The Legendary Kid Donovan

By E.K. Recknor

Book Overview

Orphaned and far from civilized New York, Horace Tate Pemberton Smith arrives in Tonto's Wickiup, Arizona, to meet his uncle and ends up inheriting a bordello. But his real trouble starts when he's given credit for killing a renowned gunslinger and gets a new name: Kid Donovan. Original.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451216326
• ISBN13: 9780451216328
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Signet
• Length: 278 Pages
• Weight: 0.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.7" x 0.8" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

A Legendary Read

Some legends are born. Some legends are made. And some legends are just plain bull. Newly orphaned, and far from New York, young Horrace Tate Pemberton Smith arrives in Tonto's Wickiup, Arizona, to meet his only surviving family member - Uncle Hector. Unfortunately Hector didn't survive a recent mine shaft cave-in, and Horace inherits his uncle's mining claims, as well as his uncle's most prized possession: a bordello. While inspecting his mines, Horace finds himslef face-to-face with a renowned gunfighter who, by luck, ends up dead. Horace gets the credit for the kill and a bold new name: Kid Donovan. Now with a cathouse to run, gunslingers to outrun and an unwarranted reputation, Kid Donovan is going to have to use all his brains or his name will live a lot longer than he does... Books written in the first person are not my usual choice of reading material but this one soon had me hooked as I became caught up in the well written and intriguing plot. The whole story seems to have a bemused tone to it as Smith attempts to come to grips with the events that turn him into the legenary Kid Donovan. There's a great supporting cast of characters too, Cole Jefferies who takes Smith under his wing, the two old-timers Jingles and Lop Ear - who provide many moments of humour - to name a few. Ellen Recknor has come up with an engaging storyline with this book, a tale that presents the reader with many questions that all become resolved in an exciting climax, that should make this book essential reading for western fans.

A Fun Romp through the Old West

Story: It is not a good day for Horace Tate Pemberton Smith when he arrives in Phoniex, Arizona to find an empty train station waiting for him. His parents are dead,he has no money and to top it all off his only suriving realitive Uncle Hector is no where in sight. Tate makes his way to Tonto's Wikiup where he finds that his uncle has been killed in a mysterious mine accident. The real fun begins when Tate finds that his uncle has left him 2 mines and 1 thriving bordello. Now Tate must learn the ways of the west with the help of his, uncle's old friend Cole, a couple of eccentric prospectors (eccentric horses included) and a few lovable madams. He'll need all the help that he can get when he accidentally becomes the Legendary Kid Donovan. ------ When I first came across this book I thought that it was just going to be one of those modern westrens that was just a rehash of all the westrens before that tried to be funny and instead just fell flat. I was pleasntly suprised when this book actually was funny and made sense. Its an entertaining journey to watch the bumbling Tate try to apply his upper class upbringing to wild west and usually ending up causing him and his companion Cole more trouble than they want. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys light, fast paced westrens. m.a.c

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

Horace Tate Pemberton Smith, all of 16, finds himself suddenly orphaned and shipped from his New York prep school to the wilds of Arizona, to his only surviving relative, Uncle Hector. But when he arrives, Uncle Hector is dead--and has bequeathed his holdings (three worthless mines and a thriving bordello) to young Horace. Horace thinks the bordello is great, mainly because there are lots of paintings of scantily clad women on the walls, but he soon decides to get down to business, and takes off to check out his new mines, accompanied by gunslinger Cole Jeffreys, a friend of his uncle. While they're on the road, they run into a famous gunfighter who, for some strange reason, draws on Horace. Horace is mistakenly blamed--actually, given the credit--for killing him. In addition to a fierce reputation, he also picks up a new name: Kid Donovan. With half the shootists in the Territory ready to kill him--either just to build their own reputations, or for reasons not yet known to him--he travels the territory with Cole as his protector and tutor in the ways of the west, and the way of the gun. This book is really fun, with a plethora of wonderful, eccentric characters like Lop Ear (with his mule named Debbie and his misfit dog, Loretta) and Jingles (with Comanche and Grace, the strangest team of horses, ever), and of course, the one and only Kid Donovan, who struggles every day to equate his upper-middle class, New York upbringing with the rigors and realities of the Wild West. Read this book! You'll be glad you did.