Even if you are a die hard fan of the series, the book proves to be a disappointment. The plot line is classic and that may well be the problem: this would have made a better screen play than a book.

Reasoner demonstrates a good grasp of action scenes, basic law enforcement tactics, and weapons handling. The fights and gun battles are meticulously blocked out and flow smoothly. However, this has been done at the expense of any real character development.

Even the established characters come across as largely one dimensional. Walker displays none of the caring and compassion or dedicated service to the community for which the character is famous. Instead, Reasoner writes for him as a hard core cop who doesn't care who gets hurt as long as he gets results.

His characterizations of the remaining core characters is much better; unfortunately, the reader doesn't see much of them to the point that one wonders why he bothered to write them into the story in the first place.

Reasoner also should have spent more time studying the series. Several crucial details are incorrect, including basically known facts such as Trivette's inability to drive a semi or ride a horse or the name of CD's restaurant.

The original characters are interesting and present potential for development, but Reasoner never quite manages to get there. The reader is left with tantalizing hints about these characters but nothing more. Almost all of them are cardboard cut-outs and stereotypes.

It's not a bad read but it's disappointing because it could have been much more if the writer had spent time with the characters. It's almost as though he tried for a writing style like Elmer Kelton's or Louis L'Amour's and didn't quite make it. ( )