I’m a big fan of W. C. Tuttle’s Westerns. Tuttle manages to juggle all the elements required by western stories with humor and mystery. In The Redhead of Aztec Wells (1946) Tuttle introduces young redhead Johnny Avery whose father and uncle are framed for a bank robbery and then murdered in cold blood. Johnny escapes and grows up with revenge growing with each year. Now, years later, Johnny returns to the scene of crime with the intention of clearing his name and dispensing Justice. Johnny has a quick draw and a quick temper. If you’re looking for a clever mystery with a vengeance them, you’ll enjoy The Redhead of Aztec Wells. GRADE: B+
Amazing how many of these Redhead titles there are once you start looking for them, I enjoyed one of Tuttle’s books a couple of years ago – GHOST GUNS.
Jeff, I pick up every W. C. Tuttle book I run across. Tuttle’s written a couple Westerns with “Redhead” in the title. I enjoy the way Tuttle always works a mystery and some humor into his Westerns.
I hadn’t checked your blog for a couple of days…what I was missing! If you’re coming up short of titles near the end of Redhead Week, just check with me. As you know, for decades people have been giving me books (& LPs) with redheads in the title or on the cover. But there’s no contest, you win, you had the good taste & good fortune to marry one!
Art, I’ve got REDHEAD WEEK covered, but thanks for the offer! Yes, I married a redhead and it was the smartest thing I’ve ever done!