I’ve reviewed novels by Daniel Boyd (aka, Dan Stumpf) and you can check out those posts here and here. This new novel, Aesop’s Travels, is narrated by Beefy Beaumont, proprietor of the Queen of Egypt saloon in Greenfield, located in Traill County in the State of North Dakota near the end of the 19th Century.

Beefy’s best friend, gambler Charlie Greenfield, a fixture in the saloon, finds himself charged with the murder of his brother Younger Harrow.

While Beefy works on trying to clear his friend before he’s hung from the gallows being built down the street, Beefy also has to deal with the challenges of running a business. When Beefy took over the Queen of Egypt salloon, he found an abused young boy living in a crate in the back. Beefy renames the boy Little Aesop and reads to the lad every night from Aesop’s Fables to educate him.

The resolution of Charlie’s fate is messy and leads to Beefy, Little Aesop, a gunfighter named Johnny Pesos, a guide named Dawg, and Charlie to take a dangerous journey. The wild card in the mix is Maudie Hubbard, a woman who loves Charlie while Beefy pines for her affection.

Little Aesop surprises everyone with an unexpected talent. Beefy and the group travel while killers lurk in their path. If you’re looking for a well told story with a classic Western setting and compelling characters, don’t miss Aesop’s Travels. I consider Aesop’s Travels Dan Stumpf’s best book! GRADE: A