Viva Reaper!

By B.J. Holmes

Piccadilly Publishing, June 2013

The normal run of things was for bounty hunter Jonathan Grimm to do the chasing, but when he found it was his turn to get out of town, the trail stretched all the way to Mexico. 

When he rode in, saddle-sore and stuck with the problem of trying to nail a hard case with no face, the small border town beyond the Rio Grande already seethed with tension. Framing him for murder just set the scene for more shooting. 

Only one thing was for sure; where he went, death followed. That’s why they called him the Reaper.

Originally published in 1996 this is chronologically the second Reaper tale, and certain events from the first book, Comes the Reaper, still trouble Grimm and pose a threat to his life – you don’t need to have read that first story though as B.J. Holmes includes just enough information in this one to explain events leading to this.

Grimm’s determination to make some money out of bounty hunting seems to be thwarted at every turn, yes he gets his man but then things turn against him and his expected payday just doesn’t happen the way it should. This is why Grimm finds himself hunting a faceless man.

There’s plenty of action as Grimm finds himself framed for murder, double-crossed and involved in an assassination attempt. It also seems none of the people he deals with can be trusted. All this will have you wondering if Grimm will make any money out of this quest or even escape with his life.

After finishing this I found myself hoping it won’t be too long before Piccadilly Publishing makes the next Reaper book available. 

Comes The Reaper

By B.J. Holmes

Piccadilly Publishing, April 2013

When Tom Connor first disembarked at Puget Sound, eager to settle in the northwest with his bride, little did he know that he was to take a long, long journey. This is a saga of violence, death and revenge that bears witness to the emergence of the bounty hunter known to history as ‘The Reaper’.

Way back in 1983 the first book to feature Jonathan Grimm, The Reaper, was published. Originally intended as a stand-alone novel the character proved popular and B.J. Holmes wrote another, and then another, until seven books made up the series. The fact that there was never any intention of producing a series the books move back and forward in time as Holmes filled in gaps in the bounty hunter’s backstory. Now, thanks to Piccadilly Publishing, the books are being published as ebooks in chronological order of The Reaper’s life, thus explaining the Foreword that states other Reaper books have already been published. This book was first published in 1995.

B.J. Holmes has always been a favourite western writer of mine and many of his books can be found in my collection. Comes the Reaper was one I’d never managed to find at a sensible price in good condition so I was extremely pleased to see Piccadilly Publishing put it out as an ebook.

As expected, the story is well crafted, very fast moving and filled with excellent descriptions and dialogue. There’s plenty of action and some neat twists and turns that see Tom Conner’s re-birth as Jonathan Grimm. It seems that any attempts he made for a happy, normal, life were doomed to failure and tragic circumstances see him taking up the vengeance trail in the battlefields of the American Civil War.

After surviving the horrors of war Connor finds himself working for a very important man and is then hunted for playing a part in that man’s murder. This part of the book making for some suspenseful reading.

I can’t really say much more without spoiling the story other than adding that I’m sure whoever reads this book will find themselves, like me, looking forward to the next Reaper book being published and hoping that we don’t have to wait too long for that to happen.

Loco

as by Ethan Wall

A Black Horse Western from Hale, 1991

With the Civil War in progress, travel across the United States was difficult and dangerous. Amongst the refugees seeking to escape the hostilities were four: a gold-hunter, an army deserter, a cat-house madam and an English gentleman, four whose paths were destined to cross at the railhead. Strangers to each other, each hoping to make the last train out of Charlesburg, each with a secret.

However, boarding the train was not to be the lucky break it seemed – for ahead lay confrontation with the most infamous military unit under the Southern flag – the Special Confederate Force – and gang of renegades better known as Quantrell’s Raiders who followed no rules and answered to no one in pursit of their objective.

This book doesn’t have the most eye-catching of covers - or titles for that matter - and I’d have probably passed it by had I not known that Ethan Wall is one of the pseudonyms used by one of my favourite BHW writers, B.J. Holmes.

Holmes creates some very memorable characters in this tale of four very different people. Each struggling to better their lives in what is becoming a desperate fight to stay alive. This writer knows how to build a story that will grip the reader from the very first page.

The confrontations with both North and South armies makes for fascinating reading and when the train carrying the four is taken over by Quantrell’s Raiders the story moves up a notch, into breath taking scenes of brutality and questions of how any of the civilians can possibly survive.

Well worth taking the time to find.

Utah Hit

as by Charles Langley Hayes

A Black Horse Western from Hale, 1995

Butch Cassidy had become the most wanted outlaw in the whole West. The governors of four states wanted his hide. But he and his Wild Bunch are holed up in a remote part of Utah: Robbers Roost, a natural fortress with armed guards overlooking the few limited entry passes, unapproachable, unassailable. So the marshal, sent by the governors, figured there was only one way to handle Cassidy - hire a long-shooting hit-man - then find some bait to lure the outlaw out of his sanctuary...

Charles Langley Hayes (really author B.J. Holmes) provides his readers with a book that begins with a train robbery then builds gently, and grippingly, to its exciting conclusion. Amoungst the action there are plenty of humourous moments too and the characters - both fictional and real - are presented well.

I found Cassidy’s fascination with an archaeological dig - and Sundance’s dismissal of it - made for some of the most entertaining reading of the story.

And does the book offer us another take on what happened to Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? Well that’s something you’ll have to find out for yourselves. All I can say is the book comes to a satisfying ending.

B.J. Holmes writing as Charles Langley Hayes - or indeed under any of his other pseudonyms - is fast becoming one of my favourite western authors, and I’d suggest going to the trouble to find his books will be well worth your time.

The Last Days of Billy Patch

by B.J. Holmes

A Black Horse Western from Hale, 1992

In their physical appearance the Branston brothers displayed an obvious family resemblance, but underneath the skin, they couldn’t have been more different. Joe was a loser, a hobo on horseback, not above swamping saloons for cents as he bummed his way across the west. Billy was a go-getter, making it with the girls; the young kid with the Midas touch, setting up his own ranch in Texas. When Joe found he couldn’t even earn a few pesos in Mexico, he decided to ride north and look up his kid brother. So, when he finally made it to Brightwater, he was full of expectations that his life was to take a turn. It changed direction all right, but not in the way he expected.

B.J. Holmes has a great knack for hooking his reader right from the beginning and not letting him go until the end. Here it’s done by having Joe arrive in Brightwater just in time to witness a funeral, which turns out to be his brother's. It seems Billy died of an accident, something Joe finds hard to believe. The local law – and indeed the other townsfolk – are of the opinion of “good riddance to bad trash”, something Joe cannot accept.

Holmes soon has the reader sharing Joe’s frustrations as he attempts to discover the truth about his brother’s activities. His disbelief at the accusations being part of the well-written book that had this reader not wanting to put the book down until the truth was discovered.

Even though I guessed the twist ending it didn’t really spoil what is in fact a great book, a fast, easy to read story, without padding, that ties everything up neatly at the end.

Well worth keeping an eye out for.

Montana Hit

as by Charles Langley Hayes

A Black Horse Western from Hale, 1993

Unknown to each other two hardcases are heading into Judgement Creek. One on the run and in need of money, the other after vengeance. Here their trails will cross in a twisting drama of love, hate, double-cross, cowardice and murder. At the centre of it all is the long-standing, respected sheriff - a lawman who is as yet untested.

A story that begins almost gently as we are introduced to the main players of this tale. The author takes care with his characterizations, their backgrounds, giving the reader enough to believe they are the people they’re painted to be, yet also gives a few little hints that some, or all, may not be quite who they seem.

The story builds well through a couple of killings, and the ensuing manhunt which leads to the so far separate incidents becoming entwined in a tangle that doesn’t have a clear and easy outcome that’s obvious to the reader.

The story has a tough and brutal conclusion that’s not without surprises that left me feeling well satisfied of having read a good book.

Charles Langley Hayes (really B.J. Holmes) knows how to tell a great story, and is an author I shall be looking for more from.

Get a copy here.

Reaper #5

BLOOD ON THE REAPER 
by B.J. Holmes

A Black Horse Western from Hale, 1992

Jonathan Grimm was a bounty hunter, maybe the best in the business. He was also known as The Reaper. Hunting two men he catches one hiding in a log cabin in the Ouachita Mountains. Forced to kill the man Grimm is shocked to find the dead man’s ten-year-old daughter has witnessed the killing. How could he track the second man now he was lumbered with the girl? She was sticking to him like a saddle burr and was just as hell-fire irritating.

B.J. Holmes has created an interesting hero in Jonathan Grimm. Grimm is a man who’s feeling the effects of old age. He suffers from rheumatism, failing eyesight over distances and general tiredness. Although still quicker than most with his guns he tries to avoid fistfights as his reflexes are slowing and the bruises take longer to heal. But he’s still a tough man, a man who takes no nonsense from others which makes his relationship with the young girl all the more fascinating.

At first Sarah hates him and he sees her as a hindrance, someone to be left with the first people he can find who will have her. Trouble is Sarah won’t be left with anyone and Grimm is surprised when she tells people he’s her father.

Holmes writes a great tale that hooked me quickly. The hunt for the second outlaw almost takes second place to the changing relationship between girl and bounty hunter that provides surprise, humour, sadness and warmth.

The action is fast and violent and a couple of quiet disturbing themes are introduced such as child prostitution.

I found this to be a very hard book to put down and read it in two sittings. Now I’ve got to go hunting through my collection for the other Reaper books I have as well as searching for more of B.J. Holmes’ work.

Get a copy here.