Streets of Laredo is the sequel to Lonesome Dove, set 20 years later. The characters who have survived are older and the borderlands are less wild, that is until a nineteen year old bandit (Joey Garza) holds up trains and kills many people. Woodrow Call is old, but he still takes on bounty hunter work and he is asked by the owner of the railroad to kill Joey. He gathers together an unlikely posse: Ned Brookshire, a railroad accountant, Pea Eye Parker, now a farmer, a young and naive deputy, and Famous Shoes, an Indian tracker. As they spend weeks cross the southern plains and in pursuit, they meet a corrupt, “hard” sheriff (Roy Doniphan), a psychopath (Mox Mox), and Maria, the mother of Joey. Historical figures like Judge Roy Bean, John Wesley Hardin, Charles Goodnight, and Ben Lilly all have a part of the story too. The plot is unpredictable, exciting, and there are many casualties of a series of conflicts.
McMurty paints colorful and rich characters, but in this book the characters of Maria Garza and Pea Eye’s wife Lorena Parker stand out. With difficult pasts, they fight for their families, with courage and determination. With so much lawlessness and violence, there are a few people like Lorena, Maria, Clara, and Charles who just want peace. The story is turbulent throughout, but it also passionate, moving, and a rewarding read. Read Lonesome Dove first, and if it resonates, Streets of Laredo is a strong echo of the outstanding stories of Larry McMurtry.
4.8/5 stars.
