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Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
Dividing Down the Sunlight by Jason Shearer is a Western in the best tradition of the brutal, hard-living existence of the Nebraskan Panhandle. Set in 1878, it follows the exploits of Charlie Aintree, a manhunter, considered the best in the business. Operating out of Fort Robinson, in frequently hostile Native American country, Charlie will go out in search of wanted men, to bring them back dead or alive and claim the Army’s bounty. His latest quarry, a man wanted for murder, is successfully hunted down, but Charlie is stopped from returning the body to the Fort and claiming his reward by a U.S. Marshall who claims the dead outlaw was one of his duly sworn deputies. Finding a family of settlers, massacred supposedly by Pawnee scouts aligned to the Army at Fort Robinson, he is determined to uncover what is really going on. What he discovers is corruption, double-dealing, the ghosts of his past, but also, surprisingly, love.
Dividing Down the Sunlight is a wonderfully realistic portrayal of the old West. Jason Shearer holds nothing back in his depiction of the characters, the brutality, and the weather that these early pioneers were forced to endure. Charlie Aintree was a fascinating character whose moral compass, at times, seemed contradictory; yet, it was impossible not to root for his success, especially when considering his dark and murky past. I particularly enjoyed the warm and loving side of him, especially when it came to his romance with Rachel. This beautifully mellowed and smoothed out the harsh realities of life as a bounty hunter. The portrayal of Native Americans was not only fair and balanced but also extremely sympathetic toward their cause and humanity. This is indeed a novel that supersedes the idea of genre. Although it is a Western at its core, it raises many moral and philosophical questions that it behooves us to consider. Add to that the fast-paced action, a well-constructed and intricate plot, plus the wonderfully descriptive nature of the author’s writing, and you have a superb novel, well worth reading. I loved this story and highly recommend it.
