The Samaritan's Pistol

Bishop's Western thriller pays homage to the ruggedly handsome, modern-day Marlboro man, his kind and generous Mormon neighbors, and the quintessential Good Samaritan. Wyoming rancher Jim Cooper has 10,000 acres of pasture, sagebrush, cattle and horses; he also has perfect aim with a gun, an isolated, lonely life and emotional scars from Desert Storm and the loss of a fellow soldier. Jim's simple life of physically challenging ranch chores and guided tourist expeditions is upended when he encounters three Mafia hit men and their human punching bag, Larry Lyons. Bishop sets up a terrific action sequence with Jim, and his beloved animals, saving Larry's life. A horrific crime scene is left behind; Jim becomes marked by the mob, placing his own life, as well as those close to him, in peril. With trigger-happy Vegas hit men on his trail and $30 million of stolen money at stake, Jim teams up with three new friends to outwit the Mob, keep the cash, and survive. Subplots involve an ex-girlfriend's rocky marriage, exposure of a character's secret paternity, and Jim's head-over-heels new romance with a beautiful woman whose past is also less than perfect. Taut, well-paced and fresh, Bishop's sharp debut ends with cliffhangers that suggest a sequel. (Aug.)