Robert B. Parker's Bull River

A Cole and Hitch Novel

By: Robert Knott, Robert B. Parker

Narrated by: Rex Linn

Itinerant lawmen Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch are back in the saddle with guns blazing in this gritty, intense addition to the New York Times–bestselling series.


After hunting down murderer and bandito Captain Alejandro Vasquez, Territorial Marshal Virgil Cole and Deputy Everett Hitch return him to Citadel to stand trial. No sooner do they remand Vasquez into custody when a major bank robbery occurs and the lawmen quickly find themselves tasked with a new job: investigate the robbery of Comstock Bank, recover the loot, and bring the criminals to justice.

But when their primary suspect is found severely beaten outside a high-class brothel and the suspect turns out to be using a false identity to escape a torrid past, it is Vasquez who becomes the key to their investigation. Cole and Hitch are soon on the trail of the money, two calculating brothers, and the daughter of Saint Louis’s most prominent millionaire in a Cain-and-Abel story that brings revenge to a whole new level.

Critic reviews

Praise for the Cole-Hitch Series“Clever detective work and considerable shooting...it reads lightning fast...suspenseful.”
—Booklist on Robert B. Parker's Bull River

"Robert B. Parker's legion of fans will be thrilled with Ironhorse

. Robert Knott, co-writer of the screenplay for Appaloosa -

Bob's remarkable western- has penned the next great saga featuring itinerant lawmen Everett Hitch and Virgil Cole. Knott's new novel reads just like vintage Parker and the storyline crackles with all the excitement and humor of what is a perfect continuation of the Hitch/Cole series. Parker fans are going to love it!"

—Ed Harris, Academy Award-nominated actor

“A welcome second edition to the return of these delightful western characters.”
—The Oklahoman on Robert B. Parker's Bull River

“Hitch and Cole, reminiscent of the steely eyed, soft-spoken lawmen Randolph Scott played in the movies, speak volumes to one another with a few words and a nod of the head.”

—Associated Press

“Parker’s rightly known best for his mysteries. That’ll happen when you create one of mystery fiction’s most indelible characters – the Boston private detective Spenser….You read Parker because he could tell a story and make you care about his characters. Blue-Eyed Devil only hones Parker’s legacy as an ace storyteller, in any genre, to the end.”

— The Chicago Sun Times

“Add Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch to all the great characters that Robert B. Parker created over the decades to give us enjoyment and entertainment.”

—BookReporter.com

“Blue-Eyed Devil shines.…a page-turner of the first order, and updated western that feels as fresh as anything out there….Virgil Cole never misses, not when it matters. Parker didn’t either.”

—The Boston Globe

“Ironhorse hits with the intensity of an eight-gauge shotgun blast… A rip-snorting tale full of sparse dialogue seasoned with wit as dry as an Oklahoma prairie wind and enough flying bullets and buckshot to fill a caboose... Virgil and Everett's fates are in excellent hands.”
—Tulsa World on on Robert B. Parker's Ironhorse

Parker's Legacy Continues

If you could sum up Robert B. Parker's Bull River in three words, what would they be?

Everett Virgil Continue

Who was your favorite character and why?

Everett Hitch; his narrative continues the Parker tradition of terse dialogue.

Have you listened to any of Rex Linn’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes! As good as or better.

If you could rename Robert B. Parker's Bull River, what would you call it?

Rio Toro

Any additional comments?

Two of my favorite characters, ever since Appaloosa.

Cole and Hitch alive and kicking

Knott brings Virgil's detective skills to the fore. Same clipped dialogue that Parker is known for.

Great plot and story. Gotta love Virgil & Everett

Fine narration. Easy to listen to. Nice Western story with great engaging characters and descriptions.

Its good BUT

There is no wrap up from the previous book regarding allie and Chauncey Teagarden. I find that a bit annoying.

Westerns are good

I love the Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch series. My only issue with this one was a new narrator. What happened to Titus??? Rex was fine it's just that when you listen to someone for the first 5 or 6 books of a series and they change it, it can be pretty distracting. Exactly what happened with the Stephanie Plum series- twice. Ugh.