The Last Days of the National Six-Gun Detective Agency

The Last Days of the National Six-Gun Detective Agency follows detectives Thomas Nolan and Nora Webb who operate a detective agency in New Mexico during the early 1920s. Their lives intersect with a cast of characters spanning law enforcement, criminals, and everyday citizens in the American Southwest. Through a series of investigations and encounters, Nolan and Webb navigate both professional and personal challenges as they work cases in a region transitioning from its frontier past. The narrative takes place against the backdrop of technological and social changes, as automobiles begin replacing horses and traditional Western ways fade. Set in 1921, the novel captures a pivotal moment when the mythic Old West meets modernity, examining themes of loyalty, justice, and adaptation to change. The story considers what happens when longstanding institutions and ways of life must evolve or disappear entirely.

This 2023 book has limited reader reviews available so far. The few public reviews note the book's brevity (128 pages) and focus on stylistic elements over plot. Readers appreciated: - The noir atmosphere and western genre mashup - Hansen's descriptions of 1940s Los Angeles - The tight, minimalist writing style Readers criticized: - Characters feeling underdeveloped - Plot threads left unresolved - Price point being high for the short length Current ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (14 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (6 ratings) One Goodreads reviewer said "The atmosphere is spot on but I wanted more character depth." An Amazon review noted "Excellent noir style but too short to fully deliver on its premise." This limited review data may not represent broad reader consensus, as the book was released in late 2023.

Doc by Mary Doria Russell A fictionalized account of Doc Holliday's life blends historical events with imagined personal moments to create a portrait of the Wild West gunslinger before the OK Corral.

Epitaph: A Novel of the O.K. Corral by Mary Doria Russell This historical novel chronicles the events leading up to and following the gunfight at the O.K. Corral through multiple perspectives of the participants and witnesses.

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt Two hitmen brothers traverse the 1850s American frontier on a job that leads them to question their violent profession and relationship with each other.

News of the World by Paulette Jiles A Civil War veteran agrees to transport a young girl rescued from the Kiowa back to her relatives in Texas, leading to a journey across the lawless post-war frontier.

True Grit by Charles Portis A fourteen-year-old girl hires a U.S. Marshal to track down her father's killer in Indian Territory, resulting in a manhunt that tests both their determination and survival skills.

🔎 Although fictional, the book draws heavily from the real-life Pinkerton National Detective Agency, which operated during the same time period and similarly specialized in railroad security and manhunts. 🤠 Ron Hansen extensively researched 19th-century detective work and railroad operations to create authentic period details, including actual train schedules and geographical landmarks from 1875. 📚 The author, Ron Hansen, is known for blending historical events with fiction, as seen in his other works like "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," which was adapted into a film starring Brad Pitt. 🚂 The novel's focus on railroad security reflects a genuine historical concern - train robberies were so common in the 1870s that railroad companies spent over $200,000 annually on private security. 🌟 Hansen wrote much of the book while serving as the Gerard Manley Hopkins Professor of Arts and Humanities at Santa Clara University, where he continues to teach creative writing.