Louis L'Amour

 Silver Canyon

by

Louis L'Amour

“You’re not wanted in Hattan’s Point,” Matt Brennan was told moments after arriving in town. “There’s trouble here and men are picking sides.” But Matt decided he wasn’t going anywhere. Not until he found out what the dispute was about, and not before he got to know Moira Maclaren. She considered him nothing more than a drifting ranch hand, but Matt was determined to prove her wrong. To do so, he’d have to solve a mystery that was at the center of the growing violence in Hattan’s Point–a secret that could make a man rich . . . or dead. Probably dead.

They threw everything at Matt Brennan. He was beaten, shot, threatened, even framed for murder — but he never walked away. He stayed because of Moira Maclaren. He intended to marry her, and nothing on earth was going to turn him from that path.

From the moment he first saw her, he knew their story would end at the altar. Her father had other plans, but Brennan wasn’t the kind of man who backed off when told to.

He’d only meant to pass through town, right up until they forced him to choose a side — and then he saw the girl. After that, they murdered his business partner. Then the gunfighter from Mobeetie showed them exactly how tough he was.

I read this book years ago and didn’t realize until now just how strong a story it really is. Brennan’s hardness, his unwavering direction, and the sheer grit he carries make him unforgettable. Moira takes her time adjusting to Brennan’s unusual ways, but she gets there. And Mother O’Hara? She sees the ending long before any of them do.

There’s plenty of grit and action throughout, and Brennan is far from indestructible. He’s beaten badly more than once, and he’s shot — but none of it slows him down. If anything, it reminds you what kind of man he is. It also makes me want to revisit the other L’Amour stories I read long ago.

5/5

William W. Johnstone

 Betrayal of the Mountain Man

by 

William W. Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

They called him fastest gun alive, but Smoke Jensen is determined to stay on the right side of the law. That is, until he's jumped by six low-life robbers who steal his shirt - and his identity. Smoke's tried for robbery and murder, and sentenced to hang in morning. Someone's out to frame the Mountain Man...someone who's made a big mistake. Barely managing to escape on the morning of his hanging, Smoke's going after the desperados who've set him up. The gang thinks they have nothing to fear; they've already divided up the loot and gone their separate ways. But Smoke's going to hunt them down one by one. Because nobody frames the Mountain Man. Nobody who plans on staying alive, that is.

Smoke Jensen faces the possible loss of his Sugarloaf ranch, and even for a man used to trouble, this time the odds are stacked high. Then Ebenezer Dooley and his gang frame him for bank robbery and murder, turning a bad situation into a disaster.

Convicted on damning evidence and sentenced to hang, Smoke refuses to die for another man’s crimes. After a jailbreak, he rides out to hunt down the men who set him up. Clearing his name is only half the mission—vengeance is the rest.

A strong, fast‑moving entry in the Mountain Man saga, this instalment delivers the action, grit, and frontier justice longtime fans expect. Even if you can guess where the trail leads, the journey is still a satisfying one.

5/5

Barry Cord

 Gun-Proddy Hombre

by

Berry Cord

(Peter Germano)

Brett Havolin was too late when he reached his friend Tony Mareno’s Flying Club outfit. Tony was already dead. The ranch was left to him, and Havolin planned to sell it and get out as fast as he could. But with his friend murdered, he wasn’t about to leave without finding the killer. Then the offers to buy him out started coming thick and fast, and Havolin knew the two things had to be connected.

It wasn’t until later, when he came across an unposted letter, that he finally understood what was really going on. From that moment, he was more determined than ever to track down the killer.

This was a good read with mystery on two fronts: who killed Havolin’s friend and why everyone is so desperate to buy the spread. Another great cast of characters and a story that keeps you guessing right up to the violent end, where a twist hits that you won’t see coming.

Once again, Barry Cord—Peter Germano—delivers a tale that leaves me wanting more of his work.

(This work was also published as Maverick Gun)

5/5 

William Heuman

 Mulvane's War

by

 William Heuman

Mulvane rides from the high country to Boulder City - and into the middle of a range war. When he takes the sheriff's badge, he wonders how long he'll stay alive.

Mulvane might not have been the brother Rosslyn Elder sent for, but he was no second‑string substitute. Some would say he was the better man—harder, sharper, and far more dangerous. Once he stepped into the range war between cattlemen and sheep herders, both sides learned fast just how tough he really was.

This is a tough, gritty western with a lead character carved out of stone. Mulvane comes across as granite‑hard, and the supporting cast is drawn with the same rugged authenticity. Heuman delivers a straight‑up, hard‑edged tale packed with action and momentum.

4/5 

William W. Johnstone

 Fury Over Texas

by

William W. Johnstone

& 

J.A. Johnstone

At the height of the Civil War, a Confederate soldier was captured and held in New York’s infamous Elmira prison camp. He managed to escape during a snowstorm—after killing a sadistic guard—and made his way to Texas. There, he started a new life in the small lumber town of Pine Lick where he served as sheriff until he retired. Today, his son wears the badge; his nightmares of the war are long forgotten. But tonight, his past will return with a vengeance . . .

When nature unleashes its fury.

Sheriff Mack Armstrong is as fine a lawman as his father, dedicated to protecting the townspeople of Pine Lick—especially when trouble shows up. But when he hears that a mysterious newcomer is armed, angry, and looking to kill a man named Armstrong, he barely has a chance to react. Another force of nature arrives—even deadlier than the stranger. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime hurricane, the worst he’s ever seen. The windstorm tears apart the sawmill, the church, the homes. The torrential rains destroy the dam then flood the streets. And all Sheriff Armstrong can do is save as many people as he can—before the stranger gets revenge. . . .

A tale of revenge, destruction, and violence puts Sheriff Mack Armstrong to the test. His town has been nearly obliterated by a brutal storm and floods, and a determined killer is willing to do anything to get to Mack’s father. The story delivers plenty of action and tension, keeping the pages moving.

Overall, it’s not the strongest Johnstone novel I’ve read, but it’s solid. Some of his books can be hit or miss; this one lands somewhere in the middle. The vivid descriptions—especially of the storm—stand out, and I’d still recommend it to fellow western fans.

Thankyou to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC of this story.

Sundown McCabe

 Slade

by

Sundown McCabe

Find it here at Piccadilly Publishing!

Someone wanted Luke Slade out of the way so they could steal his land. So they framed him for murder and looked forward to watching him hang. But it didn’t work out that way. Oh, Luke had to pay for the crime he didn’t commit, sure – but with a lengthy prison sentence, not a noose. And when Luke got out of the penitentiary, he came straight back to the town of Pecos River, where he had a mystery to solve – and some old scores to settle.

Luke Slade was only eighteen when he was framed for murder. The case was wrapped up neatly, tied with a bow, and handed to the court as if it were undeniable. The judge sensed something wasn’t right, but instead of the noose, Slade got twenty‑five years—still a lifetime for a crime he didn’t commit.

Fifteen years later, he walked out on parole with one thought burning in his mind: he was heading back to Pecos River, and the people who set him up were going to answer for what they’d done.

But those responsible weren’t about to let Slade tear down what they’d built. Before long, there was a bounty on his head. He wasn’t entirely alone, though—someone in town had begun posting flyers claiming his innocence. The trouble was, Slade might not live long enough to see the truth come out.

Sundown McCabe (Roger Norris‑Green), an Australian author, wrote a mountain of westerns for Cleveland Publishing—stories known for their speed, grit, and relentless action. This one delivers exactly that. I read so many of his books growing up that I may have crossed paths with this one before, though I can’t swear to it. Either way, it’s a strong, satisfying western that won’t let fans of the genre down.

This book will be published by Piccadilly Publishing on August 1 2026.

5/5  

William M. James

 Death Dragon

Apache #20

by 

William M. James

Get it here from Piccadilly Publishing!

Is it destiny or chance that brings Cuchillo Oro into the desert to interrupt a gruesome scene of blood and death?

The proud Apache of the famous golden knife is drawn into a deadly conflict surrounding a mystical Oriental woman, Water Lily, who possesses a disquieting blend of irresistible physical attraction and awesome spiritual power.

Her story is a strange one, threaded with brutality and teeming with bizarre ritual.

Once again Cuchillo is fighting in a world where fear and terror are a way of life, where death will strike whoever moves last ...

After saving a young Chinese woman from her brutal father, Cuchillo Oro finds himself dragged into a fresh cycle of violence, used as an unwitting pawn in a game he never meant to join. He feels an unexpected pull toward the woman, Water Lily — a feeling he hasn’t experienced since the death of his wife. But Water Lily carries a secret, and when it finally surfaces, it’s one I genuinely didn’t see coming.

As expected from the Piccadilly Cowboy stable, the story delivers its trademark brutal, unflinching violence. It’s raw, direct, and unapologetic. Having read a few of these books when I was younger, I don’t remember Cuchillo relying on his knife quite this much. The final bloody showdown pushes things even further, ending with yet another surprise that hits hard.

I’m not entirely sure which of the three regular contributors — Terry Harknett, John Harvey, or Laurence James — wrote this instalment, but it captures everything I remember about the series. It’s exactly the kind of gritty, relentless storytelling I expected, and I’m already looking forward to diving into the next one.

5/5