The Sisters Brothers

Eli Sisters is an unusual killer: he worries about his weight, is fond of his slow, unlucky horse, Tub, and longs for a quieter life, perhaps running a shop. His older brother, Charlie, is the leader, quick-tempered and fond of drink. The book follows their journey south, told in short, episodic chapters. They meet a weeping man in the woods, a strange old woman, a boy left alone, gold-crazed miners and San Francisco in its chaotic early days, and Eli discovers the wonders of a toothbrush.

Their target, Hermann Kermit Warm, is an intelligent and idealistic prospector who has devised a chemical formula that makes gold in riverbeds glow and easy to find. He is already being followed by the Commodore's scout, a well-mannered man named Morris. When the brothers finally catch up, the story takes an unexpected turn, and questions of loyalty, greed and what kind of men they really are come to the surface. The violence is brief but real, while the tone stays dry and comic. Eli's formal, polite way of speaking makes even the harshest moments feel oddly gentle.

Quick, funny and surprisingly moving. About 336 pages in the Ecco paperback.