Ridgerunner
by Gil Adamson
House of Anansi Press
This novel, winner of the Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, contains one of the most surprising characters I have ever encountered in literary fiction. I’m not going to say a lot more about that, to avoid ruining any of that surprise, but suffice to say I enjoyed Ridgerunner.
It’s a sequel to Canadian author Gil Adamson’s 2007 novel The Outlander, which is not be confused with the Diana Gabaldon series of the same name. The Outlander introduced readers to Mary Boulton, a 19-year-old who is on the lam after murdering her husband, and William Moreland, an outlaw mountain man.
Twelve years have passed, Mary has died, and their son, Jack is now 12. Moreland, still a criminal drifter at heart, is determined to steal enough money to make sure Jack has a secure future. He leaves Jack in the care of a local nun and starts robbing banks.
Set in the early 1900s near Banff and Lake Louise, this is a literary Western that will make readers both think deeply and laugh. The characters are truly unforgettable, from start to finish. Even though Mary has died, her presence and character are found throughout Ridgerunner, in flashbacks and memories. While The Outlander was more feminine, being told mostly from Mary’s perspective, here the focus is more masculine. Both are a sheer delight and can be read in either order.
Enjoy.
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