In this second book of the Bitter Springs series, Cobb Bridger is hired to track down a young woman who apparently stole something of value. Tru Morrow is the new schoolmistress in Bitter Springs, respected by the town. Cobb is both attracted to her and doubtful of his employer's claims. It's a good mystery set in the old West with likable characters, good historical detail, and an interesting story. ( )

rabck from aramena; Cobb, a PI, is instructed to find Tru, but Andrew Mackey doesn't say why or what he's trying to recover. Cobb finds her working as a schoolteacher in Bitter Springs, Wyoming territory, but something about Andrew doesn’t seem right. So Cobb sticks around, becomes the town's marshal and falling in love with Tru. ( )

There are certain scenes that literally have me laughing out loud - and they all revolve around Finn Collins. In true Jo Goodman style, "True to the Law" is a laconic read with subtle humor, witty dialogues, and sensual romance. I love the supporting characters that make up the people of Bitter Springs, especially the mischievous Finn and Rabbit Collins. Wonderful read - best one in the Bitter Springs series. ( )

Jo Goodman wrote The Last Renegade, which I read previously, and as a companion novel, wrote True to the Law. I enjoyed reading each one. I recognized some of the characters who were noted in the second novel and that gave me a basis for things that occurred in the current novel.

Cobb Bridger was employed by Andrew Mackey to locate Gertrude Morrow, who had been a companion to his Aunt Charlotte. He hinted that she had stolen something from her employer before she left and that he wanted her found. He didn’t specify exactly what had been stolen. Cobb found Tru Morrow working as a teacher in Bitter Springs, Wyoming. He made her acquaintance and they began a courtship of sorts. I was amused at the dialogue between them quite frequently throughout the story. Tru’s friends in Bitter Springs were very much her champions as were the students she taught, especially two young boys. They provided a comic relief.

I cannot expound further on the story line or I will give it away. Suffice it to say, I read this novel in two days. The only criticism I have is that the print was so small, my eyes were blurred. I enjoyed the novel and will read others by Jo Goodman in the future.

I received a free print edition of this book from Nightowlreviews.com in return for my honest review.

You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-6F. ( )

After reading The Last Renegade, the first book in this series, I couldn’t imagine how Goodman could possibly follow up such a delightful and enjoyable tale with anything better. Now I know since she’s outdone herself with this book.

Set again in Bitter Springs, Wyoming, the story opens with detective Cobb Bridger being hired in Chicago by Andrew Mackey III to find Gertrude Morrow, who Andrew says has stolen something from him. Although Cobb asks, Andrew refuses to say what was stolen. He only wants Tru found.

Using the leads he finds in her Chicago room, Cobb tracks Tru to Bitter Springs where she is the town’s schoolteacher. Cobb has had lots of time to consider his assignment as he tracked her, and something doesn’t sit right for him about Andrew’s story. So instead of notifying Andrew right away, Cobb decides to study Tru to see if he can figure out what she’s taken.

The denizens of Bitter Springs, however, give Cobb a run for his money as detectives. With the help of the delightful Rabbit and Finn, boys who relish knowing everyone’s business, the townspeople see through Cobb’s cover of being a ne’er-do-well gambler and drifter, and have the mayor appoint him as acting sheriff, much to Tru’s delight since she’s the one who ferreted out Cobb’s essential goodness and fairness.

Read the rest of my review at AAR: http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview.pl?BookReviewId=9533 ( )