A Bullet for Ben McCabe

by Peter Wilson

A Black Horse Western from Hale, May 2010

Gunned down and left for dead, Ben McCabe is nursed back to health only to learn that he is wanted for murder and robbery.

He has no memory of his past but he sets out in search of the truth, gradually putting together the events that led to his shooting. As his memory slowly returns, he tracks down the real killers – but his problems are by no means over.

Lurking in the shadows is a man who still has the bullet he has saved for Ben McCabe…

After enjoying Peter Wilson’s previous two Black Horse Westerns I was eager to read this one hoping it would match the excellence of those earlier books.

Peter Wilson tells his story in short series’ of paragraphs that follow the movements of the various well-crafted characters. This method working well to hook the reader and keep them turning the pages to find out what fate awaits each of them.

There are a number of different threads such as will McCabe be able to save his sister from her wife beating husband and which of the two women who fall for McCabe will he end up with, his choice perhaps ending in a surprise for some readers.

There’s plenty of action too, murder and shoot-outs, mixed in with double-crosses, come at regular intervals as the book moves forwards at a tremendous pace. And just for good measure Peter Wilson throws in a twist or two to keep the reader guessing, thus ensuring the book isn’t put down before the end is reached.

As you’ve probably already gathered I did enjoy this story as much as Peter Wilson’s other books and once more I’m looking forward to his next.

A Bullet for Ben McCabe is officially released on May 31st but is available now from the usual Internet booksellers.

Rattler

by Barry Andrew Chambers

Pinnacle, April 2010

Randall Foster was a young schoolteacher who got dragged into a deadly clash of clans. When the dust settled, the teacher was hand picked by a covert government agency called The Service. Proving himself in a secret training program, Randall Foster soon has a new career, a code name “Rattler”, and a stubborn horse that does everything except obey.

In a mild-mannered disguise, Rattler come to Clearview, Kansas, in search of a depraved killer using the name Featherston – and walks straight into the ruthless killer’s crosshairs. People are getting slaughtered in cold blood, two other Service agents are already in deep, and Rattler’s cover is wearing thin. Now, amidst corruption, murder and betrayal, Rattler must turn from secret agent to bold-faced fighter – against an enemy with more cunning than anyone can possibly know…

The cover, the blurb, both indicate that this is an action packed read, even a quote on the back says the book is “loaded with action”. How wrong these can be… However that doesn’t mean it’s a bad story, just not quite what I expected.

Barry Andrew Chambers has written a very readable story, filled with people that you’ll warm to, probably due to his well-portrayed characterizations. The story is filled with beautifully observed studies of human nature, often told with gentle humour, such as how the mind says one thing but the mouth speaks another. More than being filled with action most of this book is about Foster falling in love. Lots of the story being taken up with him and Benita visiting the opera, county fairs and taking part in baking competitions. There is some action, and the whole book leads up to a dramatic shootout that doesn’t have the ending for some as you’d expect. Shame the tracking down of the killer takes up such little space within the story.

Chambers also includes quite a bit of, for me anyway, over-the-top humour, which I think would have been more at home if the whole book was a comedy. Most of this revolves around Foster’s horse, some of the antics it gets up to stretching my belief somewhat; such as it being able to pick up a heavy saddle in its teeth, toss it up in the air, over it’s head, so it flips and lands on its back in the correct position.

Still, as I’ve already said, the book is an easy read, and if started you’ll want to read to the end to find out what happens to the characters.

Western Fiction News

The latest issue of Black Horse Extra is now available. There's some great articles including David Whitehead discussing how to increase interest in the western and another article that looks at back cover blurbs. There's also the second part of Greg Mitchell's look at the artwork of Frederic Remington. Hoofprints, as usual, offers some fascinating observations.

Whilst on the subject of Black Horse Westerns, Hale will be releasing books by a couple of well known American western writers latter this year, namely in September 2010 comes Wade's War by Chet Cunningham, and Twin Rivers by John Nesbitt (a new publication of an old story) in October or November 2010. August 2010 sees Bonito Deputy as by Jack Slade - I wonder who is behind this name?

Finally, for those who enjoy western films, it looks like another John Wayne western is to be remade. It seems Warner Brothers are planning to remake The Cowboys. The original hit the screens in 1972 and came from the book by William Dale Jennings.

Ransom

as by Owen G. Irons

A Black Horse Western from Hale, May 2010

Banker Amos Fillmore’s life is shattered by the brazen kidnapping of his pretty daughter, Anita. The kidnappers, led by the notorious gunman Earl Weathers, demand a ransom payment that can only be raised if Fillmore raids the assets of his Crater, Arizona bank. In the end, even that payment is not enough.

Duplicity and violence rage while Anita remains hostage in a cave carved deep into the hills of the desert wilderness. Her safety is secondary to avarice, and even those tasked with upholding justice are inept and overcome with greed.

It seems as though neither Anita nor her ransom will ever be recovered from the grip of the desert. That is until the territory’s top gun, Laredo, steps in….

This book starts after the kidnapping has taken place as Amos Fillmore helps himself to some of the banks money and the story never lets slows down after the opening scenes throw all kinds of questions at the reader. There are many well-drawn characters, none of who seem to trust each other, and indeed many are planning to double-cross each other. All these twists and turns making this book very difficult to put down before everything is resolved.

The action is well described as are descriptions of people and location. The pace of the tale moves from a trot to a canter to a gallop swiftly, grippingly, before the final dramatic shootout. But then I’d expect all this from Owen G. Irons (a pseudonym for author Paul Lederer) as I’ve yet to read a BHW from him I’ve not enjoyed.

Ransom has an official release date of May 31st but should be available now from the usual Internet sources. Fans of Paul Lederer’s work will also be pleased to know this isn’t the only BHW of his out this month as The Legacy, as by Logan Winters, is out now too.

The Loner #2

THE DEVIL’S BADLAND

as by J.A. Johnstone

Pinnacle, July 2009

After Conrad Browning, known as The Loner, takes down the men who killed his beloved wife, he hightails it to New Mexico to visit her grave. There, he gets the surprise of his life: His ex-fiancée, Pamela Tarleton, backed up by a vicious gang of gunmen. Turns out the beautiful Miss Tarleton has a long memory – and she’s never forgiven Conrad for breaking off their engagement and marrying another. On top of that, she blames Conrad for her father’s death. With a band of kill-crazy outlaws backing Pamela’s play, the only way out for The Loner to survive the coming hell storm is by the gun.

I’d imagine the above blurb, taken from the back of the book, is the kind that makes an author grit their teeth in annoyance as it reveals too much of the plot. The author goes to great pains to conceal the identity of the person behind the evil that Conrad Browning has to battle only to have it given away on the back of the book.

This story follows on closely from the first Loner book. The author keeps the reader hooked with the question of who is behind the outlaws who killed Browning’s wife in the first tale, and adds to that mystery the question of why are they intent on turning Browning’s life to misery. Of course this is all explained during the telling of the tale but more detail behind these reasons can be found in William W. Johnstone’s thirteenth Last Gunfighter book, Savage Country (which makes one wonder if both books were written by the same author).

Good to see that this series is now being sold by booksellers other than just Walmart, thus making the books much easier to find, particularly if you’re outside of America. Going by the strength of the first two books this series should be on the reading list of all western fans who enjoy well written, fast paced, action packed books that prove to be hard to put down once started.

The Trailsman #342

ROCKY MOUNTAIN REVENGE

as by Jon Sharpe

Signet, April 2010

Skye Fargo knows Nez Perce Indians well enough to respect them. So when a wealthy rancher aims to breed the tribe’s legendary Appaloosa horses, he hires Fargo to act as go-between. But even the sweetest deals can go sour when money is involved, and now the Trailsman is either going to cash in big or cash out permanently.

The majority of this story sees Skye Fargo spending most of his time with Indians. Living with them, fighting alongside them, fighting them, and being held captive by them. There is mistrust to deal with and friendships to rekindle.

As to be expected from a Trailsman book the story moves at a tremendous pace, is filled with exciting action as Fargo battles with both humans and other creatures. Of course being an adult western series there is also a couple of hot encounters for the Trailsman too, one being of the kind I can’t remember reading in a Trailsman book for a long time, if at all.

Author Jon Sharpe (in this case David Robbins) keeps the reader glued to the pages through a strong mystery plotline centring around three half-breeds who want to stop the purchase of the Appaloosas. Why? The answer to this question only being explained when the author is ready reveal all, a reason I didn’t see coming. An answer that exposes some of the worst traits of the human race and leads to a powerful, and sad ending, for many of the superbly drawn characters that sees Fargo going on a bloody killing spree.

Another strong tale that, for me, highlights the reasons I keep buying the Trailsman books each month.

By the Gun They Died

as by Matt James

A Black Horse Western from Hale, April 2010

With seven killers camped on his trail, big Blaze Morgan rode south into Weeping Woman Valley. With his superior gun skills and horsemanship, Morgan expected to shake his pursuers quickly, but soon realizes he will be lucky to survive the next-four hours…

How can he possibly overcome such obstacles?

Matt James hooks the reader quickly by throwing in many questions that just have to be answered before the book can be put down. Questions such as who are the twins that live in the large house in Weeping Woman Valley? Why won’t they answer any of Morgan’s questions? Will they kill Morgan? Will the seven killers hell-bent on revenge be successful in their quest? Whose body does Morgan discover hastily buried, who killed him and why?

Of course Matt James is a pseudonym and it’s one of those used by long-time western author Paul Wheelahan. A writer, who knows his craft extremely well, knows how to keep his readers turning the pages. His characters are believable, his descriptions paint vivid images within the minds eye, his dialogue is convincing. All these things combine to make this book a gripping and action filled yarn that will definitely appeal to most western fans.

By the Gun They Died is officially published today but has been available for a while and if you want a copy I suggest you put your order in as soon as possible as BHW tend to sell out very quickly.