Chance #12

WHITE WATER

as by Clay Tanner

Avon, July 1988

When Chance and his old compadre, Sam Clemens (alias Mark Twain), take a New Orleans bound sidewheeler, they’re plundered by river rogues and plunged into the killing currents of the Mississippi. Getting rescued by a raft riding runaway and his friend, a fugitive slave, begins one of the riskiest journeys Chance has ever taken. In fact, with all the deadly entanglements Big Muddy has in store…this could be the stuff great books are made of. Chance just hopes he lives to read it!

The inclusion of Sam Clemens and the runaway on the raft allow for some amusing events and comments, particularly if you’re familiar with Twain’s books.

Halfway through the story it almost seems as if one part of the tale is over and another adventure begins, but George W. Proctor (the author behind the pseudonym of Clay Tanner) cleverly links the two. This in turn leads to an exciting finale that ties up all the loose ends of the first part of the book.

Sadly – for me – this book is the last in the Chance series. Luckily George W. Proctor wrote other westerns too, and most of these sit in my collection waiting to be read.

Chance #11

GOLD FEVER

as by Clay Tanner

Avon, May 1988

When Chance tracks his missing brother Wyatt to the wilds of West Texas, they stumble on an opportunity that’s just too “golden” to pass up. The key to a conquistador’s dream…an ancient Indian treasure mountain! All that stands between them and the legendary loot is an Apache war party, a crazed prospector, and a treacherous underground maze which could lead to a glittering kingdom of gold…or to Kingdom Come.

Whilst waiting for the Wild Card to be repaired – see the previous book in the series – Chance uses the time to find his brother and gets involved in the events described above.

As usual George W. Proctor (Clay Tanner) writes a fast moving and involving tale that made it difficult for me to put this book down as it races to it’s spectacular ending.

Proctor gives the reader some great secondary characters such as the Anasazi Don-Ha-Ta and the prospector Jess Richardson. Having Chance seeking out his brother allows Proctor to flesh out the background to Chance’s character even more than has been done over the previous books.

Although the plot isn’t anything new in western fiction it is beautifully told and once more has me eager to read more in the series.

Chance #10

BAYOU BLUFF

as by Clay Tanner

Avon, March 1988

When the President of the United States wants a million dollars in gold given secret passage downriver…even a gambler has to fold his hand. At least until bullion-hungry buccaneers call his bluff with an old bayou battleship. As the muddy maze of the Mississippi Delta becomes a backwater battleground, Chance finds his paddlewheeler isn’t the only “Wild Card” in this deadly game: a tropical hurricane is headed straight for the bayou…ready to cash in everyone’s chips!

After the slightly disappointing previous entry into the series, Bayou Bluff sees George W. Proctor, writing as Clay Tanner, get back into his stride by giving the reader a book filled with action, a strong storyline, and a cat-a-mouse hunt that makes for gripping reading.

It’s been awhile since the Wild Card and its crew played such a strong central role in the tale and I, for one, welcomed that return. There are also other great characters that Chance has to deal with, such as the ex-Confederate Zeke Boussard and his devious and brutal methods he employs to steal the gold. Then there’s Stella Houston, a woman who just won’t take no for an answer.

The inclusion of a hurricane makes for a great plot twist and sees all sides struggling to survive this natural phenomenon of impeding death and destruction. Proctor writes this confidently and his words create some wonderful imagery as the crew cower from the storm.

A great entry into what is, overall, an enjoyable series.

Chance #9

DEADLY DEAL
as by Clay Tanner

Avon, January 1988

Rescuing a beautiful damsel-in-distress is one thing, but fighting an ancient curse that’s supposedly ravaging her family is another. At first it sounded loco to the riverboat gambler, but when the “spirit” demonstrates its grisly handiwork – seeing is believing! Now as something deadly stalks the Walshes one by one, it’s up to Chance to unmask a killer quickly – or six people’s lives won’t be worth a damn!

This book is filled with a mystery that could be of the supernatural kind, questions as to the who, how and why providing a gripping storyline.

Clay Tanner (George G. Proctor) fills the book with many different characters, any of who might be behind the killings; mysterious deaths without clues. Even Chance becomes a suspect to the investigating detective as he has a knack of being one of the first at the scene of each new death.

After reading the other Chance books I was surprised – and disappointed – that the author left a few events unexplained, such as how the ghostly appearance of the spirit happened, and what of the missing child?

Overall this was a satisfying read although perhaps the weakest entry in the series so far due to the threads left without explanation.

Get a copy here.

Chance #8

MISSOURI MASSACRE 
as by Clay Tanner

Avon, November 1987

Chance Sharpe is still in the Dakota wilds, trying to reach the Missouri and then link up with his riverboat. But things don’t go to plan and Chance soon finds himself two new trailmates, survivors of a tribal massacre. These two are a white woman and her son. They’ve been captives of Shadow Killer, a fierce Sioux warchief - and he wants them back. As the manhunt closes in on Chance, the gambler realizes the odds just maybe against him this time...

George W. Proctor (writing as Clay Tanner) presents the reader with a book that starts slowly and gently builds to it’s violent and crushing - for Chance - ending.

The first part deals with the building relationship between Chance and the white woman who won’t look at him, never mind speak to him.

When Chance finds out just who she is he refuses to accept that Shadow Killer will come after them. Slowly he comes to realise cannot ignore the facts any longer and has to take on about 30 warriors alone.

The fight with the Sioux covers most of the second half of the book and is quiet gruesome at times. The author really sets out to test his hero with seemingly impossible odds and how he takes them on proves to be exciting reading.

This series is one I’d recommend to anyone who likes their westerns tough and brutal.

Get a copy here.

Chance #7

DAKOTA SHOWDOWN 
as by Clay Tanner

Avon, September 1987

A meat shortage on board the Wild Card sees Chance leave his riverboat to go ashore hunting for game. Savagely mauled by a grizzly bear Chance struggles to survive weaponless in the Dakota wilderness. If that isn’t enough he soon finds himself the prey of vigilantes who believe he’s a bank robber. A lawman arrives and takes control of the situation only to take Chance to the hellhole of Beltin where they’ll hang Chance legal like for the lawman too believes Chance is the outlaw who emptied the bank. Soon Chance finds himself trapped in Beltin as the real robbers clan arrive with the intention of wiping Beltin, and everyone in it, off the map.

Almost a book of two parts, Chances’ fight to survive in the wilderness and then the troubles of Beltin. Both parts mesh together well and you’ve moved from one to the other almost without realizing it.

The final showdown in the town of Beltin is violent and exciting as a couple of men take on impossible odds.

And for Chance there’s the women from his past, a woman from book one of the series, a woman who owes Chance big time, a woman he’d loved. Will this surprise meeting bring forth love, revenge or sadness? That’s not for me to say here, you must find that out for yourself.

Get a copy here.