Dark Angel

Stuart's Wolf, Ghost Smiler, Hash Face, Red Legs, Devil Man. People spoke his name in frightened whispers. Killer, horribly sarred and savagely aloof, it was worth your life to approach him unbidden. Stuart's Wolf was all those things but more importantly, on a quiet summer day in 1896, he was the answer to young girls prayer...

This book is set in Salt Lake 1869. Shortly after the Civil War and the West was still Wild. But as the author points out through the story, perhaps it's civilized communitees that make for the most wild areas of all. The setting is facintating the narrator a 10 yr old daughter of a mormon bishop. But if you're already rolling your eyes thinking this is a sappy LDS novel you are wrong.

Rose is rather irreverent and tends to use words she learned from the hired hands. How could she not be drawn to the dark dangerous sharp shooter that saved her and her sister's lives.

There's a deep message that isn't just hinted at but thrown at us about how good people can be worse than outlaws. (You'll see below from my quotes) It made me think quite a bit about jumping to conclusions and judging others and what it really means to be Christian. But in case you are now thinking it's too deep and a downer, it also is full of humor, after all this is life according to a 10 yr. old girl. I suggest you read and enjoy it!

Quotes:

"Even people like our neighbors can hurt others. Good people don't always do good things. They become frightened or confused and they do harm to others in the name of good."

Colleen Merrell from Dark Angel by Robert Kirby

"Except for shooting folks in the face and cutting off ears, the lanky killer had impeccable manners."

Rose from Dark Angel by Robert Kirby

"God save us all from good people and their best intentions."

Rose from Dark Angel by Robert Kirby