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Showdown at Snakebite Creek
Cole Tibbs' father was murdered alongside Snakebite Creek seven years ago. Now Cole returns to Raven Flats wanting justice. But he's soon in confrontation with greedy landowner Carleton Usher, his ruthless sons and a group of killers. The arrival of the enigmatic US Marshal Maxfield Knight raises the stakes in a deadly game of survival. Cole's desire to settle the old grudge has only two things in his favour - his ruthless determination and his ability with a gun.
Hardcover
First published September 1, 2012
4 people want to read
About the author
Thomas McNulty
36 books12 followersI am the author of the biography ERROL FLYNN, and the adventure novels JACK RIPCORD, TRAIL OF THE BURNED MAN, WIND RIDER, DEATH RIDES A PALOMINO, SHOWDOWN AT SNAKEBITE CREEK and GUNFIGHT AT CRIPPLED HORSE. You can visit my blog at: //tommcnulty.blogspot.com/
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 20, 2025
Knocked a star off this for quite possibly one of the worst sentences I have read in recent memory, where the desert landscape is compared to, I quote, ‘a harlot’s body”.
May 15, 2013
I'm going to repeat myself here, in this first paragraph, from the review I wrote for Tom McNulty's WIND RIDER, as it holds true for all his books: Tom McNulty writes some great westerns. That's all you need to know. Period. They would make excellent films, the kind of films Burt Kennedy would have written and directed, the kind of films Budd Boetticher would have made, starring Randolph Scott, Lee Marvin, Walter Brennan, Gabby Hayes, Gail Russel. . . . Fast-paced, with plenty of action and colorful descriptions that magically conjure up the Old West without leaving a soft, warm veneer of romanticism to cover up the hardship, tragedy and brutality that were part and parcel of daily life back then. Nor does McNulty ignore the human drama, the relationships, the character-arcs, the humor that is the lifeblood of all fiction, for without those, you really don't have much of a story. And now, for my review of SHOWDOWN AT SNAKEBITE CREEK.
Cole Tibbs returns to his home town of Raven Flats seven years after his father was murdered by rancher Carleton Usher, who cheated his father and stole all his land. Tibbs, at the time, was a no-account drunk and gambler, and he was given a good beating and sent packing. But now he returns, a grown man, a different man---a man bent on revenge. Or is it justice? What I like about this one is that, once again, McNulty pulls you right into the story without allowing you to wet your whistle at the Fool's Gold Saloon, first. Pap Wingfoot, another great character, watches as two of the four Usher boys beat the dickens out of Michael Keith, the barman at the saloon. Well, in rides Cole, who quickly intervenes, knowing who the Ushers are, of course, having been beaten by them seven years prior. Words fly, and so does the lead. Before you know it, you're caught up in a massive war between Cole and Carleton Usher's entire gang of cowboys and gunhands. At first, Cole goes it alone, refusing the help of Pap Wingfoot, who is an old friend of his late father's. Cole does all right by himself, but it's all part of a plan he's laid out with his partner, Maxfield Knight. And that's all I'm going to say about that, lest I ruin the surprise. The fun really gets going when Pap Wingfoot sides with Cole and Knight as they take on Usher and his boys. The body count is high in this one as the plot speeds along at a breakneck pace, as the action heats up and hot lead starts flying in all directions. Usher is an interesting character: a former Confederate officer still fighting the Civil War and seeking revenge for the burning of Atlanta and his own plantation. He's one sick, twisted dued, too. And then there's Jamie Hart, an old friend and almost-lover of Cole Tibbs. She becomes embroiled in this war, too, and what she does and how she handles it all is quite refreshing. Once again McNulty weaves a character-oriented, plot-driven tale that does not disappoint. It's the real deal. My only nit to pick on this one is that not enough time, for me anyway, was spent on Cole's relationship with Jamie. A little romance would have been good for my soul. But McNulty threw a change-up on this one! What happens between Cole and Jamie at the end of the story is something that took me by surprise. I think the ending might be a set up for a sequel. I sure hope so. In fact, I'd like to see sequels to all McNulty's westerns. They're that good! So do yourself a favor and read this one, too. Saddle up and ride with Tom McNulty and Cole Tibbs!
Cole Tibbs returns to his home town of Raven Flats seven years after his father was murdered by rancher Carleton Usher, who cheated his father and stole all his land. Tibbs, at the time, was a no-account drunk and gambler, and he was given a good beating and sent packing. But now he returns, a grown man, a different man---a man bent on revenge. Or is it justice? What I like about this one is that, once again, McNulty pulls you right into the story without allowing you to wet your whistle at the Fool's Gold Saloon, first. Pap Wingfoot, another great character, watches as two of the four Usher boys beat the dickens out of Michael Keith, the barman at the saloon. Well, in rides Cole, who quickly intervenes, knowing who the Ushers are, of course, having been beaten by them seven years prior. Words fly, and so does the lead. Before you know it, you're caught up in a massive war between Cole and Carleton Usher's entire gang of cowboys and gunhands. At first, Cole goes it alone, refusing the help of Pap Wingfoot, who is an old friend of his late father's. Cole does all right by himself, but it's all part of a plan he's laid out with his partner, Maxfield Knight. And that's all I'm going to say about that, lest I ruin the surprise. The fun really gets going when Pap Wingfoot sides with Cole and Knight as they take on Usher and his boys. The body count is high in this one as the plot speeds along at a breakneck pace, as the action heats up and hot lead starts flying in all directions. Usher is an interesting character: a former Confederate officer still fighting the Civil War and seeking revenge for the burning of Atlanta and his own plantation. He's one sick, twisted dued, too. And then there's Jamie Hart, an old friend and almost-lover of Cole Tibbs. She becomes embroiled in this war, too, and what she does and how she handles it all is quite refreshing. Once again McNulty weaves a character-oriented, plot-driven tale that does not disappoint. It's the real deal. My only nit to pick on this one is that not enough time, for me anyway, was spent on Cole's relationship with Jamie. A little romance would have been good for my soul. But McNulty threw a change-up on this one! What happens between Cole and Jamie at the end of the story is something that took me by surprise. I think the ending might be a set up for a sequel. I sure hope so. In fact, I'd like to see sequels to all McNulty's westerns. They're that good! So do yourself a favor and read this one, too. Saddle up and ride with Tom McNulty and Cole Tibbs!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews