Rag Soup (an Emmett Love Novel)

The thing you know you're going to get with a John Locke book is twists and turns and this book was no different. If you're looking at this book as your first John Locke book, stop. Now, don't get me wrong, you could buy this book and have a great reading experience but I would recommend going a different route. This author has a number of books available and a couple different series. One thing that I really enjoy about this author is that each series stands on its own but are also all tied together. If your main interest is just in western themed books then I would start at the beginning of this series, however if your into other genres then I would start where I did. I started with the Donavon Creed series. I don't remember the exact book in that series but you will get to a point that had me jumping over to the Dr. Box series then back and then again into the Emmett Love series because they're all tied together, each is a great read but you get more of the story filled in with each. I'm not really going to go into this particular book other than to say if you’re a fan then trust me get it and enjoy it like you have the others. If you’re new then, welcome but start at the beginning of this series or the Donavon Creed series. Is there ever an easy day in Doge City? Not hardly but this book takes that to new levels. Emmett, Poor lovable, honorable Emmett. How does one of the most valuable commodities in the west, a Dentist turn into a hurricane of chaos? What do an almost 5 year old girl and a man's head spontaneously exploding on fire have in common? A beauty contest? In Doge City? How does the Latin phrase Habeas Corpus cause the death of 5 people? Want to read it right? Its ok go ahead. You'll enjoy it just like I did.

You know what you're going to get, and you get it - for 99 cents! What more can you ask from an author? Thoroughly entertaining, full of witty word play, and with a wacky western plot that puts you right in the middle of it. It is Banshee in book form. Literally, because you can read it in an hour or two, which is my only criticism (and I have told John that) - yes, he answers his emails. Pretty cool. And his explanation is credible, but if you want to know the answer, write him yourself. But for now, plunk down a buck and read this book(let). Sorry, John, couldn't help it. Still wish they were a hundred pages longer!

I am a voracious reader, gobbling down over 100 novels a year. I've been reading John Locke's novels from day 1, and to this day I drop whatever I am reading when he has a new book come out in order to read his, and I have never been disappointed in doing so. I was happy to see a new Emmett Love novel, as Mr. Love and Gentry and all the cast of characters that inhabit their world are in my opinion some of the best of John Lockes' humorous, quirky, surprising imagination. Once again he has favored us with a compelling story, filled with excitement, surprises, angst, humor and an everlasting yearning for MORE OF THE SAME. I sincerely hope he does not tire of documenting the lives and happenings around these folks, as I look forward to seeing how the events of their time will tie into the "now" of other of John's characters, as we know they will. Very well done, Mr. Locke!!

Shrug's rag soup might help all of us with our ills! This is the first of the Emmett Love Westerns that I read. Lively humor! After Rag Soup, I just had to read the other four in the series. I could not put these books down. Each kept me captivated just as the Donovan Creed series do. John Locke is a gifted writer and is no mincer of words. Wonderful word choice not caught up in triviality. Locke gets to the point. The action moves along. There are so many funny events in Rag Soup, but for me the best was when Eli had to be dug up and his putrid and leaky body hauled in a wagon all the way to the judge in Wichita, only to discover not Eli but Boone was to appear in Wichita. Hilarious description!

Historic western full of fun and snark. I enjoy all John Locke various writings. Each character has a separate, distinct personality. The writings are easy to follow, the reader is not confused. Believable characters and entertaining, informative dialogue. “You stand there and calmly tell me our daughter was slapped ?” Gentry says, madder than a frost- bit mule. “In public ?” "That’s my understandin’,” I say, hat in hand. " "What type of school teacher slaps little children?” "Why, all of ’em, far as I know.” He turns to me and says, “When they remove the bullet from this man’s chest, I want it back.” "Why?” "It was a loan, not a gift.” She looks at Scarlett. “Honey, always tell town people what they want to hear. They’re stupid, like cows, but dangerous, like bulls. Don’t frighten them unless they’re trying to burn you.” I will re-read this story and look forward to other works by this author.

Up to his old tricks as usual, Emmet Love and his cast of characters stir up the good old west once again. Ripe with his classic wit and good old boy, aw shucks wisdom infused with plain common sense philosophy, John Locke once again delivers a comical and magical tale of the old west, starring our old friends introduced in former stories. Gentry is back, and precocious Scarlett, and a bit of Shrugg as well, and we revisit Enorma Stitz with her buxom beauties also. It's a fun ride, not to be taken seriously, as usual. If you are a fan of Emmet Love's adventures this will not disappoint.

The entire series has been very enjoyable, and very entertaining. when I started I did not expect to like this series, though I had become a huge fan of the Donovan Creed series. Discovering this series has tie-ins to that series was a bonus, though at this point, this series is plenty of fun all on it's own. The characters are interesting, the situations Emmet finds himself in are a hoot, and the conversation style pulls you into the old west so you feel like you've been there yourself. Highly entertaining series, please start with book 1 so you understand the players involved in book 5. Also these are fast reads, which seems to make me want to crave reading more of them once I'm done.

funny from start to finish and it is beyond me how he comes up with these expressions! during the early part of the book there are "laugh out loud" segments about every 10 pages of the 1st 50 pages. Emmett does all he can to avoid being the judge at a beauty contest that the women demand be held. At the same time there comes a dentist to the town that Emmett is certain brings bad news. But there is no dentist for miles around and he knows how badly they need a dentist. To add to that a card game in the saloon ends up with the dendtist shooting Eli because Eli said his own wie was ugly. Emmett then charges the dentist with murder and the trial judge is in wichita Kansas. Emmett understands that to prove the killing, he will have to haul the dead body of eli to Wichata because of habias corpus and off he goes with Eli. The story if full of humor and again, another outstanding read from John Locke

Always entertaining. Really good short read. The old west is interesting and John brings it to life. Emmet Love is such a lovable character.

Adoro todos os livros do John Locke, e sempre fico ansiosa esperando o próximo! Fantástico! Recomento que leiam a série toda, vale a pena.

Same review I gave for 'Spider Rain', really enjoyed all of the authors Emmet Love books. In fact I've read them all 2 or 3 times, particularly the one involving Rudy the bear. Very sad though that in the end he was left in the woods to fend for himself. I gulped a few times over this storyline I can tell you.

Another brilliant story with plenty of twists &turns ,can't wait for the next book in the series

I am a john Locke fan. This is another first class book. 4 stars because it was a wee bit on the short side!