Rachel Reviews: The Ballad of Midnight and McRae by Jess Lederman

I'm not sure where to start with this book because it isn't one thing. It's a mash-up of many things although that description, whilst it may be apt, does not do justice to the well-crafted, rich composition that this is from Lederman

The title gives it away really: it's the love story of Midnight and McRae but it's not just that. The love that McRae and Midnight have for each other is the frame, a solid frame, on which everything else hangs. But more of that in a minute.

Our two main protagonists are a Texas Ranger, Caleb McRae, a staunch man of God whose destiny is to have his faith tested; and Henry Midnight, an outlaw, a renegade, wanted for robbery but is he really as dangerous as his reputation would have you think? Our narrator is Caleb's son whose story is also interwoven into this ballad, him having his own battles to fight, both familial and internal and it is through him that the truth of Caleb and Midlnight's history together is revealed.

And so unfolds a tale of the west with pursuit and capture and threat which makes it a book of adventure but this is more than shooters and jail cells. Lederman's characters are well drawn and Caleb and Henry are surrounded by a variety of folk who have their own battles and personalities, sharp shooting priests and knife wielding sisters to mention just two, and this makes for a novel that is multi-layered, dealing as it does with the folk who Henry and Caleb encounter and who make a difference in their lives, all the while fighting those who would oppress.

This is also quite a philosophical text in many ways. There is discussion through great characterisation and ensuing dialogue about faith and God and what exactly those things mean to people and how they are manifested in the world. This is especially true of Caleb whose existence is rocked when he meets Henry, and Caleb's aligning his love for God with his love for Henry is a battle which continues throughout the book. Caleb's assumptions are constantly challenged by the people he meets, from Indian tribes and Christian faith who do not fit the mould into which he believes you must fit.

And this is just part of it. There's mythical creatures, mysticism, war, loss and fights against bad guys too!

A great read.

Rachel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery where I was privileged to read it as an ARC: