Lucky Red

Starred review from April 10, 2023
Cravens debuts with an exceptional historical tale of sex work and queer desire on the American frontier. Bridget Shaughnessy, 16, lands alone in Dodge City, Kans., in 1877. She’s recently orphaned, her alcoholic and shiftless father having died from a rattlesnake bite on their way from Arkansas. Her innocent look and flaming red hair catch the attention of Lila and Kate, madams of a refined brothel called the Buffalo Queen. With no other prospects, Bridget becomes a “sporting woman” and befriends bookish and sarcastic colleague Constance. The return of Sallie, a self-assured former employee of Lila’s, sparks confusing desires in Bridget, but after Bridget impulsively intervenes to protect Sallie from a violent customer, Sallie is forced out. Heartbroken, Bridget numbly continues her work and strings along Jim Bonnie, a sheriff’s deputy who keeps the Buffalo Queen safe from moralizers and rougher patrons. After Bridget meets Spartan Lee, a gender-bending outlaw chaser, she discovers a new romance, one strong enough for her to rebuff Jim’s marriage proposal. Spartan, meanwhile, is working a con that sweeps up Bridget and the rest of the house. Cravens peppers the thrilling plot with delicious language (Bridget’s clients are “a series of hats and mustaches”; Jim’s marriage offer feels “wedged in chest, like a piece of furniture that can’t be got through a doorway”), and her sensitive portrayal of Bridget’s uncertainty over her sexuality resonates. This is a knockout. Agent: Alexa Stark, Writers House.

Starred review from June 10, 2024

In 1877, 16-year-old redheaded Bridget Shaughnessy arrives in Dodge City, Kansas, orphaned and penniless. She is taken in by the madam at the Buffalo Queen, the only woman-owned brothel in town. Bridget takes to the trade with alacrity, thankful for regular meals and a place to sleep. The local sheriff becomes one of Bridget's regulars, providing protection to the establishment and even proffering a marriage proposal. Then, a connection to Sallie, a former brothel employee, awakens Bridget's sexuality, prompting her to realize how deeply attracted she is to women. Bridget is heartbroken when a violent incident forces Sallie to leave town, but she is soon captivated by Spartan Lee, a woman bounty hunter who takes the town--Bridget included--by storm. Narrator Elena Rey provides an animated performance of Cravens's debut, a spectacular and refreshing take on the classic Western. Rey reads with a charming drawl that captures Bridget's irrepressible spirit. She convincingly depicts Cravens's other unforgettable women characters, determined to maintain their independence and carve out lives for themselves. VERDICT Give to listeners looking for something special. This impeccably narrated queer Western romance is a treat.--Joanna M. Burkhardt

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