I'm always skeptical when I see books written by a duo. I always wonder how that works and who is doing the majority of the writing. This is a trio, which is even more boggling. These books however are pretty flawless. They are fun, the voice is consistent, and they are well plotted.
My Calamity Jane is the fictionalized story of Calamity Jane with the addition of werewolves which are called garou in the story. There are three point of view characters: Calamity Jane, Frank Butler, and Annie Mosey (Oakley). Jane and Frank are a part of Wild Bill Hickok's Wild West Show which travels around the country performing for the masses. It's also a cover for Wild Bill who is a marshal and Charlie Utter who is a Pinkerton. They are on the hunt for the infamous criminal leader of the garou called the Alpha. The show provides cover while they hunt rogue werewolves. Jane and Frank are in on it, of course.
Annie, however, leaves home (runs away might be a little more accurate) to avoid being pressured to marry. There's no one in particular that her family wants her to marry, they just think it's time. Annie is however not interested in that. She's been supporting her mother and siblings with her hunting and would rather find herself a job. This would be the point where she finds out that Wild Bill Hickok's Wild West Show is nearby in Cincinnati. So she hops a train with the intent of getting herself hired on as a sharpshooter.
The story ultimately makes it to Deadwood where we get to see the infamous Wild West characters: Al Swearengen and Jack McCall.
The whole series is fun that way. Each book stays close enough to historical events to be familiar, but they depart wildly to incorporate their fantasy elements. The overall tone is a bit sassy and the narrators give little snarky asides. In hindsight, I actually kind of wonder if each author is in charge of one of the POV characters. That would be an interesting way to write collaboratively.
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