Book Review: The Chivalry of Crime

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Chivalry of Crime     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Desmond Barry
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Western   Historical
Little, Brown; Feb 2000; $24.95; 373 pp.

In 1892 Weaver, Colorado, teenager Joshua Beynon is ecstatic because one of his heroes, the notorious John Ford is in town. Joshua manages to meet the legend. Enjoying the hero worship, John hires the fifteen-year old to do some jobs for him. Joshua finally obtains his life’s desire, a gun, but accidentally kills his father.

While Joshua sits in jail waiting for his murder trial, John visits him and regales him with the true stories about James and the gang as seen through Ford’s eyes. During the Civil War Jesse was part of a marauding group that allegedly avenged Union atrocities, but who were, in reality, even more violent than their Northern counterparts. After the war, Jesse formed the gang that robbed banks, trains, and indiscriminately killed people sometimes just for the excitement and pleasure of murdering someone and getting away with it. He paints a picture of a regal, charming, but psychopathic killer who enjoyed the flow of blood.

THE CHIVALRY OF CRIME is an excellent retelling of the Jesse James story narrated by the famous robber’s assassin. The story line is crisp, fast-paced, and filled with action as the dichotomy of Jesse James’ behavior serves as the focus of the plot. A subplot involving Joshua’s trial slows down the tale a bit. However, once that is hurdled, the novel reaccelerates at SST speed to its climax. Debut author Desmond Barry writes an intriguing and triumphant western that debunks the romantic mythos of the late nineteenth century gunslinger.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

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