by Peter BrandvoldBerkley, November 2007
Life’s been pretty good for Cuno Massey since he went into the freight business with Wade Scanlon. That is, until Scanlon stops in at a saloon and gets shot dead by a band of outlaws. When Massey comes upon his friend in a pine box with his freight wagon plundered and burned, he has one goal: to find the killers.
Led by the notorious bank robber Clayton Cannady, the outlaws have raised hell across the countryside, leaving a trail of dead bodies in their wake. Now, allied with a bartender and a Chinese man whose daughter was kidnapped by Cannady’s gang, Massey won’t rest until his friend’s death has been avenged and the outlaws have paid for their sins in blood…
Saying Peter Brandvold’s stories are action packed is an understatement. Virtually every chapter of this fast moving book contains some kind of violence, usually graphically described. His bad guys are viciously evil and his heroes fall more into the anti-hero role than the squeaky clean white hats of yesteryear, and life is cheap.
The story is extremely fast paced and follows both Massey’s hunt and the trail of bloodshed Cannady and his outlaws create more or less equally, giving the reader insights into what makes both hunter and hunted tick. The Chinese man, Kong, is just as well presented and makes for an excellent sidekick for Massey.
As if tracking down Cannady isn’t a big enough headache for Massey, Peter Brandvold has Cuno meeting up with a person from his past, which will lead to treachery and more problems that can only be solved with a gun.
If you like books filled with savage violence, a smattering of sex, and brutal characters, then make sure you don’t miss this one.
The next Cuno Massey book, .45-Calibre Firebrand, is published in September 2009.
Led by the notorious bank robber Clayton Cannady, the outlaws have raised hell across the countryside, leaving a trail of dead bodies in their wake. Now, allied with a bartender and a Chinese man whose daughter was kidnapped by Cannady’s gang, Massey won’t rest until his friend’s death has been avenged and the outlaws have paid for their sins in blood…
Saying Peter Brandvold’s stories are action packed is an understatement. Virtually every chapter of this fast moving book contains some kind of violence, usually graphically described. His bad guys are viciously evil and his heroes fall more into the anti-hero role than the squeaky clean white hats of yesteryear, and life is cheap.
The story is extremely fast paced and follows both Massey’s hunt and the trail of bloodshed Cannady and his outlaws create more or less equally, giving the reader insights into what makes both hunter and hunted tick. The Chinese man, Kong, is just as well presented and makes for an excellent sidekick for Massey.
As if tracking down Cannady isn’t a big enough headache for Massey, Peter Brandvold has Cuno meeting up with a person from his past, which will lead to treachery and more problems that can only be solved with a gun.
If you like books filled with savage violence, a smattering of sex, and brutal characters, then make sure you don’t miss this one.
The next Cuno Massey book, .45-Calibre Firebrand, is published in September 2009.
Looks like I really need to pick up a Peter Brandvold book.
ReplyDeleteHi Craig,
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of Brandvold's work. He's a solid writer who never fails to entertain.
Don't forget that he also writes under the pseudonym "Frank Leslie" and he contributes to the Ralph Compton series, too.
Cheers,
Matt