Near the start of this flawed if sometimes eloquent suspense novel from Hodgson (The Man Who Killed Shakespeare
), Texas rancher Caleb Starr mistakenly shoots and kills a bald eagle released by a radical environmental group “that was supported mostly by affluent movie stars and recording artists.” Unfortunately for Starr, the shooting is witnessed (and videotaped) by evil, ambitious Marsh Wheelan, who uses the episode to glorify himself and smear Starr. Starr's friends and neighbors in Lone Wolf, Tex., support him in his struggle with the lawyers, politicians, and bureaucrats who pass and enforce unnecessary laws as well as the media people who inflame and distort cases like Starr's. Meanwhile, Starr's life starts to crumble as collateral damage hits those close to him. Hodgson's compelling scenario of a good man fighting big government will resonate with many readers, though others will find that the over-the-top villain undermines the message. (May)
