When the Land Ran Red with Blood
When first printed in 1941 in hardback by Dodd, Mead this novel won the first prize by being named the best first novel by an author. But by that time Peter Dawson whose real name was Jonathan H. Glidden, the brother of Frederick Glidden, better known as Luke Short, had already written many stories and short novels published in magazines. He wasn't a true first timer, but regardless of that, The Crimson Horseshoe is an excellent book; what I term a "tradtional western" a man not wanting to fight but recruited by both sides to fight because of his reputation; but when his good friend is killed he has no choice but to become involved. I dare you not to miss reading this one.