Get your Signed copy today! Amazon Category:  Western Publisher: PublishAmerica ISBN-10:  1591299233 Type: Fiction Pages: 205 Copyright: Jan 1 2002 Price: $3.50 (eBook) Don't mess with Marshal Watson, or any of his family eBOOK available from author. paper out of print . Pappy Watson is a U.S. Marshal intrigued by forensics during the early 1900s. His use of the new technology will prove invaluable when a man is wrongly accused of murder by a wealthy Texas rancher.   Excerpt “You shoulda been there Bodine.” Pappy’s chuckle sounded in the dusky twilight. “Was quite a show after the hawk spooked Martinez’ mount.” He took another swallow of his coffee. “Reckon it musta been.” Bodine grinned. “I’ve seen that horse of yours when he get a mite riled.” Pappy told how The Mexican had looked over the hackamore, and made the mistake of putting his foot into the stirrup. A little whistle sounded from the direction where Bodine was leaning back in his chair. “Figure that musta been when all hell broke loose.” “Tell you Bodine,” Pappy chuckled at the memory. “Shadow like to drug him over every cactus, rock, and thorn bush he could find.” He told Bodine he had had quite a job trying to keep from busting out laughing. Martinez was too occupied to notice Pappy had rolled over and was laying there snickering at the sight. “Rifle went flying. Martinez had his foot caught up in the stirrup, he was hanging onto that pommel and hopping around like a one legged chicken trying to get away from a fox.” Pappy said that when the gasping Martinez was near wore clean out, “Shadow up and stopped his prancing around and stood nice and still.” "Umm hmm,” Bodine chuckled, “and that is when Martinez figured everything was going to be okay. Whoeee, Pappy what came next musta really been a sight.” Pappy nodded, “Martinez got mounted, looked around for his rifle where it was laying over on the ground a little ways away.” Pappy took a long swallow of the coffee. “And,” his voice was filled with mirth, he was drawing it out for the best effect, “next thing he did was dig those damn spurs into Shadow’s flank.” Bodine stopped rocking. Even in the dusky darkness Pappy saw Bodine had blanched out white as a saucer of milk. “My Land.” He turned to face Pappy. “You don’t mean it,” Bodine gasped in disbelief. “He didn’t.” “Did.” “Wonder he isn’t dead.”

Palo Verde: The Wanted Poster
Reviewed by Maria Osborne Perry August 10, 2002
author
http://bonnyswanreviews.20fr.com/
The Review
PAL0 VERDE: The Wanted Poster
by Martin Hollingshead
Highly Recommended

Molly Martin breaks new ground in crime fiction with her novel, PALO VERDE: The Wanted Poster.


Set in the days of pioneering Texas, someone in Crawford County has shot the innocent son of a rancher in cold blood and accusations have been centered on another rancher named Boone. But Marshal "Pappy" Watson, well acquainted with the man's less than Sunday-school-teacher character, knows this kind of crime is not Boone's style. The man who cries the loudest for Boone to be brought to justice isn't without his own flaws -with his greedy eyes forever poring over the legal properties of his neighbors, properties littered with cattle ponds seeping of black scum. Pappy has his theories, but frontier custom and common sense restrain accusation based on gut feelings.

Ms. Martin Hollingshead draws the reader quickly into this story by exploring the psyches and personal motives of those involved in the murder and Marshal Watson's unflagging faith in the new-fangled science. He's a staunch and crusty lawman of the practical, self-educated variety, a plague to elitist Yankees; and I was as much eager to see his theories and intelligence vindicated as I was to see justice dealt. The cynical Martinez is the most interesting of the villains, for despite his amoral investments his self-questioning looms heavily in his conscience throughout the story.

The narrative of PALO VERDE: The Wanted Poster is fittingly dry, often the characters self- analytical. If you're looking for romance, you'll be disappointed, but I did enjoy the refreshingly chivalrous way the men behaved toward the female characters there were. The descriptions of life in the turn-of-the century homesteading town is very convincing here, the landscape detail in particular is unequaled for its accuracy. I enjoyed the gruff talk of the cowboys, ranchers and other characters, and Ms. Hollingshead obviously did her homework when researching all the small things, such as clothing and common culinary habits of the people of this time and region.

Hollingshead's study into criminal motives and law enforcement methods reminds me of a old-west episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. You know what's in the bad guy's mind, your emotions are tested along with the investigator as he meets obstacles and rides his hunches, and yet you have little idea how the opposing forces are going to meet in the final resolution. A psychologically spirited and well researched tale, PALO VERDE: The Wanted Poster is a treat for criminal fiction enthusiasts.




PaloVerde: The Wanted Poster
Reviewed by Christine Spindler, mystery author

http://www.angelfire.com/super2/spindler/index.html



The Review:

With Palo Verde: The Wanted Poster, Molly Martin Hollingshead, accomplished author of mystery, children's books and non-fiction, has set out to conquer another genre: the Western.



With a splendid mix of real Western atmosphere, absolutely divine characters and her trademark quirky humor, she pulls the reader into a story full of twists and surprises.



And I see you're already working on the sequel. That's great :-)