William M. James

Border Killing

(Apache #22)

by

William M. James 

Cuchillo Oro, the powerful Apache who calls no man master, takes a wife—a white woman. Immediately the life of the two newly-weds becomes a bloodbath. A relentless gang of killer outlaws with a bitter grudge from way back, dogs their trail, trigger-fingers itching for murder and vengeance.

And Cuchillo has nowhere to run. In ultimate betrayal, his own people turn against him in violence as Apache clashes with Apache to the death.

As deadly forces closes in, Cuchillo is alone, fighting for a marriage doomed to breed on blood and destruction.

Blood on his wedding day, and more blood spilled after. This Apache should never have taken a bride, but the woman he married was tougher than rawhide. She went hand‑to‑hand with an Apache warrior and beat him, and later stood her ground against vicious killers who thought she’d be easy prey.

I didn’t find this entry quite as strong as others in the series, but it was still a solid read. The prose was crisp, the pace never faltered, and there was plenty of action to keep the pages turning.

You can get this book from Amazon or Piccadilly Publishing. 4/5 

William M. James

  Death Dragon

Apache #20

by 

William M. James

Apache warrior, Cuchillo Oro, vows to protect an attractive white woman through thick and thin on her way to lay claim to a piece of land. Unfortunately, the two are not the first to arrive. Or the last. Judging by the amount of killings, it's a valuable plot. And nobody's going to leave without a fight to the finish.

After being rescued by a woman who desperately needs his help, Cuchillo Oro agrees to protect her—posing as her husband to keep her safe. Their journey quickly turns violent, and after she is brutally attacked, the Apache unleashes a ferocious and uncompromising vengeance on those responsible.

This is one of the more violent Apache instalments I’ve read, packed with relentless action that keeps the pages turning. A grim, bloody, and ultimately satisfying entry for readers who love the series.

This story is available from Piccadilly Publishing.

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