Coyote song

This is one of the author's "swan songs", completed and/or published after his early death in 1959. While much of his later works don't appeal to me as much as his earlier "Big Red" series, this stand-alone book was enjoyable to read.

Hairy Gunston is the head guard at the Coyotito Prison Camp, somewhere in the middle of the desert in the southwestern US. With his two dogs, Turkey the bloodhound, and Diablo, a vicious crossbreed, he keeps most of the prisoners from even thinking about escape attempts. Living nearby in his adobe hut is Joe Watson, a native American. Joe lives off the precious gems he collects to sell to tourists, but when Joe comes across a small pocket of gold, Hairy finds out about it and plans to make it his own, show more getting rid of Joe in the process.

Interwoven with this story is the lives of two coyotes in the vicinity, Dusty and his mate, Nan. It's not a heavy-handed account, nor as brutally honest as other authors as Rutherford Montgomery or Thomas C. Hinkle, but it isn't fluff either. I liked the more "adult" theme in this story, with the humans and their desires contrasting with the wildlife that kills only to eat, not for monetary gain.

Good read, will be a reread in the future for me, I am sure. show less