THE REVENGERS
A Jeremiah Halstead Western
By Terrence McCauley
Pinnacle Books
320 pgs
When a western novel begins with a shoot-out and 300 pgs later ends with one, you’d better believe this reviewer was most satisfied. Such is the case with burgeoning western superstar, Terrence McCauley’s newest Jeremiah Halstead entry, “The Revengers.” Of course it being the third in the series, we are obligated to tell you reading the first two will certainly increase your enjoyment while devouring this new one.
Part of that process, in any ongoing series is the obligatory recap which McCauley smoothly goes through in the first few chapters. Really, it’s painless. Then we are back in Battle Brook, Montana, with Deputy Marshal Halstead who learns his nemesis, crooked politician Ed Zimmerman, about to stand trial for murder, has been pardoned by the departing, bribed governor and is once again a free man.
Overwhelmed with hatred, Halstead soon begins to act rashly allowing his emotions to take control of his thoughts. Enough so, that Abby, the love of his life, wires Marshal Aaron Mackey to come to Battle Brook and rescue Halstead from himself. By the time Mackey, and his riding compadre, Billy Sunday, arrive, matters have gotten considerable worst. Zimmerman and his cronies have managed to pressure the mayor of Battle Brook into hiring Emil Riker, a Texas gunman, to be the new Sheriff. Well aware he and Halstead have as past. Years earlier, Halstead had shot and killed Riker’s father.
Amidst this cyclone of events, Riker convinces an angry saloon mob to attack the jail while Halstead is out of town resulting in the near death wounding of his colleague, Deputy Sandborne. It is enough to force Mackey to order Halstead to return to the capitol, Helena, or surrender his badge.
“The Revengers” is a fast paced, beautiful written novel and a testament to McCauley’s insightful awareness of the human condition. His characters, both good and bad, live and breathe on these pages. He gives them depth and their colliding stories propel the narrative to its gun-blasting finale. An ending this reviewer did not see coming. If you truly love cowboy stories, do not miss “The Revengers.”
