John Legg

 Death in Helltown

by

John Legg

Harlan Bloodworth is a hard man, one who hunts the worst of the worst outlaws. So when someone starts butchering soiled doves in Dodge City, the men who employ those fallen women turn to Bloodworth. They’re losing business, and they can’t abide that. They don’t care how it’s done, they just want the killings stopped. And, they figure, Harlan Bloodworth is just the man for the almost impossible job of tracking down whoever is responsible.

After collecting bounties on more than one outlaw in Dodge, Bloodworth is asked to investigate the murders of several soiled doves. He declines, seeing it as someone else's problem, until a woman he has taken a liking to is brutally killed. From that moment on, the hunt becomes deeply personal.

As Bloodworth digs deeper, the investigation takes him in unexpected directions. What appears to be the work of a single killer soon reveals a darker conspiracy involving multiple murderers carrying out the orders of an unseen hand.

Fast-paced, violent, and packed with suspense, this story held my attention from beginning to end. The final twist caught me by surprise and provided a satisfying payoff. Although I wouldn't rank it among Legg's very best novels, it remains an entertaining read and a worthy addition to his body of work. A solid 4/5.

This story can be purchased from Amazon or Wolfpack Publishing.