'Retribution' is DV Berkom's first western-themed novel, and first in this brief series centered on protagonist Claire Whitcomb. In a literally fiery opening, Claire is left homeless with her entire family killed before her eyes. Set in and around Leadville, Colorado in 1880, the story tells how Claire seeks help, then seeks justice, then seeks retribution.
One of the strongest aspects of this series is that Claire is blended in with a number of historical characters that add authenticity and intrigue to her adventures. Some of the larger-than-life real people you meet here have already had stories, poetry, and opera (really!) written and performed to this date. At least one other was on a cusp in his life when Claire shows up in this tale.
In 'Gunslinger' we follow Claire as she leaves Leadville for Tombstone, Arizona Territory at the end of summer 1880 . She has spent the remainder of the summer polishing her gun (and bow-and-arrow and tomahawk and knife) fighting skills, ready to embark on the next stage of her life. She has an introductory letter to Wyatt Earp from her mentor, Leadville’s now-retired marshal, Mart Duggan, as she takes the newly connected railroad spur to Pueblo.
Along the way, Claire foils an attempted robbery of the train before they can safely traverse Royal Gorge. She takes on the role of security for a touring actress and her entourage and expects to ensure her safety on the way to Tombstone. Once arrived in the “town too tough to die,” Claire connects with the Earps and befriends Doc Holliday. She is further embroiled in the mystery of the attempts on the life of her thespian protectee and proves her worth as a true Gunslinger.
'Legend' opens in March 1881, and Claire has wintered in Tombstone without getting into too much trouble, but there are some clouds on her horizon, and not only late winter snow. Claire has taken on as a shotgun messenger with the local stage service and is on her way out the door for a day’s run when she is attacked by a woman who claims to be her friend Doc Holliday’s wife! “Big Nose Kate,” so called more because she has her nose in many enterprises, not always her own, has come hunting for Doc and found Claire. Disrupting things is Kate’s chief activity throughout this last volume of Claire’s story, but Claire’s challenges only begin here.
Further along, in ‘Legend,’ Claire will have to sort out her ambitions as gunslinger and friend to Holliday and the Earps. After a summer of heat, and the greatest fire in Tombstone’s short history, Claire is watching the developments leading up to – and following – the gunfight at the OK Corral.
Mixed into the action of the historical years of ’81-‘82, is the delivery of a murderer to Tucson, and running into a true band of Apache renegades, giving up one of her prized possessions in a contest of wills at the band’s challenge. The loss is somewhat softened by the find of a cache of gold that leaves Claire well-fixed for her future.
The saga winds back to Leadville, Colorado and finally on to Alaska. In 1888, the news follows from Kate of Doc Holliday’s passing in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Kate has been with Doc at the end.
Throughout this saga, Claire has developed as a complex character, and I felt 'Legend' was the most complex of the three novels. I was distinctly disappointed when I learned that this may be the end of the short series. I'm anxious to see if DV Berkom can stretch to keep Claire alive for us, too!