I think one of the biggest disservices to historical fiction about the westward expansion in the United States was branding these books as "Westerns." There are so many excellent books in this genre, and Whiskey in a Shallow Grave by Mark Mitten is definitely one of them. It's a shame this genre is often overlooked when people are looking for good historical novels. I'm docking one star because I wished the individual stories intertwined a bit more, but all in all, it's a really good historical ...

Mark Mitten's "Whiskey in a Shallow Grave" is one heck of a Western novel that absolutely lives up to its quirky title. Mitten understands the genre inside and out, then flips it on its head to deliver a sprawling story that covers the whole state of Colorado. You've got working cowboys, upstanding citizens from various Rocky Mountain towns, and a whole host of outlaw gang members.Their lives smash together on one fateful day in 1887 when a stagecoach robbery is interrupted by a cattle drive. A ...

As the brutal winter of 1887 descends upon Colorado’s high country, cowhands, miners, townsfolk, lawmen, and even outlaws go about their daily routine, never suspecting their disparate lives are about to intersect in a freakish, though inevitable, series of events that will change them all forever. Metaphorically speaking, no one escapes this tale alive. Mark Mitten’s debut novel is not for the squeamish or the faint of heart. The landscape is harsh; some of the people even harsher. From the ou...

If you're a fan of historical fiction, you'll definitely get a kick out of *Whiskey in a Shallow Grave*. Set against the backdrop of the Colorado Rockies' front range, this historical Western unfolds during the era when the area was still 'open range,' just starting to transform as settlers arrived. Mark Mitten has created a memorable bunch of characters. The story is a page-turner, full of surprises that keep you hooked.This is Mark Mitten's debut novel, and fingers crossed it won't be his last...

NOMINATED FOR THE 2013 PEACEMAKER AWARD."Whiskey in a Shallow Grave" is a Western historical fiction novel set in 1887. The story unfolds mainly in Colorado, with some scenes at the XIT Ranch in the Texas Panhandle. The book follows a small group of cowboys, a gang of thieves, and the posse hot on their trail. It's a 338-page read.You can find "Whiskey in a Shallow Grave" on Amazon in paperback, as well as for Nook & Kindle.If you're looking for a great Western book review, give this one a l...