Book Blurb:
It’s 1954, and San Francisco writer Phoebe Kelley is enjoying the success of her first novel, Lady in the Desert. When her sister-in-law asks her to return to Tribulation, Arizona, to help run the H Double Bar Dude Ranch, Phoebe doesn’t hesitate.
There’s competition from a new dude ranch this year, so the H Double Bar puts on a rodeo featuring a trick rider with a mysterious past. When accidents begin to happen around the ranch, Phoebe jumps in to figure out why, and confronts an unexpected foe.
Dude or Die is the second book in Lynn Downey’s award-winning H Double Bar Dude Ranch series.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/pQ7b
Author Bio:
I'm a second generation Californian, I write non-fiction about the West and historical mysteries about dude ranching. I'm also a consulting archivist. I work with businesses, libraries, and museums to organize their historical materials, help researchers, and create exhibits.
My latest history book is "American Dude Ranch: A Touch of the Cowboy and the Thrill of the West." Did I mention I'm interested in dude ranching? The book is a cultural history of this original American vacation, and is full of stories about food, movies, western wear, women's history and their intersection with the dude ranch.
My first novel, "Dudes Rush In" came out in fall of 2020, a cozy, historical mystery set on the H Double Bar dude ranch in Arizona the 1950s. I have a strong woman heroine, and a cast of cowboy characters. "Dudes Rush In" won the Will Rogers Medallion Award and placed first for Arizona Historical Fiction at the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards.
The next novel in the series, "Dude or Die," is now available. COWGIRL magazine said, "Dude or Die is charming and fun. It will keep you turning the page."
The history next book is now percolating in my brain: the story of Frederick Loring, a young Boston writer who signed on as secretary to a dangerous western expedition in 1871. He wrote sparkling stories for a New York magazine about the people he met, and would have been a great 19th century writer had he survived a stagecoach attack in Arizona at the end of his travels. I'm telling the story of his life, and about the West within his words.
Check out my books and remember: don't squat on your spurs.
Editorial Review:
In a second novel, Lynn Downey takes readers back to H Double Bar Dude Ranch. The year is 1954 and Phoebe Kelley is headed back to Arizona after her sisters requests her help running the family dude ranch. Phoebe is all too happy be involved with H Double Bar Dude Ranch but quickly learns that the ranch is facing competition from another ranch. In their search for a way to compete, the sisters decide to put on a rodeo featuring a trick rider that is sure to garner attention. Before long things begin to go awry and accidents keep popping up on the dude ranch. Phoebe must get to the bottom of the mystery and figure out just what is going on. With excellent writing and a talent for blending historical elements seamlessly into the story, Lynn Downey is sure to capture readers’ attention in Dude or Die.
“Powell was a tall, thin woman, who’d posed standing by the registration desk talking to a cowboy wearing clean jeans and very shiny spurs. She was in a simple black dress, pearl earrings, and had four strands of pearls around her neck, which Phoebe thought was a little strange for the manager of a dude ranch.”
Dude or Die is the second in the H Double Bar Dude Ranch series by Lynn Downey. It is not necessary to read the first book, Dudes Rush In, before reading Dude or Die. It is a stand-alone book that readers will enjoy without having experienced Downey’s writing. Many readers will prefer to read the first novel and the second novel continues the original characters’ stories. The characters are a highlight of the novel and will most likely be one of the most endearing elements of the novel for many readers.
“A chandelier made out of a wagon wheel was the focal point of the room. The refectory-style tables were covered in red and turquoise striped cloths with matching napkins, and the chairs were upholstered in a pale turquoise. Baskets of bread, candles, and little copper bowls filled with pebbles and small succulents lined the table. Mary and Sam always sat apart from each other with the guests, and Joe usually sat with his dad. Each of the tables could seat ten people, but tonight they squeezed in an extra chair since there were eleven of them for supper. The crowding made everyone laugh, but no one minded, and strategically placed fans kept the group comfortable.”
One of the strengths of Downey’s writing is her use of imagery and details. She does an excellent job describing the people, places, events, and more in detail. Her vivid descriptions make it possible for most readers to vividly picture the dude ranches and rodeos right in their mind as they read. While the detailed descriptions create writing that it enjoyable to read, there are other issues with her writing. Downey focuses so much on her imagery and descriptions that interal character development and dialogue are lacking. If a reader really appreciates internal introspection and dialgoue to develop characters and paint a more clear picture of the character, they may find that there is not as much of this in Dude or Die as in similar novels.
“The crowd gasped when she seemed to fall off the horse, but she held on to the saddle, bounced on her feet in the dirt, and then jumped back on. She did the same movement five more times as the audience continued to cheer.”
Dude or Die is set in 1954 but it does not feel like a traditional historical fiction novel. While there are certainly historical elements within the novel and the author has done a fabulous job incorporating those elements, most readers will probably feel like it reads more like literary novel. The author clearly has an excellent understanding of the history of rodeos, dude ranches, and more but incorporates that history so seamlessly readers will hardly notice.
“There were rumors that Steve’s girlfriend Nora Collins would soon be wearing an engagement ring, and that meant she would be added to the little group of people Phoebe spent her off-hours with. Eden was also a new friend, and that thought made her happy.”
Readers who enjoy western themes and settings will love Dude or Die. It is a fun and easy read so those just dipping their toe into this genre will find this book to be one that is a great introduction. At a little over three hundred pages, it is not overwhelming to read either. It is also a great choice for those who prefer clean novels that are not overly saturated with adult themes and romance.
“She noticed that quite a few of the girls, and even some of the mothers, had small notebooks with them, and they all asked Eden for her autograph. For a moment she looked flustered, blushing as the first few girls held out their books. But it didn’t take long for her to handle the requests as if she’d been signing her name for years.”
Detailed writing and a story that keeps readers engaged combine with endearing characters and a fun western setting to create a novel that readers won’t be able to stop reading. This entertaining read earns a solid four out of five rating. Whether readers have read Downey’s first novel or not, they are sure to enjoy the story, characters, and setting they will find in Dude or Die.
*****
“Dude or Die” by Lynn Downey receives four stars from The Historical Fiction Company
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