Death Mask

by Cotton Smith

Texas Ranger, Time Carlow, has to track down a mysterious hired gunman who seems to use a different gun for each killing. Is Time next on the killer’s list?

316 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Cotton Smith was born in Kansas City, Missouri; some would say a century later than he should have. He grew up enjoying both adjoining states, Kansas and Missouri, living mostly in Kansas. His ancestors fought in the Civil War, mostly for the South, as regulars and guerillas. As a young man, he learned to ride horses from a grizzled wrangler he remembers fondly. He also learned how to roll a cigarette then, too! "Looking back on it, he taught me the right ways around a horse -- and he taught me some other things too. Like swinging into the saddle with the horse loping. And springing up from the rear, like the movie stars did. Never occurred to me then that I could get hurt. Guess no young person ever does."

Early in life, he was also exposed to the ways of the Plains Indian, to their sacred ceremonies, customs and traditions. His appreciation for their spiritual connection to the land and all that occupied it was heightened by involvement with Indian friends and backed by extensive research. Both touched him deeply and can be readily seen in his caring -- and accurate--portrayal of Indians in his novels. Throughout his stories, one finds intriguing glimpses of this insight, giving readers a sense of what really was and why.

Reviews

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Time Carlow, his wolfhound Chance, and his uncle Thunder Kileen are Irishmen serving as Texas Rangers who foil a bank robbery being committed by a fellow Ranger named Tanneman Rose. This Rose character is quite an oddball, manipulative and sneaky, theatrical, knowledgeable about everything Texas, a believer in reincarnation, and is often found mumbling prayerfully in a strange language he claims is Persian because he was a Persian shaman in a prior life.

Some spoilery events happen early so I'll just say that Rose's evil quest for vengeance shares a concurrent narrative with the Carlow men's adventures after they leave him in prison and go about other Rangering duties.

"Death Mask" (2013) has an excessive amount of dialogue spoken with broken or stuttering English by folks with German, Irish, British-English, and Mexican backgrounds; enough that it makes it a bad read. Random example: "I-I don't know vat du - or der big Kileen hier be talkin' about. P-please ... I do nicht know. W-we are quiet people. W-we... I haff hurt no one. I haff nicht robbed any bank. I haff nicht taken any cow. P-please."

Lots of that prose really just gets old.

Verdict: "Death Mask" is kind of a cartoony action western with some quirky characters both good and bad.

Jeff's Rating: 2 / 5 (Okay)
movie rating if made into a movie: R

[Steve Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death Mask

I am so sorry to have the series about Time Carlow and Thunder Killeen end. My understanding is that they don’t appear in anymore of Cotton Smith’s books. I also felt that way about Rule Cordell and John Checker and their disappearance helped lead to Carlow and Kileen. Oh well, as always, compelling characters and stories!!

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Western of Texas, Texas Rangers and Betrayal by One Ranger

CS has written of characters from the old days of the Texas Rangers who actually rode the trails. The Rangers upheld Texas law with a firm, just and often strong physical replies. The life of a Ranger was constant movement from one area of the state to another. As the Civil War ended the mass migration of men, women and children led to many problems which had to be corrected or ended. This is an excellent read for the genre.....ER

[Sandra Kirkpatrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a good read

The story is about a Texas ranger going rogue. Commuting bank robberies with his brothers. The Texas rangers were waiting for them in a town. They robbed the bank an a shootout began one brother was caught the others were killed. The one bought went to trial and was found guilty. Eventually escapes.The Texas rangers have to find him.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the book. As a 16 year old girl who loves westerns this is a very engaging book, and isn’t as dull as others in the genre. All of the characters are well fleshed out and very like able. 10/10!

[Jeff]

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