Tying the Knot by Laurent Gerra

Why read the book?

Facing overcrowded jails, the new United States president decides to hang the prisoners with the longest sentences, and the four Dalton brothers are at the top of the list. The one loophole is that any condemned man who marries before the date is pardoned, so Ma Dalton sets out to find four wives.

She arranges brides from a Native tribe, and the brothers are dragged into married life. Joe rages, Averell thinks of food, and Lucky Luke watches the whole reluctant courtship unfold. The English title plays on the rope around the neck, meaning both the gallows and the bonds of marriage.

Favourite quote

What I Loved

Achdé and Gerra lean into the pun of the title, and the sight of the Daltons forced down the aisle gives plenty of comedy. Ma Dalton scheming on her sons' behalf is a fine touch.

The satire of a desperate political fix sits under the farce, and the brothers stay as gloriously mismatched as ever.

Key Takeaway

The Daltons dodge the gallows by marrying, swapping one noose for another.

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