Dead West by Linda L. Richards
The Endings Series #3

I had trouble relating to the main character and it took a while to get into the story. I am not sure if coming into the series on the third book was the reason why I felt the disconnect or if the female assassin was so lacking in depth that it felt plodding, then again, perhaps she was plodding through life and that feeling is what was what the author was trying to achieve.

Katherine Eveline Ragsdill seems to have taken up killing for money after a traumatic event occurred in her life. The event was no doubt covered in previous books along with her decision to step into her new job description. I believe, from reading reviews and book synopses, that the previous two books might give more insight into Katherine and would have helped me know her better.

Anyway, this book has her sent out with a designated kill contracted for. Meeting the mark, finding out that he is a good person with high ideals, and feeling drawn to him are the first mistake she makes in being able to fulfill the contract. Then Walker is kidnapped, she feels the need to “save him”, and the plot thickens. Katherine has to contend with as the story progresses including truly evil men who use and abuse, a man she admires but can’t have, someone young that she feels connected to and helps in a big way, many she will not see again, and a new course to set at the end of the book. The final scene is of Katherine driving down the road with her dog toward…well…I’m not sure where she will end up.

I never really got to know the woman who is the main character. I don’t know if she has a moral compass or not. She has killed before and perhaps some of those killed were not evil. Perhaps she is growing and evolving and coming out of the stupor of grieving to find herself capable of moving on to something positive and she will end up somewhere better in the future. I might give the next book in the series a chance to see what happens next with her and the dog she is now traveling with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanvies Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars ( )

An assassin is dispatched to kill a rancher but when she meets him and the mustang horses he's trying to protect, she finds herself asking questions particularly when he disappears and then he changes his stance. It's complicated and messy and I honestly found myself putting it down easily, though that might have been partially down to the ereader and the PDF format. The end went quite quickly but the start took it's time to catch me. It's not a bad read but I felt that I wanted more.

Received from LibraryThing Early Reviewer. ( )

I would review this book but I never received it. By the time I realized this it was to late to do anything. Sorry I did not have the opportunity to read the book.

This was a gripping story with fun characters and unique twists that kept you on the edge of your seat. This story had many different layers including hitmen, love, a ranch fighting for animals, kidnapping, some comedy and of course death and it was all eloquently pieced together. Baking scones during an escape plan was my favorite part. I will definitely be going back and reading the others in this series.

Dead West is a gripping thriller that explores the dark and haunting history of the American West. The story follows the journey of Cathrine O'Neill, a successful journalist, who returns to her hometown of Deadwood, South Dakota to investigate s mysterious death that occurred years ago. However, as she starts digging deeper into the case, she finds herself facing personal demons and dangerous enemies that put her own life journalist who is deeply affected by the death of her father, a legendary cowboy and rodeo star. When Catherine receives a mysterious package from her father's former business partner, it sets off a dangerous chain of events that leads her deep into the heart of the Wild West.

The novel is filled with rich and vivid descriptions of the Western landscape, and the characters are complex and intriguing. Catherine is a strong and resourceful protagonist, and her emotional journey is both relatable and engaging. The supporting cast is equally compelling, with a range of individuals who all have their own motives and secrets.

As the plot unfolds, it becomes clear that there are dark forces at work in the West, with a dangerous group of individuals who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets. The tension builds steadily throughout the story, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the very end.

One of the main strengths of the book is the way in which it captures the atmosphere of the American West. The landscape and its history are woven seamlessly into the plot, creating a vivid and immersive reading experience. The author's prose is beautifully crafted, with a lyrical quality that adds to the haunting and atmospheric tone of the novel.

Overall, Dead West is a thrilling and thought-provoking read that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Highly recommended for fans of Westerns, thrillers, and literary fiction alike. ( )