Educated Injun

Educated Injun #1

by R.L. Kiser

· Not your ordinary western.· In the late 1800s old American west an orphaned Indian boy is raised and educated by a powerful federal judge. With a law degree from Harvard, a U.S. Marshal's badge, a clever mind (and a few of the Judge's cigars from a locked humidor) he is tasked to slip covertly into the lawless west to uncover illegal cattle drug doings. On the way he picks up a former Calvary lieutenant sharpshooter running from the law for something he didn't do.· Even though the quick-witted Marshal jokingly mess with his partners head they work well together and track these clever businessmen across the western territories on horseback, by train, and even ships in San Francisco harbor to bring them to justice. A task easier said than done. The Merle and Hawk adventure begins.• Tyrone Narrowhawk - an intelligent Indian known simply as Hawk, raised by a powerful federal judge. Educated at an eastern Jamestown College, graduated with honors, law degree from prestigious Harvard University, a U.S. Marshal’s star, his wits, and a gun.• Merle Johnson - a former Calvary Lieutenant sharp shooter turned cowboy just trying to make his way in life when circumstances turn him upside down.• Pike Winslow -an old cowboy lawman well past retirement age that hasn’t slowed down a bit. In his day he taught Hawk a few things.• Judge Hostettler - a powerful man in Washington D.C and Denver society, given charge by the President of the United States over the lawless western territories.• G. Dunston - a rich cattle baron whose greed leads him to believe he’s above the law. Not even his powerful friends will protect him from Hawk’s brand of justice.• Steely-eyes -an intelligently cold, calculating killer, henchman for Dunston and company.

177 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 22, 2012

About the author

R.L. Kiser has authored several books available as eBooks and Paperbacks. He started writing science fiction at age 14 but didn't publish until decades later. His works include four fantasy novels, two western/detective novels, and a SciFi Adventure, which garnered a 5 star review and made the first cut of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award in 2013.
Born in Idaho, raised in Arizona, grew up in Los Angeles, he's a Vietnam Veteran, been a musician, a Hollywood taxi driver, a computer programmer, a single parent, ran his own Internet marketing business, and is an avid (novice) bicyclist. He does his own bicycle maintenance and repair. He holds an associate's degree in computer science.

He currently resides in Sparks, Nevada with 3 computers, 3 bicycles, a recumbent trike, and an 02 year old Mercedes SUV (no, that does not stand for Small Ugly Vehicle). He's currently hiding from the ATF, CIA, DEA, DHS, DMV, DOD, DOT, ICE, IRS, HUD, ONI, and FBI, but the NSA knows where he is.

Reviews

[Patricia Hamill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Educated Injun is an energetic, action-adventure set in the Old West.

The main character, Merle, finds himself in trouble when he takes on a job that's too good to be true and ends up on the bad side of some cattle rustlers. He soon teams up with Hawk, an indian marshall, who helps him out of the bind in exchange for his assistance in going after the guy behind not only the rustling, but also smuggling and other nefarious deeds.

I most enjoyed the fast paced, action driven storyline and the tongue-in-cheek banter between Merle and Hawk (and between Hawk and the judge that put him through college). Besides that, I got a kick out of Merle's nemesis, a certain shoulder cannon with, well, a kick.

In summary, Educated Injun is action-packed, funny, clever, and entertaining.

[Bonnie Staughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Educated Injun" is a good time Western with the "good guys" chasing the "bad guys". I enjoyed the story line and the relationship between Tyrone Narrowhawk "Hawk", the U.S. Marshal, and Merle Johnson, his deputy.

Unfortunately, some of the proof reading is lacking as there are several typos and, being a nearly lifelong horse owner and rider, spelling reins "reigns" is totally unacceptable. On page 71 reins was finally spelled correctly and I breathed a sign of relief. But, unfortunately, this correct spelling didn't continue through the end of the book.

The author did make convincing descriptions of guns, steam engines and how they work, how switching the rails work and being aboard a ship.

This is a book that packs a lot of action and I did enjoy it.

[Dennis Dupuis]

Fun read

A light read that delights in its story line, with characters that grow on you. As a purchased copy after a first-read giveaway it was a good move on my part.