Brimstone

Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch #3

by Robert B. Parker

Determined to locate a woman he loves who inexplicably ran off, hired gunman Virgil Cole, along with deputy Everett Hitch, makes his way across New Mexico and Texas before finding her in a brothel, a situation complicated by a religious man and saloon violence. By the best-selling author of Appaloosa.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Historical, Mystery Thriller

293 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2009

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database named Robert B. Parker.
Robert Brown Parker was an American writer, primarily of fiction within the mystery/detective genre. His most famous works were the 40 novels written about the fictional private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the mid-1980s; a series of TV movies was also produced based on the character. His works incorporate encyclopedic knowledge of the Boston metropolitan area. The Spenser novels have been cited as reviving and changing the detective genre by critics and bestselling authors including Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, and Dennis Lehane.
Parker also wrote nine novels featuring the fictional character Jesse Stone, a Los Angeles police officer who moves to a small New England town; six novels with the fictional character Sunny Randall, a female private investigator; and four Westerns starring the duo Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. The first was Appaloosa, made into a film starring Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen.

Reviews

[Jason Koivu · Rating 3 out of 5]

My god, the testosterone just oozes off the pages of these Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch books!

The plot of #3 gets a tad more philosophical as the story dabbles with religion more than the previous two, but that doesn't make this book anymore "deep". It's still about being macho and shooting the bejesus out of a lot of cowboys, ranch hands, and whoever else strays towards the gray side in the white vs black/good guy vs bad guy scheme of things. Get drunk and mouth off? That's a shootin'. Piss off Cole and Hitch? That's a shootin'. Shoot somebody? Oh that's definitely a shootin'!

While this one is perhaps more nuanced than others, I wasn't digging quite as much as the first two. I don't know why. Perhaps the subject matter. Parker had to paint some characters particularly annoying in order for the reader to be okay with them dying. Problem is, I already find that character trait annoying anyhow, so I got an AA dose of annoying. Having said that, Brimstone's perfectly fine and I'll move on to #4. That however will be the last of the Cole/Hitch books for me, because Parker died in media res and other author took over. I'm not interested in that nonsense, so it'll be time for me to mosey...

[Barb H · Rating 4 out of 5]

While reading this book, I heard the sad news that Robert Parker had died, ironically while sitting at his desk writing. Over 40 years he had written about 75 mysteries, most of which I have read. A touching tribute to him was in today's Boston Globe by a close fiend, Gary Goshgarian. He said, " He was probably the smartest person I've known and the quickest wit. His observations, never labored, were always incisive and sensible.His writing was brilliant and lean..." Later his friend stated, "He wrote about the things that were most important to him: love, family and human decency." In describing Parker throughout this article, one could sense the man behind his archetypal main characters, tough on his exterior and soft at his core.

Brimstone is a western, which is not usually the type of book I seek to read, but enjoyable nevertheless.It is, by the way, a continuation of an earlier book, Appaloosa . Parker, with his brief descriptions, is able to convey a vivid picture of life in the old West- harsh, cruel and difficult. The desert, the hardscrabble towns, the saloons, prostitution and, of course the gunfights are all well depicted. The main characters are the traditional "white hats" and "black hats", but Parker's dry wit and terse conversations lend much appeal to our heroes.

This was a good snowy day book to read, certainly not one requiring deep analysis, but just pleasure for reading the tale. I have heeded the advice of my GR friends and have resisted the tendency to compare this book to "greater works" in my evaluation. So in my Robert Parker "bubble" I will rate this book with four stars.

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cole and Hitch ride into Brimstone where they finally find Allie. She’s working in a low class saloon. The question is can she clean up her act for Cole?
Meanwhile, a preacher is at work trying to save souls. Unfortunately he thinks he’s God and can take advantage of all his parishioners, including Allie.
Cole and Hitch sign on as town deputies and have to find a renegade Comanche who has killed some men, kidnapped a woman and her daughter and has a score to settle with the richest guy in town.
Lots of shoot-em-up stuff with great characters! Excellent Western!

[Wade · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This is the third book in the series?" I say.
"It is," Cole says.
"And the first two were Appaloosa and Resolution?" I say.
Cole nods. "Yep," he says.
"Virgil, this seems to be basically the same story as the first two," I say.
"That it is," Cole says. "What's your point?"
"Seems like there should be some more character development," I say.
"Character development?" Cole says.
I sip my coffee. "Yeah," I say.
"Hmm," Cole say.
"Yeah," I say. "And Pike seems like a very similar character to Wolfson and Bragg from other books."
"That he is," Cole says.
“And we killed them all," I say.
"It would appear," Cole say.
I sip some more coffee. "No one is faster or better than you with a gun," I say.
"It's why I'm still alive," Cole says.
"Yep," I say.
"Yep," Cole says.
"That Allie sure is a tramp," I say.
Cole nods. "She is," Cole says.
"A pretty unlikeable character," I say.
Cole nods. "She is," Cole says.
"But at least we got to kill a lot of people in this book," I say.
"We sure did," Cole says.

[John Connolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Brimstone is one of Parker's westerns, it still reads very much like one of his Spenser PI novels, which were, in their way, westerns set in present-day Boston. Parker’s work is proof positive that we read for character, not plot. Brimstone’s plot isn’t up to much, and the same could be said for any number of the Spenser novels, but it was a pleasure to spend time in the company of the characters, and his books have passed many a happy flight for me, and kept me entertained over solo dinners when I’m away from home. God rest his soul.

[Adrienne]

Dnf

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having Covid has helped make a dent in my TBR list - two down and way too many to go 😆

After reading Parker’s Spenser series I was interested to see his take on Western characters. The language and subject matter is sometimes terrible, however, the books fly by, the characters have similar traits to Spenser and Hawk and the chapters are short. A good combination when the brain fog hasn’t quite lifted. 🤠

[Eric_W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook: I listen to a lot of audiobooks in the summer while mowing the lawn which takes about 4-5 hours and given the substantial rain we have had this summer, it’s at least once a week. It’s nice to have something entertaining while negotiating trees and hills.

This series has been wonderfully engaging. Third in the series featuring Cole and Hitch. They have found Allie, Virgil’s former lover who had run away following the abortive affair in Appaloosa. She was in Brimstone working as a whore. They rescue her from the situation and Virgil and Hitch take jobs in Brimstone as deputy sheriffs while Virgil and Allie try to get back on track. She has found religion under the suspect tutelage of Parnell who seems to be in league with Pike, a local saloon owner who is being tracked by a large Indian. Virgil and Hitch have their hands full.

The series has been continued following Parker’s death by Robert Knott. I am reluctant to
try them as I suspect capturing Parker’s unique style in this western series will be very difficult. The audio version, read by Rex Linn, which I sampled, doesn’t come close to Titus Welliver’s narration in the three original works by Parker. The narrator is very important in any audiobook and Welliver does a wonderful job with Parker’s unique cadence that’s so apparent in both the western and Jesse Stone series.

If you like Jesse Stone, I’m sure you’ll like Cole and Hitch.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read one other book by this author, and I remember not loving it. I needed this one for a book challenge this month, and again, I'm left not loving it. I liked the idea of Virgil Cole, I just had a hard time believing it.

The story was shallow. It was basically human trafficking among the Indians and the Mexicans, and oh yeah, some church leader. REALLY???? If I didn't need to read this, I would not have. Thankfully it was very short.

[Kelly Is Brighid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reliably enjoyable Western novel. I also like the printing & layout so a nod to the publishers. Eager for the next in this series.

[John of Canada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. It was not very politically correct, but it took place about two hundred years ago and there weren't enough woke web sites to rectify that. I hope there are more books in this series. If not, I will pick up some Spencer novels

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always Parker's books, whether Spenser, Randall, Jesse Stone, stand-alone or Virgil and Everett, are great dialogue driven stories...I'm looking forward to this one as I always do...Virgil and Everett (Spenser and Hawk of the 19th century) tame another town...a fun read in a genre that is not one of my favorites!!!

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not expecting to read the series after I finished Appaloosa, but now that I know that I can listen to them, narrated by Titus Welliver, I will definitely be looking forward to them, even more.

Having finished this book, I really, really want to know what happened to Virgil and Everett in Resolution.

[Steve Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third of Parker's four Cole & Hitch series. The two gunfighters become deputies in the town of Brimstone, where they get mixed up with a religious man trying to shut down the drinking joints.

I've not read the fourth yet, but this series gets better with each book. I thoroughly enjoyed this and wished it was longer (a rare thing for me to say). The story races along and is as straightforward and no nonsense as Virgil Cole himself. Parker brings all his skills as a noir thriller writer here, with lots of confrontational scenes making for a gripping read. The tiniest of criticisms would be that now and again I was becoming aware of the he said/she saids. But what the hell...

If you like Parker's thrillers, I don't think you'll be disappointed with his westerns. I wish he'd written more.

[Jason Laipply · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parker delivers again with yet another in the Virgil Cole / Everett Hitch series of western novels. Terse, focused story telling with colorful flourishes fleshing out these iconic characters from the western frontier.

[Krystle Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t want this series to end

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are those who claim that Parker had been writing Western novels for years- disguised as private eye novels. I cannot help but sort of agree.

First, I have to give Parker kudos for writing gritty westerns. The characters are mean and Parker portrays shootouts for the most part as they really were... nasty, violent, kill-em-all and show-no-mercy events. No warnings, not a lot of words.. just pull your gun and put the other guy down.

Second, the lead characters, Everett Hitch and Virgil Cole, are intriguing characters with some interesting behavior. Cole, in love with Allie, a former whore and unfaithful lover, just can't let her go, no matter how many men she chooses to bed. Hitch, the eight-gauge shotgun weilding partner, stands by Cole, never correcting him about his behavior or choices, but frequently correcting his pronunciation of some word in an effort to improve Cole's vocabulary.

Of course, one of the main stars of this series is Hitch's huge 8 gauge shotgun. Before seeing "Appaloosa" (which I thought was about a horse- but it is the name of a town) the biggest I had ever heard of was a 10 gauge. (For those who are unaware, the smaller the gauge in shotgun terms, the bigger the bore and the damage done- 8 gauge shotguns are illegal for hunting use in most areas- and to my knowledge no longer made-- hence a 12 gauge is a more potent weapons than a 20 gauge, and an 8 is even bigger).. This huge gun plays a prominent role in this story as Hitch always is in possession of this threatening weapon, which of course, draws remarks from almost everyone they meet.

The dialogue is crisply written and at times clever. However, Parker continues to sprinkle the "F" word (which would rarely have been used to this extent even among the roughest of people during this time period). More telling, at times in the novel, is not what the characters say, but what they do not say. At one point, Virgil ignores Hitch's questions, which reveal a great deal about what the answers would have been. (any more info would spoil the story)

Another problem I have is discerning what period (1870's, 1880's, 1890's) this story is actually set in. There are some references to Commanche and Apache Indian wars, but Parker acts as if they commanches are still running around, which would cause me to think 1870's at latest. Yet at one point a character has a Navy Colt that would have been almost outdated, unless converted to fire metallic cartridges, instead of cap and ball, which would likely have cost more than a new gun. Still, the Colt Navy was the favorite of Wild bill Hickok who died in 1876, so it could fit the period. If the setting is 1880's then the gun would be even more outdated, but it is described as an "old" Navy Colt. Still, the author leaves us to ponder the exact setting.

Why is setting important? Well, we have the idea, from movies for the most part, that the west was still pretty wild. Did you know that Tombstone had telephone service the same year as the OK Corral gunfight? Did you know that the death of Jesse James was reported to law enforcement via telephone? Not exactly the primitive period we sometimes think of.

Parker would have us believe that these fictional towns (Appalosa, Resolution, Brimstone, etc.) grew up around ranches and then disappeared?

While I enjoyed this novel and read it very quickly, and even felt it was better than some of the author's other offerings, I was not impressed with one of the characters, Brother Percival. This religious fanatic/hypocrite plays an important part in the story and eventually we gain the understanding that he is a nutjob. Some of the spiritual ideas he was tossing up were so far out in left field that I was distracted. In fact, in some ways, I think the novel would have been more straightforward if the author had simply focused on Pike and Company as the baddies and minimized contact with Brother Percival. Whether Parker was attempting to make a statement on religion or ministers was ambiguous to me-- I just didn't understand or even dislike the preacher character.

Parker's writing, at times, seems carefully plotted and planned, at others it seems rushed and hurried. This seems odd, but I like what I would describe as the varying tempo which adds to the suspense and the enjoyment of the action.

[Mary MacKintosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Parker wrote quick read books. The stories are fast paced and he builds the action along a morality theme. Virgil Cole is noble. His buddy Everett is more educated and yet Virgil is the heroic center, whom Everett interviews periodically to get Virgil's perspective on right and might. He is the Boswell to Virgil's Johnson. The first Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch title, Apaloosa, became a movie. Virgil loves a woman, Allie, with no moral center. Her inability to do the right thing often drives a portion of the story. To my sorrow there is only one more to read, I believe, because of Parker's death. I will miss Virgil and Everett as much as I will miss Spenser, and Stone.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alrighty then! Back in the saddle with another Cole-Hitch western and they are starting to fit like a well-worn pair of jeans, comfortable and familiar. Our not-so-dynamic duo is back to their regular role of cleaning out the bad guys, this time in the town of Brimstone. At times they are a bit simple and repetitive in conversation and comradeship, but they are fun to ride along with even if you pretty much know what the outcome is going to be. We're not talking high-level literature here, just a series that harkens back to the simpler stories you likely loved as a kid. There's violence and sex and mayhem and even some racism and misogyny, and I suppose these books might not conform to current correctness, but they are damn enjoyable, almost addictive. I do wish Parker had adopted a more modern way of delivering dialogue, because he must use a thousand "I said" and such. Nevertheless, pull up your rocker and grab your sweet tea, and join me for another yarn.

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the Virgil and Everett series. The conversations are blunt because Virgil is a man of few words. The buddy relationship makes it fun. The addition of an Apache tracker who has many of the traits of Virgil and Everett is a plus. We have a "militant" preacher and an old outlaw running a bar. Allie's character also becomes more developed. I suppose the complaints about this book may be valid. The characters are shallow (but in a likable sort of way). The book is also a quick read. This was not written as serious literature but for fun light reading.

[Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 that gets a friendly boost up. This was my first foray into Parker’s world of Cole and Hitch and it won’t be my last. Hitch, the Watson to Cole’s Holmes, tells the tale of the time he and Cole had to rescue and old friend, try a new life in a new town, get embroiled in some gang warfare disguised as a holy war.

Dialogue leads the way here and the pages zoom as fast as the bullets fly.

[Matt Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm with Virgil"

The most satisfying entry in the series yet, by a wide margin. It's a bummer that Parker only completed one more of these after this before his death. Here he lets himself have more over-the-top fun than usual, with a larger dose of humor and more unexpected twists, while further deepening his characters and their relationships. He even skirts the borders of the "Weird Western" subgenre, which was a cool bonus. You always know things are about to get kooky when a crazy preacher enters the picture, especially in a Western, and this one is no exception.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, enough is enough. I found the first volume of this series definitely above average, the second volume weaker than the first, and this one not any better than the second. No need to read any more of this series unless late this year I need a few quick reads to reach my goal (hahahaha).

[Barnabas Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vintage western - the Cole/Hitch novels are always great.

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this series. But the man doesn’t write dialogue well.

[Karen ReadsALot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Virgil Cole cleans up another hick town.

[Nate Hendrix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series. They are easy reads and entertaining. It's not every western that works in a mention of Clausewitz.

[Ray Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 'winner'.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everett Hitch who relates his and Virgil's escapades, plays sidekick to the taciturn and practically perfect Virgil. Virgil's one weak spot is his love for Allie. I can't call it a blind spot since he is completely aware of the foolishness of his infatuation. In this case, as they look for the wayward Allie they end up in the town of Brimstone. As always seems to be the case in these western towns there are (at least) two powerful ranchers or businessmen or political wannabes fighting it out for complete control of the town. Since these towns are not much more than a crossroads in the middle of nowhere it is hard to see the appeal of ownership. In Brimstone, which is a bit more of a thriving enterprise having actual business and citizens besides just cat houses and saloons, the struggle is between the owner of the largest saloon and a wild-eyed preacher. Allie becomes momentarily enamored of said preacher's message. The witty, quick dialogue between Virgil and Everett is the center of any entry in this series. Well worth it.

[Dontaná · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a reader of westerns. Sure, I'll watch Bonanza and The Ponderosa and Gunsmoke and Cheyenne with my mom; the shows are just so damn engrossing. But I don't read the books. I only watch the shows, because I grew up watching them with my grandmother, and watching them now brings a sense of nostalgia. Western books, though, have never been my cup of tea. I get my reading preferences from my grandmother. She read romance novels. I read romance novels. Logic.

Wanting to be a librarian, though, I figured I should try something new. I picked this up based on two things. 1) It's short. It's only four discs long. That's one week's worth of commutes to work. I can do that. 2) The librarian in charge of ordering the audiobooks recommended it to me, when told him I was going to need to read "a dreaded western". He said it was very cowboy-y, very western, but with a good story. I tried it.

Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch have one mission: Find Allie French. But doing so will lead to all kinds of trouble.

Virgil and Everett are looking for Allie French, Virgil's sweetie from Appaloosa. They've been looking for her for a while now, and finally they get word of her. She's working on her back. Virgil's not real happy about that. In fact, he can barely face her when they find her, and doesn't touch her for months. Allie admits to hating her life as a whore, so Virgil and Everett take her with them when they leave, on their way to a job in Brimstone as deputy sheriffs.

Once in Brimstone, they notice a church run by Brother Percival that is ruining the saloon business in town. The only saloon left alone is Pike's Palace, run by a man named Pike. Pike and Percival are in league, but Virgil and Everett can't figure out how. It's not until Virgil is told of whispered conversations and secret meetings between Pike and Percival that it becomes clear.

Have I mentioned the obligatory Native American kidnapper/human trafficker, the inevitable meetup and killing of said Native American, the rapes of a mother and her daughter in front of each other, the mother's madness, the daughter's muteness, Allie cheating on Virgil with Percival after telling him that she wouldn't sleep with another man after her stint as a saloon whore. Well, now I have.

Brimstone is the third novel in the Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch series, originated by Robert B. Parker and continued now by Robert Knott. I did not realize this when I started reading it, and wouldn't have known if I hadn't added the book to my Goodreads lists. Parker does a great job of adding just enough back story that this book feels like a standalone. The characters, though, feel like every other gunslinger, whore, reformed whore, and crazy Jesus reverend in every other Western.

Brimstone was a compelling read, though, mainly because of the narrator, Titus Welliver. An accomplished television and film actor, his voice work was really good. As Parker uses "said" for every character utterance, I wouldn't have been able to tell questions from yelling from whispering without his inflections. I'm pretty sure the only reason I kept listening was because I enjoyed Welliver's reading. The story was typical genre fare, but Welliver made it more interesting.

It was my first western, and I enjoyed myself. I'm not doing it again.