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.

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.