Terrence McCauley

Born to Hang by Terrence McCauley
Jeremiah Halstead #4

Born to hang or a cat with nine lives? Jermiah Halstead has been through the wringer in the first quarter century he has been on earth. This time he’s an innocent man on the run trying to survive as winter settles into the Montana countryside. Will Halstead make it to book five and if so, what will he have to do to stay alive?

What I liked:
* The opening discussion between Aaron Mackey and Billy Sunday as they discussed what to do about Jeremiah
* Joshua Sandborne: deputy marshal, friend of and partner to Jeremiah in the past, coming into his own, loves learning new words, quick, strong, savvy, stalwart, good friend, wise to the ways of men…and women
* Jermiah: star of the series, deputy marshall
* Moses Armand: livery stable owner, twin, respected citizen of Barren Pines, a good man to know
* That the story drew me in, made me feel part of it, and be glad I really was NOT there
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* Being able to hate the evil characters and wish they thwarted while liking and applauding the supporting characters that were their opposites
* Wondering if Joshua will have a spin-off series of his own and be hired in place of Jeremiah for a job with the railroad
* The conclusion and knowing that there is another book to look forward to

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how easy it is for someone to connive and do evil things – even kill - just to make money

Did I enjoy this book? Yes - I stayed up till 2am to finish it
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kesington-Pinnacle Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars… (más)

The Revengers by Terrence McCauley
Jeremiah Halstead #3

Once again Jeremiah is in the crosshairs of bounty hunters hoping to bag a 10,000 dollar payday due to Evil Zimmerman’s machinations. Killing two men in the opening pages sets the stage for more to machinations, murder, and mayhem to come in the rest of the book.

What I liked:
* Jeremiah: deputy marshal, stationed in Battle Brook with Joshua Sandborne, not quite himself after Zimmerman was pardoned in the last book, still with Abby, set on revenge and having Zimmerman taken down
* Joshua: deputy marshal, with Jeremiah in Battle Brook, intelligent, set on improving himself, thinking man, calm cool and collected, a great counterbalance to Jeremiah’s more tempestuous nature
* Doc Potter: true to his oath to save lives and protect his patients, wise, gives good advice, serious, focused on avoiding political situations
* Abby: Still in love with Jeremiah, has a rough few minutes here and there in the story
* That the bad guys were mostly thwarted
* That it felt true to the times
* Getting to see Mackey and Billy Sunday again as well as the parts they played in this story
* That it had all the elements of a good western
* Jeremiah’s growth and change by the end of the book
* Knowing there is another book to look forward to in the series

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Knowing that there are too many people who put self, power, greed, and revenge before anything else

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Pinnacle Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars… (más)

Disturbing the Peace by Terrence McCauley
Jeremiah Halstead Western #2

Jeremiah Halstead may be a Territorial Deputy Marshall who brings in bad guys with bounties on their heads but as the story begins, he has more men trying to kill him than he needs, and it is all due to a wanted man putting a bounty on the lawman. Having to kill men is not his preferred activity but it beats dying. Will he survive? Will he be able to bring the bad guy in that put him in the crosshairs of so many guns? Or perhaps not?

What I liked:
* Jeremiah: young but seasoned, has a backstory that still has not been entirely revealed, is a sure shot, upholds the law, has a bit of a temper, follows the rules…even when he doesn’t want to, meets Abby who might be a future romantic interest
* Joshua: younger than Jeremiah, Deputy Marshall, works with Jeremiah, cautious, aware, capable, a nice counterbalance to Jeremiah, would like to know more about him
* The writing, setting, and plot
* McBride: Sheriff of Battle Brook, West Point graduate, capable, enjoys quiet, a good man
* Abigail: wealthy, young, educator, attractive and attracted to Jeremiah
* That it felt true to the era
* That it was twisted, dark, and gritty
* That there is the potential for what has gone wrong to come right in future books in the series
* Being invested in the story
* Knowing that there is another book to look forward to

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like – the bad guys were despicable, and I really want them thwarted

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing-Pinnacle – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars… (más)

“Blood on the Trail” is set in the old west, the “Wild West,” where horses are fast and so are the bullets. The action unfolds in the open country with the horses, the pursuit, the bullets, the prisoner and the outlaw gang. This is Montana, not yet a state in March 1841, and William Henry Harrison is president. The country is wild and unhampered as is the action; a lot happens in just a few days.
Twenty-four year old Deputy United States Marshal Jeremiah Halstead arrives on the pages fully formed with a complex and unsavory backstory that is gradually shared with readers. He is a thinking man, a planning man, and the deadliest thing to hit town since yellow fever. He has a prisoner to deliver and a gang on his trail. Along the way he finds racial prejudice, social injustice, distrust of establishment, and the murder of a young woman that must be solved. Of course, McCauley also gives Halstead a Havana cigar just because he can.
The “Wild West” of 150 years ago shares many things with culture today. Influence, power, and economics interfere with justice, and society is reluctant to accept change. Outlaws have their own organizational structure with status is based on “achievements” no matter how unsavory the actions.
Terrence McCauley incorporates all the elements that readers look for in a compelling book. There are multifaceted characters, roller coaster thrills, complex conflicts, nail-biting tension, nonstop action and a murder to be solved. I am not a regular reader of “Westerns,” but a good book is just that – a good book, no matter the setting, and this is a good book
“Blood on the Trail” is now available in print, on Kindle, and as an audiobook from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries and anywhere books are sold… (más)