IR VERDICT:
THE PRARIE DANCE, by John Rae, is a period-piece novel, full of suspense and drama, set in the post-Civil War era, where the lives of two women merge–one fleeing an arranged marriage with a dangerous man; the other a freed slave seeking a new life on her own. Maggie and Mary end up in a wild western town, where they mingle with a cast of characters that include cowboys, shysters, and a wanted outlaw. Rae does an excellent job of infusing vivid imagery and fine detail into this story, reminiscent of Louis L’Amour or Cormac McCarthy.