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  

Barry Cord

 Trouble in Peaceful Valley

by

Barry Cord

(Peter Germano)

After riding into Peaceful Valley at the request of a letter warning of dire trouble, Deputy Marshal Matt Vickers faces a war between cattlemen and sheep herders. Trouble has been brewing for years and now it is about to explode. The sheep herders are backed by a gunman who had once been a school teacher. The other side were led by a foreman who was tough and fast on the draw. Throw into the mix a band of rustlers and a feisty woman and Vickers has more than his share of trouble.

Barry Cord (Peter Germano) delivers what feels more like a mystery‑driven western than the action‑heavy stories I usually associate with the genre. There’s still some solid action, just not at the level I’ve come to expect from other westerns. Even so, the story moves well and the characters have real strength to them.

Trouble in Peaceful Valley originally appeared as an Ace Double under the title Hell in Paradise Valley, though I’m not sure what prompted the title change.

While it’s not my favorite Barry Cord novel so far, it certainly doesn’t put me off reading more. The good continues to outweigh the bad—and to be clear, this one isn’t that bad at all.

4/5

Jon Sharpe

 Dakota Deception

Trailsman #217

by

Jon Sharpe

(David Robbins)

Skye Fargo wants to help a lovely heiress...

But where there's no will, there's no way!

Normally, when the Trailsman says "no" to a job, it's final. But wealthy spitfire Charlotte Weldon has the knack for arousing his curiosity. Especially when Charlotte's sister runs off with their father's will--and without it, the family fortune is lost. All Charlotte actually wants now is her sister dead....

And since Fargo knows the truth, she wants him dead, too...

Skye Fargo turned the job down at first, but curiosity finally got its hooks in him. It didn’t take long to track down Darlene Weldon—and even less time to learn the ugly truth. Her family wanted her dead. And once they realized Fargo knew it, they added his name to the kill list.

As if that wasn’t enough, trouble was riding hard in the form of the renegade Moon Killer, a blood‑crazed butcher who left no one alive. For a while, it looked like Fargo might be headed for an early grave.

I’m told that “Jon Sharpe” on this one was actually David Robbins, and it shows. The writing has his trademark pull, tight action, sharp tension, and a story that keeps you turning pages. It’s one of the stronger entries I’ve read in the series.

5/5

 

Barry Cord

 Cain Basin

by

Barry Cord

(Peter Germano)

Drifter Steve Crystal travels from town to town, searching for his missing wife and child. Then an attack on him outside Cain Basin leads him to assume a new identity...

In a case of mistaken identity, Steve Crystal, who happens to be looking for his missing wife and child, and he is beaten and left unconscious on the trail into Cain Basin. His attackers thought he was Marshal Jim Bretman, summoned there by Sheriff Arch Akers. They were wrong—and when Crystal finally came to, he discovered the killers had eventually found their real target, for the marshal lay dead beside him.

With a score to settle, Crystal takes on Bretman’s identity and rides into Cain Basin, straight into the trouble brewing there. This time he intends to show the men responsible just how tough he is—and that they should have finished the job when they had the chance. But as the situation begins to unravel, Crystal may have taken on far more than he can handle.

Another strong story by Barry Cord (Peter Germano), filled with great characters and fast‑paced action. I read it in a single day because I had to know what was coming next.

Sam Bowie (Todhunter Ballard)

 Thunderhead Range

by

Sam Bowie

(Todhunter Ballard)

Dale Thorne returned home with one purpose: vengeance.

His target was King Parson, an ornery, brutal tyrant of a man—the same man who’d driven Dale off Thunderhead Ranch and driven Dale’s mother into an early grave. Waiting for him, too, were the remnants of a broken family: two half brothers. Les—already dead, killed the night before Dale’s return—and Ford, simmering with resentment toward both his father and his brother.

And then there was Lucy Colton, who despised everything and everyone connected to Thunderhead Ranch.

But Dale hadn’t come back empty‑handed. He carried one crucial piece of knowledge: His father had rewritten his will the night before he died, leaving everything not to Dale’s mother nor King Parson, but to Dale himself. Now Dale was home to uncover that will—and reclaim what should have been his all along.

The story was solid—maybe not great, but certainly engaging—with action that steadily escalated toward a brutal, satisfying finale. The writing held up well, and the plot kept me entertained throughout.

The characters were equally strong, especially Lucy, a fiery, strong‑willed woman who added real spark to the narrative. There was also a welcome thread of mystery as Thorne tried to uncover who murdered his brother.

And for those who enjoy digging into author backgrounds, Sam Bowie is yet another pen name used by the remarkably prolific Willis Todhunter Ballard.

4/5

Lee E. Wells

 Vulture's Gold

by 

Lee E. Wells

Hank Allen owned The Golden Vulture mine, The Golden Vulture saloon, and most of the rest of Paso Grande lock, stock and lawman. New people may come into his town from time to time but not for long, unless he says it s all right.

Kate Brent hires Jerry Crane to escort her to Paso Grande, determined to uncover the truth about her brother’s death. Everyone insists Apaches were responsible — until a letter arrives claiming his own partner, Hank Allen, was behind it.

No sooner do they reach town than Crane is jumped by Allen’s hired muscle, and things only escalate from there. Allen isn’t the type to let trouble simmer, and Crane soon realizes the only way to deal with a deadly crew like this is to cut the head off the snake.

Unfortunately, the best thing about this book is the cover. I struggled to stay engaged and found myself skipping sections. The writing is serviceable and the action is plentiful, but something essential just isn’t there.

3/5

William Heuman

 Gunhand from Texas

by

William Heuman

Standing out in front of the Elkhorn National Bank, unshaven, his black hair beginning to curl at his neck, his clothing about as badly worn as that of any of the trail riders who'd come up with him from Texas, Emmett Kane definitely did not look like a man who had a bank draft for 12 thousand dollars in his shirt pocket. It was no surprise that Madge Wilson offered him a job as a ranch hand. What was a surprise was when a cowboy warned him not to take the job.

After finishing a long cattle drive and ignoring a clear warning to stay out of Madge Wilson’s troubles Emmett Kane does exactly what he was told not to. His grit and capability don’t go unnoticed, and before long Madge appoints him as her new foreman, a decision none of her hands see fit to challenge.

The action comes hard and fast as two rival outfits start pushing their stock across Squaw Run, aiming to take over Pine Tree’s winter range in Vermilion Valley—the only decent grazing left once the snow sets in. But nothing is quite what it seems, and Kane digs in, tough as rawhide, to defend the brand he’s sworn to ride for.

This is my second Heuman novel, and it’s every bit as strong—if not stronger—than my first. Kane is a hard-bitten lead who shoulders the job he’s given, while the supporting cast each brings their own weight to the story. The winter setting is painted in broad, vivid strokes; you can almost feel the cold rolling off the page.

Read in one sitting in front of a warm fire, Gunman from Texas is a gritty, well‑crafted, action‑packed tale that cements Heuman firmly on my must‑read list of Western authors.

5/5  

Barry Cord

 Boss of the Barbed Wire

by

Barry Cord

Ben Sladeen left New Orleans to move to a ranch at Two Mile called the Barbed Wire. An old enemy follows him there and buys an adjacent ranch. His painful past in New Orleans returns to haunt him in the guise of the King brothers and Curly Temper. 

Ben Sladeen tricks his boss, John Cross, into signing over the Barbed Wire ranch partly to honor a promise to a dead woman, partly to keep it out of the hands of Curly Temper, his sworn enemy. He tells himself he’s doing the right thing, but as events unfold he starts to wonder whether his motives are as noble as he claims.

At the same time, rustlers are bleeding the Barbed Wire dry.

Adding to the trouble, Cross’s daughter Laura wants the ranch sold  so she can take her father away on the next stagecoach. Sladeen, however, is certain of one thing: whatever his reasons—good or bad—he’ll fight like hell to keep Curly Temper from getting his hands on the Barbed Wire.

I really enjoyed Cord’s (Peter Germano’s) writing. It’s sharp, well‑paced, and reads like an old‑school western film—the kind I prefer over most modern ones. Maybe that makes me old‑fashioned.

I read this one in large print. Maybe that’s a sign of getting older… or maybe it’s just the only way to get many of the classic westerns through the library these days.

5/5 

J.T Edson

 A Town Called Yellowdog

by

J.T. Edson

The citizens of Moondog, Texas, stood staring at the small, blond, insignificant cowhand—only he seemed to be the biggest man present, towering over his two companions, and neither of them lacked size. Cold fury worked on Dusty Fog’s face as he pointed to the signboard announcing the name of the town.

“My brother came here because you begged for help,” he told them. “Danny put his life on the line

and you hadn’t the guts to back him. So he died. The name of this town’s all wrong and I aim to see

it put right. You!” His finger stabbed at the Blue Bull Saloon’s bartender. “Take your paint brush and cover over ‘Moondog’ on that sign. Put ‘Yellowdog’ in its place. Yellowdog, hombre. That’s what your town is—it and everybody in it.”

Slowly, his head hanging in shame, the bartender obeyed; for he and every man in the crowd knew that Dusty spoke the bitter truth.

Danny Fog rides into Moondog hunting for two missing Texas Rangers. They arrived ahead of him…and vanished. Now he’s in danger of becoming the third.

His cover blows almost the moment he hits town, and from that point on he’s playing against a stacked deck—Stella Howkins and her crew of hired guns run Moondog with fear, and the townsfolk are too terrified to speak. Just when Danny finally uncovers the truth, he’s murdered.

That’s when his brother, the Rio Hondo gun wizard Dusty Fog, rides in, backed by the deadly Ysabel Kid and the giant Mark Counter. Together, they aim to uncover what really happened…and settle the score in blood.

I’ve always found J.T. Edson’s work a bit uneven, but this one hits the mark. The action is constant, the mystery is tight, and the violence feels a notch higher than in many of his other books. The writing is sharp too—none of the rambling over‑descriptions that bog down some of his later novels. It left me hopeful that there are still plenty of great Edson stories waiting to be read.

5/5.

Rory Black

 The Shadow of Iron Eyes

Iron Eyes #14

by

Rory Black

(Michael D. George)

Blinded after an accident, bounty hunter Iron Eyes roamed aimlessly until he heard the hungry crackle of flames devouring a ranch house in the distance. As he rode closer, he smelled the cold, metallic stench of spilled blood, and worse, the stink of burning bodies. Dismounting, he tried to learn more about what had happened to these people … but that was when he stopped a bullet, too.

Wounded, he fell, then lay helpless as his assailant came closer, intending to finish the job.

What happened next led the bounty hunter south to a place where only the Devil would feel at home. A place where the law had never ventured, a place where Iron Eyes would have to kill anyone who stood in his way.

Iron Eyes is nearly blind—temporarily, but badly enough that he moves through the world in a fog. In that dazed state he stumbles upon a burning ranch house, the bodies inside already beyond saving. Before he can make sense of the scene, a hidden gunman shoots him down.

When he finally wakes, he discovers his attacker is a girl named Sally—young, sharp, and far more dangerous than she first appears.

Thrown together by circumstance, these unlikely partners set out after the killers, riding hard toward the Mexican border, where their pursuit ends in blood and violence.

As a story, it isn’t the strongest entry in the series, but it isn’t the weakest either. This is the first time readers meet Squirrel Sally, who becomes a recurring presence in later Iron Eyes novels. Iron Eyes himself remains exactly as expected—unyielding, impossible to kill, and stubborn enough to keep going even half‑blind.

The odd piece is Mason Burr, a cold‑blooded killer whose storyline barely intersects with the main plot. He drifts alongside the narrative only to cross paths with the true villains near the end, without contributing to the final showdown. His inclusion seems mainly to set up how Squirrel Sally eventually acquires the stagecoach she uses in future books.

Still, the writing is solid, even if this installment doesn’t quite stand with the best of the series.

3/5 

Ralph Hayes

 Four Ugly Guns

Buffalo hunter #2

by

Ralph Hayes

The four men were as tough as their names: Duke Pritchard, the boss. McComb. Diablo, the Mexican. And the Superstition Kid, considered to be the fastest gun in ten counties. They left O'Brien's friends bullet-stuffed and dead. 

The buffalo hunter didn't know why. All he knew was that he was going to track down the Pritchard bunch and pay them back, if he had to trail them clear to Texas.

When O’Brien discovers his friends murdered by the Pritchard gang, it triggers a brutal chain of events. The lone buffalo hunter refuses to stop until every last one of them is in the ground. Shot, beaten, and pushed to the edge, he keeps going, driven by the need for justice. I’m sure I’ve read one or two of these books before, though I can’t quite remember. This one, though, I really enjoyed — fast‑paced, tough, and sharply written. My copy is the Centurion Books edition, listed as published in 1970.

5/5  

C. William Harrison

 Unarmed Killer

by

C. William Harrison

Big Matt McKenna hadn’t touched a gun since that night in Kansas when he went kill‑crazy.

He rode into Sentinel as a veterinarian, hoping to bury the past. But within five minutes he’d made himself a couple of enemies.

Sentinel was about to become the battleground of a range war — cattlemen on one side, homesteaders on the other — and McKenna found himself squarely in the middle. He tried to fight guns with his fists, and it nearly got him killed. Beaten so badly he lost his memory until the pieces of his past began to return.

When they did, he knew there was only one path left. Fight fire with fire. Pick up the gun again.

There was just one problem — he wasn’t much good with it.

C. William Harrison, the pen name of Chester William Harrison, was a prolific American writer best known for his Western novels and hard‑driving pulp magazine stories.

Unarmed Killer was a fast read with plenty of tension and enjoyable characters. 

5/5 

H.A. DeRosso

 The Dark Brand

by

H.A. DeRosso

Stuck in a jail cell with a man due to be hanged, Driscoll found out that the guy had robbed a bank and killed a man. He also found out that the money was never recovered. Now out of jail, Driscoll realizes that the townspeople think the condemned man had told Driscoll where the loot was buried before he had died. Now it seems that everybody wants that money enough to kill for it.

Some westerns are good and others are great — but DeRosso takes things a step beyond. The Dark Brand opens with Driscoll arrested and thrown into a cell with a man named Tennant. Tennant is set to hang, yet the stolen money he hid is never recovered.

That’s the hook. Tennant goes to the gallows, Driscoll goes to prison. When Driscoll finally gets out, he returns to hunt down the missing money — not for himself, but for Tennant’s wife, Hazel, and their boy, Billy. Trouble is, everyone assumes Tennant revealed the hiding place to Driscoll, turning him into a walking target for every greedy soul in the territory. That includes Ira Longstreet, the local lawman who wants the money badly enough to kill for it.

But if Tennant confided in anyone, it wasn’t Driscoll. That doesn’t matter. Driscoll is determined to find the stash and deliver it to the woman and the boy — even if it costs him his life.

A tough, gritty story with plenty of action to keep the pages flying. Highly recommended for western fans.

5/5 

Six White Horses

 Six White Horses

by

James Robert Daniels

It’s the brutal aftermath of the Civil War. Texas Ranger Lieutenant James Quinn, a battle-scarred veteran, rides into a town he’s never seen before—badly wounded, alone, and dragging captured outlaw Cole Twist.

Quinn is saved by China Smallwood, a Quaker schoolteacher who stands against the town she calls home. While Quinn heals, the jailed, smooth-talking killer recasts himself as a folk hero, whipping the town into a frenzy against the Ranger—and China, who is determined to educate newly freed slaves. Meanwhile, Twist’s gang is still out there, along with the stolen cash Quinn is sworn to recover.

Now Quinn faces two suicidal choices: hunt the gang alone, or defend China single-handedly from a violent uprising.

Quinn rides into town half‑dead, dragging the outlaw Cole Twist behind him. He barely has time to register the calm, steady presence of China Smallwood before he slips from the saddle. As he fades, he hears a warning delivered in a quiet but unshakable voice: “Stay where thee are. Dismount, and I’ll kill thee.”

China may be a Quaker schoolteacher, but she’s no ordinary one. Something about her unsettles Quinn in all the best ways, and before long the hardened Texas Ranger finds himself falling for her—complicating his life far more than any bullet ever has.

Then the verdict comes down. Cole Twist walks free. And the moment he does, chaos erupts.

A gripping tale with sharp writing, plenty of action to keep the pages flying, and a cast of characters—good, bad, and everything in between—that you can’t help but enjoy.

Thanks to Net Galley and Brash Books for an ARC of this story. 

George G. Gilman

Savage Dawn

Edge #26

 by

George G. Gilman

The half-breed Edge is about to settle down for his share of love and happiness in San Parral, about to ask the beautiful Isabella to marry him, when six brutal bounty hunters ride into town raising hell. Their prize captive is the woman of a hated bandit chief and their torture is their amusement. Hard on the bounty hunters' trail is a thirty-man band of thieves headed by the ruthless Gonzales, who wants his woman back alive. Once again, Edge has to throw love aside as he pits himself against two violent gangs, hell-bent on destroying each other. And anyone who gets in their way!

Edge is ready to settle down — until bounty hunters ride in with a brutalized captive who belongs to Gonzales, a notoriously sadistic Mexican bandit. Edge wants to stay out of it, but once Gonzales drags him into the conflict, he’s fighting for his life, his love, and the people of San Parral.

A classic Gilman western: sharp, violent, dark, and unapologetic. I read many of these years ago, but this one feels new to me, which is a bonus.

Not for readers who prefer their westerns tame.

5/5

Simon Scarrow

 Warlord of Britannia

by

Simon Scarrow

&

T.J. Andrews

AD 43, Britannia. A barbarian land . . .

Caratacus is warlord of his tribe. Only King Cunobelinus holds more power. The island's clans are constantly at war. Caratacus has relentlessly driven new alliances, but those are ready to crumble at any provocation. A situation King Verica, an implacable enemy, is keen to exploit, with the support of ever-ambitious Rome. And Rome has a spy in Cunobelinus's inner circle.

The elders believe their island is impregnable. Caratacus is powerful enough to ignore their mockery, as he calls on thousands of men to enlist, and prepare to defend their homeland. But even Caratacus cannot be certain that an army of warriors and ragtag bands of farmers can be turned into a disciplined fighting force that can defy the mighty military machine poised to invade.

Caratacus and his men are preparing for the most deadly battle of their lives. The future of their world is at stake.

An intriguing perspective on Caratacus, especially in the way he recounts his story to a Roman historian. It feels fresh and different, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. As with most books bearing Scarrow’s name, you know exactly what you’re in for: strong storytelling and a compelling read.

Norman A. Fox

 Roughshod

by

Norman A. Fox

Reb Kittredge rides into Sleeping Cat, Montana as hired muscle, paid to break a stubborn rancher, to squeeze the last honest man in the basin until he folds. It's dirty work. He's done it before.

Then a single cut of a deck of cards makes him the owner of the very ranch he was sent to destroy. Now the cattle boss who hired him wants him dead, the rancher's daughter is getting under his skin, and Kittredge finds himself fighting a war he started… on the wrong side.

But a man who's lived by the gun doesn't fold easy, and Reb Kittredge has never once backed down from a fight.

I really enjoyed this gritty tale. Kittredge makes for a strong, compelling lead, and Fox’s writing is  sharp. There’s plenty of action to keep the pages flying, with just enough romance woven in to soften the edges.

Sleeping Cat is anything but sleepy. Sent to take out rancher Dan Saxon, Kittredge instead ends up owning Saxon’s ranch after a risky cut‑card gamble. Naturally, this doesn’t sit well with the man who hired him.

Add in Rita, Saxon’s daughter, and the jealous Curly Mather, and things heat up fast.

Now I’m tempted to watch the movie adaptation to see how it stacks up.

This book is now available from Wolfpack Publishing. 

5/5.

Gordon D. Shirreffs

Fort Vengeance

by

Gordon D. Shirreffs

Get here!

Major Dan Fayes was sent on a mission to Fort Costain in Arizona to end the apache reign of terror. It was then that the Apaches struck swiftly, armed with new henry rifles.

Fort Costain becomes a kind of hell on earth, isolated in Apache territory and staffed by a complacent, undisciplined cavalry unit. Then Dan Fayes arrives. His mission is twofold: whip the garrison into a real fighting force and uncover who’s supplying the Apaches with brand‑new Henry rifles — a job complicated by the fact that someone is willing to kill to keep that secret buried.

The story delivers steady tension and plenty of action. Among a cast of strong personalities, the standout for me was Sergeant Major Mike Haley — a hard, uncompromising soldier whose loyalty lies entirely with the uniform he wears. When we first meet him, he’s deserted out of sheer disgust with the men around him. Fayes not only brings him back but earns his respect, ultimately promoting him from sergeant to sergeant major.

5/5

 

Max Hastings

 Sword

by

Max Hastings

On 6 June 1944 when the Allied armies landed on D-Day, the Second World War had already lasted almost five years. Yet many of the British and American troops who invaded Normandy were virgin soldiers, never before committed to battle. They quit England in summertime to face within hours a storm of machine-gun and mortar fire. They witnessed scenes, above all of sudden death, such as no exercise had prepared them for.

I’ve always had a soft spot for war non‑fiction, and Sword by Max Hastings is absolutely top shelf. Focusing on the D‑Day landings, it drops you straight into the gliders during the airborne assault on Pegasus Bridge, along with the follow‑up operations by the 6th Airborne Division.

From there, Hastings shifts to the beach landings, placing you shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the troops as they come ashore — including Lord Lovat’s Commandos. He also covers the ordeal of the DD tanks, some of which were swamped with their crews lost, while others managed to reach the beach only to be destroyed in the shallows.

What makes the book stand out is its focus on a single sector of the invasion. Most works fixate on Omaha Beach, so it’s refreshing — and frankly one of the reasons I bought it — to see such detailed attention on the British beach.

I’ve also got Hastings’ book on Operation Pedestal sitting on my shelf, covering the convoy that fought its way to Malta. And I’ve already got my eye on a few more of his titles that might end up here before long.

5/5.

Jack Slade

 Five Graves for Lassiter

by

Jack Slade

(Peter Germano)

Lassiter planned to rob the Deadwood bank of a quarter of a million dollars. With the help of Pop Felton, an old codger who owed him his life, and Kathy O'Neil, a teller in the bank, there was no way he could fail.

But Pop Felton double-crossed them, Kathy was killed, and the Sallivan gang ended up with the money.

Now Lassiter was going to track down the Sallivan boys one by one. And Lassiter had five deep graves just ready waiting for them!

Even the best‑laid plans can fall apart. Lassiter learns that the hard way when his scheme is blown to hell, and the woman he intends to marry is gunned down by the Sallivan gang.

Branded a suspect in the crime, he rides out of Deadwood with revenge burning hotter than the noonday sun. But he’s not the only one on the trail. Behind him comes Kathy’s sister, Cindy—just as hungry for vengeance, and convinced that Lassiter is the man who deserves it.

Shadowing them both is Wells Fargo agent Sidney Blood, relentless as a wolf on a scent. He aims to drag the outlaws back in irons… or leave them in the ground.

Germano (writing as Slade) delivers a fast, hard‑hitting tale that’s as smooth to read as it is packed with action. I learned about the author’s identity from Rough Edges Blogspot and James Reasoner. I haven’t read many Lassiter novels—an early, dull entry put me off—but Five Graves is a different beast entirely.

It’s good enough to send me hunting for more of Germano’s Lassiter stories.

5/5.   

Michael D. George

 Kid Fury

by

Michael D. George

The remote settlement of War Smoke lies quiet - until the calm is shattered by a gunshot. Marshal Matt Fallen and his deputy Elmer spring into action to investigate. Then another shot rings out, and cowboy Billy Jackson's horse gallops into town, dragging its owner's corpse in the dust: one boot still caught in its stirrup, and one hand gripping a smoking gun. Meanwhile, the paths of hired killer Waco Walt Dando and gunfighter Kid Fury are set to converge on War Smoke...

Matt Fallen has his hands full in this fast‑paced western. A murder kicks things off, and before the dust can settle, two deadly gunmen ride into town. One is a hired killer, determined to make this the marshal’s final sundown. The other is barely more than a boy—Kid Fury—quick on the draw and burdened with a reputation he never wanted. Like it or not, he may be the only hope Matt Fallen has left. Black Horse Westerns don’t get the recognition they deserve. Sure, like any line, a few stories miss the mark, but crack one open and you’re almost guaranteed a fast, exciting ride. This book is no exception. Strong characters, intrigue, suspense, and enough action to keep the pages flying. I’ve read several of Michael D. George’s novels over the years, and this one delivers exactly what I’ve come to expect.

5/5. 

Gordon D. Shirreffs

 Massacre Creek

by

Gordon D. Shirreffs

''Bloody Khuyper'' they called the captain who ruled the Union Army’s prisoner-of-war camp in the west. And no Johnny Reb hated the man more than Sabin Shay of Texas.

Then word came that Khuyper was to command an expedition against the hostile Indians. Sabin Shay saw his chance. He disavowed the Confederacy, swore allegiance to the Union and volunteered to fight Indians as a ''Galvanized Yankee.''

He did it knowing that Khuyper would make his life hell on the trail, knew that his name would come up for every suicide patrol. But he also knew that somewhere along the way he and Khuyper would stand over drawn guns - man to man!

I read the paperback edition of Massacre Creek, though it’s also available as an eBook from Wolfpack Publishing. The story moves fast and stays tense throughout. At its center is Sabin Shay, a former Confederate captain and the man his fellow Confederate soldiers rely on as they push deeper into Indian country.

But once you add two women, a vengeful officer, and the constant threat of the Indians, Shay finds himself facing more trouble than any one man should have to handle. And it just might be the death of him.

Great read. 5/5  

Buy here!

William W. Johnstone

Bullets, Biscuits, and Bloodshed

by

William W. Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

Legendary bounty hunter Luke Jensen enlists the help of chuckwagon cook Dewey “Mac” McKenzie in a deadly manhunt—but ends up neck-deep in an even deadlier range war. . . .

Dewey “Mac” McKenzie doesn’t have much of an appetite for bounty hunting. Before he was a cook, Mac had a price on his head—and bounty hunters on his tail. Nowadays, he’d much rather be stewing beef over an open fire than opening fire on another man. Then he met Luke Jensen, bounty hunter extraordinaire. As a favor to his new friend, Mac agrees to join Luke on the trail of a wanted fugitive. A trail that leads them deep into Oregon timber country—and smack dab in the middle of a brewing war . . .The trouble starts in a saloon, a knuckle-busting brawl between the loggers from Pine Knob and some cowboys from a nearby ranch. When the ruckus turns bloody, Luke and Mac join the fray. Funny thing is, Luke takes the side of the ranchers while Mac teams up with the loggers. Which works out in their favor. By splitting up, they can now search for the fugitive in both groups at the same time. Mac steps in as the loggers’ new cook, while Luke joins the cowboys at the Triangle 7 Ranch, where this feud first ignited—and is getting hotter by the day. For Luke and Mac, that means stepping out of the frying pan—and into the gunfire.

Luke and Dewey return for another high‑stakes adventure—only this time, the fight is for their very lives.

While tracking a wanted fugitive into Oregon’s deep timber country, the pair stumble straight into a brewing war that’s about to explode. On one side stand the cowhands; on the other, the loggers. The hatred between them runs hot, fueled by a wedding that never quite made it to the “I do.”

But when bruising fistfights suddenly escalate into deadly gunfire, Luke and Mac realize something doesn’t add up. There’s more at play here than a simple feud—and a hidden third party may be pulling the strings. The only question is: who?

What follows is a fast‑moving, action‑packed western filled with everything fans crave—heroes and villains, brawls and shootouts, and a steady undercurrent of suspense.

Once I got into it, the pages practically turned themselves. The cliffhanger chapter endings made it almost impossible to stop reading.

This is another series that I'd like to see continue. 5/5.

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

Simon Scarrow

 The Eagle in the Sand

Eagles #7

by

Simon Scarrow

Judaea in AD 46. Roman centurions Cato and Macro have been posted to Judaea for a 'hearts and minds' operation. The Empire needs to win over the locals after some of their religious figures have started revolts - and since the Romans crucified the last charismatic Judaean leader, the natives' rebellions have become bolder.

Not only are these small villages causing trouble, but there are also thousands of Parthians eager to fight Rome. With the threat of suicide attacks and even all-out war, Cato and Macro have their peace-keeping work cut out...

Sent east to Judea on the orders of Narcissus, the imperial secretary, Macro and Cato arrive at Fort Bushir expecting a straightforward handover of command. Instead, Macro finds himself stalled, waiting for confirmation of his appointment while the current prefect refuses to relinquish control. In the meantime, Centurion Postumus and Prefect Scrota continue their lucrative racket, extorting “protection” money from passing trade caravans — and that’s only the surface of the corruption.

Tensions in the region are rising. The local tribes are being stirred to rebellion by the charismatic agitator Bannus, and beyond the frontier the Parthians watch closely, poised for an opportunity to strike.

When Fort Bushir is suddenly besieged by a vastly superior force, all hope seems lost. With no reinforcements and no way out, Macro and Cato fall back on the one thing they can always rely on: their ability to fight against impossible odds.

Scarrow delivers another gripping adventure featuring his iconic duo, blending history, intrigue, action, and sharp storytelling into a tale that keeps the pages turning right to the final chapter. A solid 5/5.

William W. Johnstone

 Shadow of a Dead Man

Shotgun Johnny #2

by

William W Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

HE WHO LIVES BY THE GUN . . .

Shotgun Johnny Greenway thought he’d hit rock bottom when he lost his wife and son, hung up his badge, and hit the bottle. But a pretty young woman gave him a second chance. Offered him a job riding shotgun for the Reverend’s Temptation Gold Mine. Gave him a reason to live. But even she can’t save him when the Starrett gang tries to rob the gold—and Johnny kills their leader . . .

. . . DIES BY THE GUN

When the dust clears, Shotgun Johnny is wanted for murder. The dead man’s father has powerful friends, including a town marshal who’s Johnny’s personal enemy. One wants the gold. The other wants the girl. Both want Johnny dead. With a $1000 bounty on his head—and half the county trying to kill him—Johnny’s got to prove his innocence. Not in a court of law. In a trial by shotgun . . .

When Johnny Greenway gets jumped for the gold bullion he’s hauling, the whole job explodes into chaos. By the time the dust settles, every outlaw is dead…except one, their leader, Rance Starrett, falls to a stray round fired by his own man — but his father refuses to believe it. Blinded by grief and rage, Garth Starrett swears he’ll spill Johnny’s blood in payment.

At the same time, Garth’s wife is plotting a vengeance of her own — something slow, cruel, and soaked in red. But Johnny Greenway isn’t the kind of man who goes down easy. Anyone hungry for the bounty on his head is about to learn exactly why folks call him Shotgun Johnny.

A cracking read from start to finish. The scenes hit hard, the action never lets up, and the story keeps you wondering just how much more punishment Johnny can take. This is the second Shotgun Johnny novel I’ve torn through, with one left. If the first two are anything to go by, calling it quits after three might’ve been a mistake — this series has plenty of fire left.

5/5.  

Louis L'Amour

Horse Heaven

by

Louis L'Amour

 (Collected Short Stories Volume 2)

When Jim Locklin discovers his brother George’s remains on the floor of a cave, he vows to uncover who killed him—and why. Was it one of the powerful ranchers in the territory? Or the woman George married on the very day he vanished? And how did the silver figure into it all? Jim intends to get answers, and before he’s through, he gets every last one.

I’ve read plenty of L’Amour’s full-length novels, but not many of his shorter pieces. This one was a standout. Tight, well-crafted, and packed with action for its length. A solid 5/5.

Some short stories just stand out. This is one of them. 

Candice Fox

 Redbelly Crossing

by

Candice Fox

Blood is thicker than water. But too much leaves a trail . . .

Russell and Evan Powder are cops.

The brothers haven’t spoken for five years, since a violent confrontation tore their family apart.

Now they are both assigned to the murder of a young journalist, Chloe Lutz, in the small town of Redbelly Crossing (population 205).

It’s the last thing Russell wants. This is supposed to be the week he repairs things with his teenage daughter Bridie. Now he’s had to drag her on a murderous ride-along to the middle of snake-infested nowhere.

But a big case like this is just what Evan needs after a terrible mistake nearly tanked his career.

Then a dark discovery leaves Evan with only one way out; to bury the truth Russell is so determined to uncover ...

I always enjoy a good Aussie mystery or detective novel, and this one definitely delivered in many ways. The characters are strong, the writing is sharp, and it’s an easy book to sink into. Still, something held it back from being a great read for me. Maybe it was the alternating perspectives between the brothers while still staying in first person, or perhaps it was that the men in the family weren’t as likeable as I’d hoped.

That said, it was far from a bad book. I’m sure plenty of Candice Fox fans will absolutely love it. And it certainly hasn’t put me off — I’m diving into High Wire next.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC of this story.  

Gordon D. Shirreffs

The Lonely Gun

by

Gordon D. Shirreffs

Case Hardesty had to cross what the Conquistadors called the Devil's Highway on foot—or die. It was the highest, driest, meanest desert in northern Mexico. Hot on the trail behind him were the outlaws he'd taken for $20,000—and behind them the lawmen who had sworn death to the lot of them.

In one hand he held a Winchester, and in the other a salt sack stuffed with enough bills to buy a ranch in Sonora—if he made it. If he didn't, well, there was plenty of space for a grave out on the Devil’s Highway…

Hardesty’s fellow outlaws tried to gun him down, but they failed. He staggered off into the desert with nothing but his life, his guns, and their shares of the loot. Before long he was half-dead and wishing one of those bullets had found him. Only the survival tricks he’d picked up from the Indians kept him clinging to life.

That’s when he crossed paths with three travelers: two women and a man. One woman was the man’s wife, the other his mistress. Two of them were trouble. The third was the sister of the Conchos Kid, a gunslinger riding hard on their trail. Add a relentless posse to the mix, and Hardesty found himself fighting like hell just to stay breathing.

Another solid, fast-paced tale from Shirreffs, full of tension, shifting loyalties, and action that builds steadily toward a smoky, gun-blazing finale.

I read the paperback of this story but it is available here from Wolfpack Publishing as an eBook. 5/5.

  

 

William W. Johnstone

 Fort Buzzard

by

William W. Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

They were innocent men, slaughtered in the Rockies. A party of land surveyors who met their grisly fate at the hands of the Crow Indians—or so it seems. Some folks think the story is a lie. And now it’s up to U.S. Army Lieutenant Ron Stanton to figure out what really happened up there in those desolate, blood soaked mountains. As his guides, Preacher and Jamie McCallister agree to retrace the footsteps of the doomed party—come hell or high water—but first they’ll have to pass through a particularly nasty piece of purgatory known as Fort Buzzard . . .

Fort Buzzard—officially Gullickson’s Fort—earned its nefarious nickname because of the human vultures it attracts. Namely the brutes and brawlers hired by Gullickson to protect his interests. When a nearby trading post is suddenly attacked—and two young women carried off by Indians—Preacher and McCallister smell a rat. The Crows swear they’re not responsible for the attack, the abduction, or the mountain party massacre. Preacher and McCallister believe them—but proving it won’t be easy. This road to justice only leads to more dead ends—and the biggest, bloodiest showdown in Rocky Mountain history . . .

Once again, Preacher and Jamie MacCallister ride straight into danger. This time they’re escorting a group of soldiers sent to uncover the truth behind the massacre of a survey team—supposedly at the hands of the Crow. But nothing about this mission is as simple as it first appears.

Trouble finds them early when they cross paths with a trader and his two daughters. Emma, fiery and stubborn, immediately clashes with Preacher—especially after he tosses her into the river. Her sister Jenny, couldn’t be more different.

Before long, the trading post is attacked, and the sisters are taken captive. Forced to split up, Preacher heads out to rescue the women, while MacCallister and Lieutenant Stanton push on to Gullickson’s Fort in search of answers about the murdered surveyors.

What follows is a double‑barreled burst of frontier action, with both men delivering justice the only way they know how.

The author once again delivers a top‑notch story. The pacing is tight, the writing flows effortlessly, and the characters—especially Emma—keep the pages turning. She may be headstrong and exasperating, but she’s unforgettable. Jenny provides a perfect contrast, adding balance to the cast.

If this truly is the final book in the series (as of 2024), it’s a strong finish. Still, I can’t help hoping there’s more to come. A great read. 5/5

Brent Towns

  Nine Smoking Guns

By

Brent Towns

Get it here!

Kilraine!

Kilraine: the fast gun who left to protect his family; Grace Jefferson: Kilraine’s wife who was shot when their ranch was raided by night riders; Lucy Jefferson: the daughter he’s never seen; Sam Jefferson: Grace’s father – they murdered him claiming self-defence; Carver Giles: he killed to have it all; Eli Carter: the brave young man who stood up for the town; Utah Williams: Giles’ hired killer….

…. A cast of characters larger than the West itself comes to life in a classic tale of good against evil, in which the final showdown would pit three guns against a living ghost and possibly tear a family apart forever.

Lightning Strike

His name was Billy Swift and he wore a brace of .45s, grips inlaid with silver lightning bolts. They said he was dead, but now he's back . . . For five years it was thought that the gunfighter known as "Lightning Swift" was dead. He'd just crawled off into the desert to die after being wounded in a gun battle with Harley Mossop and his gang. How wrong everyone was. Someone shot the man who saved his life, so the Lightning Colts have been strapped back on. Soon the air is filled with the smell of burnt powder as the gunfighter with the lightning-fast hands returns from the grave. He's mad and is not going to stop until the person responsible is planted in the ground. Then from the past looms a killer. The famous Lightning Swift may not be able to outdraw this one. His name: Laredo Mossop, king of the fast-guns!

Saracen!

Blaine Saracen has returned home to Texas to find his parents dead and his sister taken by Black Ted Allen. So begins a long quest to find his sister. In the course of his journey, Saracen is caught up in a bloody showdown, having saved the lives of two United States Marshals, then is given the job of transferring a prisoner to Fort Smith. While Saracen is gone, Allen reappears with a vengeance, killing and robbing. But the outlaw's luck runs out when he is captured, only to be freed while being transported for trial. Though once Saracen gets word of it, nothing will stop him from getting the man who killed his parents and took his sister.

The Fury of El Tigre

El Tigre - the Tiger. That's what the Mexicans called him. His name was Jim Curtis, and he was a product of the Civil War, who went to Mexico to fight in the Revolution. Now, he just roams the West, riding from one town to the next - a drifter with no home. Then fate intervenes, in the form of a woman named Mary-Alice, and Curtis is soon up to his neck again in someone else's war. Only this time it has brought him face to face with an old friend. The killers think they can beat him. But they've never come across the fury of El Tigre!

The Other Madden

There is oil on Madden land and Bren Deavers means to have it. But when Joe Madden is killed and sent home wrapped in barbed wire, things heat up. For the Maddens are fighters and Elmira and Emily are going to do just that. But Joe also had a brother. One nobody talked about. The dangerous one. They just referred to him as - the other Madden!

Brothers of the Gun

Buford Lance fought for every inch of his B-L connected ranch, so he'd be damned if he was going to hand over a large portion of his Cottonwood Creek range to homesteaders. Instead, he decides to fight again. This time, he hires two of the best guns in the business.

Lucas Kane: The Gun King. They said he was invincible, that there was nobody faster.

Jordan Kane: The Prince. Next in line for the throne. He'd take on any job. It was said that he'd shoot his own mother if the price was right.

One, an out and out killer, the other, his polar opposite who could never commit murder no matter the price. When Lucas Kane refuses the job, Lance has him bushwhacked. It begins an infamous blood-letting talked about for years to come and leads to the change of a town's name in an effort to forget. Ultimately, it draws two brothers into a showdown where only one can walk away.

Will the 'Gun King' keep his throne? Or can the 'Prince' finally get to wear the crown he desperately covets?

Brolin

When Red Mike Stall hijacks the westbound train with the help of his gang and attempts to murder everyone on board, he's shocked to find Brolin, a gunfighter thought to have been dead for ten years, among the passengers. Effecting an escape, Brolin dogs Stall's bloody trail with the help of Emmett King, a greenhorn store owner who lost his son to a stray bullet from the outlaws. In the final showdown, can a dead man win the day? Or will a killer continue his murderous rampage?

Long Trail to Redemption

A U.S. senator and his family have been kidnapped by bandits and imprisoned in the Mexican village of Las Palomas, but the government is reluctant to provoke war by sending troops after them. Joshua Bell of the secret service amasses a team to retrieve the captives: assassin-for-hire Hawk; bounty hunter Wolf McGee; town-tamer Utah Smith; former shootist Walter Cronkite; secret service agent Jess Stuart; and drifter gunfighter Red Kinane. But not all of them can be trusted...

Fury at Bent Fork

It has become known as the Stone Creek Valley war, and for a time the land ran red with the blood of innocents and killers alike. In the middle of it all stands a young man, Chad Hunter, against the murderous bunch called the Committee, trying to halt their takeover of his once peaceful home. The Committee are the four biggest ranchers in the area, and to help them achieve what they want, they hire Slade Johnson and his cohorts to deal with those who refuse to bow to their demands. Then there's "Killer Creel," a cold-blooded murderer who has escaped from prison, and whose ultimate goal is to reap revenge upon Hunter. The Committee had lynched his brother and shot his father down, so Hunter loads his guns and prepares to deal out his own brand of justice. With killers to his front and one closing in from behind, it may just be a war that Hunter can't win.