring to steal cattle and set up on their own ;
The last part of the book deals with Garrett's attempt to smash the unholy alliance and at the same time protect the headstrong Janey .
There is a neat suprise ending and plenty of lively action in a no frills Western that genre fans will like but that will probably not appeal to a wider audience .

Good mid 1950's pulp with no suprises but lots of energy