Review: The Rebel and the Heiress - Chap O'Keefe (Keith Chapman)

Prolific Western author Chap O’Keefe is actually regular commenter and long-time friend of this blog Keith Chapman. Something of a legend as a writer and editor, Keith worked on the Sexton Blake series right out of high school, founded and edited EDGAR WALLACE MYSTERY MAGAZINE, wrote and edited for numerous British comic book publishers, and wrote many well-regarded Western novels for Robert Hale’s Black Horse Western line before branching out on his own with both new and reprinted Westerns. I’ve just read his novel THE REBEL AND THE HEIRESS, originally published by Hale in 2005 and revised and published as part of Chapman's Black Horse Extra line in 2023. Purely by coincidence, it deals with the post-Civil War, Reconstruction era like the last Western I read, CALHOON by Thorne Douglas (Ben Haas).

Unlike CALHOON, however, THE REBEL AND THE HEIRESS takes place in Arizona, a setting that’s somewhat neglected in its relation to the war and its aftermath. Former Confederate Tom Tolly arrives back in the territory to find his father dead and the family homestead burned to the ground. A corrupt politician has gotten his hands on the property, and as a former Rebel, Tom is no longer welcome in the nearby Union-leaning settlement. He’s not the only one who has shown up in the area recently, though: a disreputable hobo is squatting on the property, and he knows some things that may lead to trouble.

Also visiting the settlement are a mining tycoon and his beautiful daughter, and there are unexpected connections between them and Tom. Throw in a shady mining superintendent, some crooked lawmen, and a trio of hardcases looking for trouble, and Tom is surrounded by mystery and danger.

Chapman keeps things moving along at a brisk pace and manipulates the plot with considerable skill. The action scenes are very good, and Tom Tolly is a likable protagonist, no superhero but tough and determined to get to the bottom of things and make a place for himself in his former home. THE REBEL AND THE HEIRESS is a very solid traditional Western yarn spun by a real professional. I enjoyed it, and if you’re a Western fan, I think it’s well worth reading. It's available on Amazon in e-book and paperback editions.