Don't Never Shoot Short    by Kent F. Frates Order:  USA  Can Bridgeway, 2007 (2007) Softcover     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth Oklahoma oil. An unscrupulous robber baron. Sheriffs and cowboy boots and villains on the run. Rundown honky-tonks. One horse towns. Sound like the good old Wild West days? Nope. It's today in Kent F. Frates' new novel about failing banks and defaulted mortgages, and the attempts of a small town sheriff to ease the tension that is building between radical militants, a simple farmer who wants to hold onto his land, and a greedy banker who forecloses. The latter plans to reap profits from the liquid gold found under that land. The reader also runs into a petty thief named Crankcase who is accused of murder. There's the spaced out daughter of the greedy banker (who has a picture of an angel tattooed on her ass); a glory-seeking deputy; a judge with a conscience; and a deputy sheriff who wants the best for everyone, and tries to make sure it happens. It's an absolutely delightful book, incorporating intriguing historical background on Oklahoma and Colorado and, as a bonus, some good poetry. The Ballad of Hattie, the One-legged Whore and its moral is a bit coarse but worth a read. I especially liked I'll Walk to my Funeral. Heck, all the poems struck a note with me. Don't Never Shoot Short is irreverent, fun, philosophical, and a dang good read. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews