The Daltons' Amnesia by Jean Léturgie

Why read the book?

When a prisoner walks free because a blow to the head wiped his memory, Joe Dalton spots the loophole. He and his brothers pretend they no longer remember a single crime, hoping the law cannot punish men who are, in effect, new people.

Lucky Luke is tasked with proving the bluff. He stages bank hold-ups and train robberies to jog their memories or expose the act, and the trap nearly works. Then Ma Dalton tricks him, Joe seizes a town as its new mayor, and only Averell's pride, blurting out the whole scheme at Luke's sham trial, brings the house down.

Favourite quote

What I Loved

The premise is a gift, and the staged crimes meant to catch the brothers out are full of fine comic business.

Averell steals the album, ruining the perfect con by proudly confessing it at exactly the wrong moment. Ma Dalton's quick double-cross is a nice sting in the tail.

Key Takeaway

A clever lie only holds up if every brother can keep his mouth shut, and Averell cannot.

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