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The Hunters #2
The First Day of Eternity
Raised by Crow Indians. Enlisted by the US Army. Legendary scout Cody Hunter returns to the mountains where he lost his family—and makes a shocking discovery that will change his life forever . . .
THIS WOLF HUNTS ALONE
His Crow name was Crazy Wolf. Orphaned after losing his family in an Indian attack, young Cody Hunter found a loving home among the Crow people—and learned the ancient ways of the Crow trackers. His well-honed skills earned him a place in the U.S. Army as a valued scout. But now, after fifteen years of living his life as Crazy Wolf, Cody is ready to face his painful past. He will return to the place that still gives him nightmares—and where the dreams of his father ended in bloodshed . . .
High in the mountains of Montana, Cody finds a stone memorial erected by the survivors of the families slaughtered there. The site of the attack triggers Cody’s darkest memories—and leads him to a stunning his father and two brothers did not die on that day. They may still be alive. And he will stop at nothing to find them again. To follow in their footsteps. To track them down on the treacherous journey west. A search this deadly may be the craziest thing Crazy Wolf has ever done. But he is a born Hunter—and he’s willing to die that way. . . .
THIS WOLF HUNTS ALONE
His Crow name was Crazy Wolf. Orphaned after losing his family in an Indian attack, young Cody Hunter found a loving home among the Crow people—and learned the ancient ways of the Crow trackers. His well-honed skills earned him a place in the U.S. Army as a valued scout. But now, after fifteen years of living his life as Crazy Wolf, Cody is ready to face his painful past. He will return to the place that still gives him nightmares—and where the dreams of his father ended in bloodshed . . .
High in the mountains of Montana, Cody finds a stone memorial erected by the survivors of the families slaughtered there. The site of the attack triggers Cody’s darkest memories—and leads him to a stunning his father and two brothers did not die on that day. They may still be alive. And he will stop at nothing to find them again. To follow in their footsteps. To track them down on the treacherous journey west. A search this deadly may be the craziest thing Crazy Wolf has ever done. But he is a born Hunter—and he’s willing to die that way. . . .
353 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published December 26, 2023
78 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Charles G. West
71 books75 followersCharles G. West first arrived on the western literary scene in March, 1998 with his first novel, Stone Hand, published by Penguin under their Signet imprint. The book was the first of a three-book series, featuring Jason Coles, master tracker. The public response to those first three books called for more western fiction by West, and as of January 2014, Signet has published forty-five.
Inspired in his youth by great adventure authors like A.B. Guthrie and Vardis Fisher, West has always sought to be true to the men and women who braved the dangers of the savage frontier that was ultimately forged to become the American west. Novels by Charles G. West are classified as historical/westerns due to his diligent research in his subject matter, choosing to weave his fiction into the fabric of the actual places and events, being true to the times as well as the people. As a result, his protagonists are usually not heroes, but are often called upon to perform heroic deeds.
Insisting that his protagonists must be instilled with a sense of fairness in addition to courage. West readily admits that many of the characters in his books are patterned after his two sons, both of whom are graduates of the University of Montana, one still lives in Kalispell, Montana - and is the source of much of the author's detail on the ways of the mountain man. Both sons share West's love for the Big Sky Country.
Presently, the author resides in Ocala, Florida with his wife, Ronda, whose name is found on the dedication page of every West novel.
Inspired in his youth by great adventure authors like A.B. Guthrie and Vardis Fisher, West has always sought to be true to the men and women who braved the dangers of the savage frontier that was ultimately forged to become the American west. Novels by Charles G. West are classified as historical/westerns due to his diligent research in his subject matter, choosing to weave his fiction into the fabric of the actual places and events, being true to the times as well as the people. As a result, his protagonists are usually not heroes, but are often called upon to perform heroic deeds.
Insisting that his protagonists must be instilled with a sense of fairness in addition to courage. West readily admits that many of the characters in his books are patterned after his two sons, both of whom are graduates of the University of Montana, one still lives in Kalispell, Montana - and is the source of much of the author's detail on the ways of the mountain man. Both sons share West's love for the Big Sky Country.
Presently, the author resides in Ocala, Florida with his wife, Ronda, whose name is found on the dedication page of every West novel.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 26, 2023
It was the late author Bill Crider, with his 'Outrage at Blanco' novel that made me love revenge stories so much and in away revenge stories for me will always be a tribute to him.
Another awesome read, 'The First Day of Eternity' is the second book in the Cody Hunter Series, from a Spur Award winning author and one of the greatest Western writers of the 21st Century. Man Chucky never disappoints, puts his readers right into the pages, not afraid to get a little blood on his hands, as far as being a clean read, and a master with creating believable characters.
Crazy Wolf, aka Cody Hunter decides to travel the same trail he did with his family, as a 5 year old, and comes upon a memorial marker. When Cody discovers that his father and brothers are still alive, he decides to reunite with them and arrives at the right time for the family ranch.
As the Hunter Ranch is heading into a range war, with two outlaw brothers, with hired gunmen and a built herd from rustling cows. While the other Hunters look for a non-violent way to the end coming range war, Cody becomes his superhero self, becomes 'Crazy Wolf', takes the bull by the horns and you'll have to read the book. To know if he's successful or not.
Thanks to Kensington and the author for the opportunity to read and review this one.
Another awesome read, 'The First Day of Eternity' is the second book in the Cody Hunter Series, from a Spur Award winning author and one of the greatest Western writers of the 21st Century. Man Chucky never disappoints, puts his readers right into the pages, not afraid to get a little blood on his hands, as far as being a clean read, and a master with creating believable characters.
Crazy Wolf, aka Cody Hunter decides to travel the same trail he did with his family, as a 5 year old, and comes upon a memorial marker. When Cody discovers that his father and brothers are still alive, he decides to reunite with them and arrives at the right time for the family ranch.
As the Hunter Ranch is heading into a range war, with two outlaw brothers, with hired gunmen and a built herd from rustling cows. While the other Hunters look for a non-violent way to the end coming range war, Cody becomes his superhero self, becomes 'Crazy Wolf', takes the bull by the horns and you'll have to read the book. To know if he's successful or not.
Thanks to Kensington and the author for the opportunity to read and review this one.
February 11, 2024
Cattle ranch war at its best - good guys vs bad guys.
An enjoyable Western with a family being reunited. The "lost son" returns to help the family fight off rustlers and assassins. The Hunter family lived up to their name by hunting down the rustlers determined to ruin their ranch.
An enjoyable Western with a family being reunited. The "lost son" returns to help the family fight off rustlers and assassins. The Hunter family lived up to their name by hunting down the rustlers determined to ruin their ranch.
May 25, 2025
Returning to the western genre was so much fun!! For the month of May I could feel myself falling into a reading slump. I tried to start another book but felt like checking out something else. I figured it’d been a few months since I read book one in this series, The Hunters, so I figured let’s jump into book two!
In book one we’re introduced to Cody Hunter. When he was five years old his family and others in a wagon train were attacked by Indians when traveling to a new homestead. He was found by Crow Indians and taken in after being orphaned due to the attack. Raised as Crazy Wolf, he learned a lot of incredibly useful skills and worked with the US Army as a scout for some time. After thrilling adventures and missions in book one, Cody decides to visit the spot where his family was taken from him. What he finds is a marker that remembers those lost but his family members names aren’t on it, only his!
The first two chapters perfectly shows off Cody’s character and care for those who need help. It’s a great way to get to know Cody especially if the reader hasn’t read book one. I’m a big proponent of reading a series from the beginning but even I’ll admit that this acts as a great standalone read. After dealing with the revelation that his two older brothers and father are still alive he sets up camp to figure out what his next move should be. One morning he is awoken by the sound of a fairly close gunshot. He comes upon an abandoned campsite, save for the dead man lying on the ground. A shot whizzes past his head and he tackles the shooter. It’s a woman who mistakingly thought Cody was one of the two men who murdered her brother.
It certainly doesn’t long for this story to bring about the vibes I loved in book one. In chapter two we’re introduced to two antagonist characters. In any other story they may have had more of a presence in the story or it may have been dragged out to pad the story. Let’s just say they don’t get to see the end of the chapter and that’s what I love about these western stories! They’re unpredictable yet not really (once you’re used to what to expect) because back then it truly was the Wild West. You could be camping and minding your own business beside a fire when you may be visited by some outlaws looking for some easy loot. In the next minute or two you may be dead or they may be dead. In a way it sort of helps raise the stakes. In these stories you always expect the main characters to live but other times you think the author might just do something unexpected to throw a curveball and ensure that the reader doesn’t get too comfortable.
As the story progresses and Cody moves on he finds himself riding through the Bitterroot Valley. He learns that there are two cattle businesses in the valley, Triple-H and Double-K. The former is made up of his father, Duncan, and two older brothers, Morgan and Holt, and is well established in the valley, whereas the Double-K is trying to encroach on the operation, helmed by brothers Ralph and Emmett. Cody’s still hesitant to approach so he stays on the outskirts to scout and assess. He happens upon his brother, Holt, and another man who works for Triple-H running into some of the men from the Double-K, which is primarily made up of outlaws who have experience using weapons. They find three Double-K men attempting to steal some of their cattle and guns are drawn. Two shots ring out from afar and two of the Double-K men drop dead, and only a brief glimpse of the shooter is seen before he flees.
After Cody helps save some of the Triple-H men during what would’ve been a nightly raid on their cattle he’s brought onto the main property and gets to meet those he hasn’t seen in fifteen years. It’s a great reunion! Cody understandably had a lot of doubts and concerns about meeting those who thought he was dead all this time. After proving to them that he really is who he says he is, he’s welcomed but is still not entirely sure he’ll be able to adjust completely.
Book one of this series dealt a lot with traveling the landscape and seeing different locations. I really had no clue where that story was going to go because the plot point that I expected to stretch the rest of the novel was resolved well before the halfway point which was a fun surprise! With this story we’re sticking around the same area. There are trips to a close town for supplies and dinners and POV switches where we see what’s going on with Cody and his family, and the brothers who run the Double-K. I have to give a round of applause to one plot in this story because it had such a buildup and, like these classic westerns do, it resolved far quicker than I expected! But that’s what makes these stories so fun! Plus, I had to remind myself that Cody Hunter is an absolute badass who has honed his survival skills over the years as Crazy Wolf. He knows what to look for and be aware of even when he’s not focused one hundred percent on looking for things out of the ordinary. He senses things that others don’t which gives him a huge advantage on the battlefield, or I should say before he and whoever else even get to a battlefield.
The introduction of a lot of characters works well for this story and it’s really easy to remember who is who! At times there are a lot of extra characters introduced, cowhands and the like, but it’s easy to keep track because most of them on the Double-K side don’t last very long! All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable book two and continuation of the series! At times it did mellow out and pump the brakes a bit by focusing on other characters versus being with Cody all the time, like in book one, but it made it more enjoyable. It helped us connect to the other characters more and honestly I love when stories chill out at times. Seeing their day to day routines unfolding at a nice pace versus flying through it full throttle helps bring about a cozy atmosphere. Even when there’s a chance that bullets may be flying in the next chapter!
In book one we’re introduced to Cody Hunter. When he was five years old his family and others in a wagon train were attacked by Indians when traveling to a new homestead. He was found by Crow Indians and taken in after being orphaned due to the attack. Raised as Crazy Wolf, he learned a lot of incredibly useful skills and worked with the US Army as a scout for some time. After thrilling adventures and missions in book one, Cody decides to visit the spot where his family was taken from him. What he finds is a marker that remembers those lost but his family members names aren’t on it, only his!
The first two chapters perfectly shows off Cody’s character and care for those who need help. It’s a great way to get to know Cody especially if the reader hasn’t read book one. I’m a big proponent of reading a series from the beginning but even I’ll admit that this acts as a great standalone read. After dealing with the revelation that his two older brothers and father are still alive he sets up camp to figure out what his next move should be. One morning he is awoken by the sound of a fairly close gunshot. He comes upon an abandoned campsite, save for the dead man lying on the ground. A shot whizzes past his head and he tackles the shooter. It’s a woman who mistakingly thought Cody was one of the two men who murdered her brother.
It certainly doesn’t long for this story to bring about the vibes I loved in book one. In chapter two we’re introduced to two antagonist characters. In any other story they may have had more of a presence in the story or it may have been dragged out to pad the story. Let’s just say they don’t get to see the end of the chapter and that’s what I love about these western stories! They’re unpredictable yet not really (once you’re used to what to expect) because back then it truly was the Wild West. You could be camping and minding your own business beside a fire when you may be visited by some outlaws looking for some easy loot. In the next minute or two you may be dead or they may be dead. In a way it sort of helps raise the stakes. In these stories you always expect the main characters to live but other times you think the author might just do something unexpected to throw a curveball and ensure that the reader doesn’t get too comfortable.
As the story progresses and Cody moves on he finds himself riding through the Bitterroot Valley. He learns that there are two cattle businesses in the valley, Triple-H and Double-K. The former is made up of his father, Duncan, and two older brothers, Morgan and Holt, and is well established in the valley, whereas the Double-K is trying to encroach on the operation, helmed by brothers Ralph and Emmett. Cody’s still hesitant to approach so he stays on the outskirts to scout and assess. He happens upon his brother, Holt, and another man who works for Triple-H running into some of the men from the Double-K, which is primarily made up of outlaws who have experience using weapons. They find three Double-K men attempting to steal some of their cattle and guns are drawn. Two shots ring out from afar and two of the Double-K men drop dead, and only a brief glimpse of the shooter is seen before he flees.
After Cody helps save some of the Triple-H men during what would’ve been a nightly raid on their cattle he’s brought onto the main property and gets to meet those he hasn’t seen in fifteen years. It’s a great reunion! Cody understandably had a lot of doubts and concerns about meeting those who thought he was dead all this time. After proving to them that he really is who he says he is, he’s welcomed but is still not entirely sure he’ll be able to adjust completely.
Book one of this series dealt a lot with traveling the landscape and seeing different locations. I really had no clue where that story was going to go because the plot point that I expected to stretch the rest of the novel was resolved well before the halfway point which was a fun surprise! With this story we’re sticking around the same area. There are trips to a close town for supplies and dinners and POV switches where we see what’s going on with Cody and his family, and the brothers who run the Double-K. I have to give a round of applause to one plot in this story because it had such a buildup and, like these classic westerns do, it resolved far quicker than I expected! But that’s what makes these stories so fun! Plus, I had to remind myself that Cody Hunter is an absolute badass who has honed his survival skills over the years as Crazy Wolf. He knows what to look for and be aware of even when he’s not focused one hundred percent on looking for things out of the ordinary. He senses things that others don’t which gives him a huge advantage on the battlefield, or I should say before he and whoever else even get to a battlefield.
The introduction of a lot of characters works well for this story and it’s really easy to remember who is who! At times there are a lot of extra characters introduced, cowhands and the like, but it’s easy to keep track because most of them on the Double-K side don’t last very long! All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable book two and continuation of the series! At times it did mellow out and pump the brakes a bit by focusing on other characters versus being with Cody all the time, like in book one, but it made it more enjoyable. It helped us connect to the other characters more and honestly I love when stories chill out at times. Seeing their day to day routines unfolding at a nice pace versus flying through it full throttle helps bring about a cozy atmosphere. Even when there’s a chance that bullets may be flying in the next chapter!
December 22, 2023
While crazy horse a.k.a. Cody Hunter is looking for a place to settle he is heading towards Washington on the same trail he was on when his family was ambushed by the Blackfoot Indians. The last time he saw his father and two brothers Holt and Morgan when he runs across a commemorative plaque stating it was an honor of those who died another from the day they were attacked but what strikes Cody is odd is his dad and two brothers are not among the listed dead. This is when Cody decides to change his plans and go in search of his family. He doesn’t necessarily want to meet them he just wants to see how they made out and what kind of people they are. Before he makes it to the valley where he learns they live he runs across a woman fleeing for her life from a spiurned Suter but when Cody comes up on her she is hiding from two outlaws that killed her brother just before his arrival. After making quick work of the outlaws and her stalker he sets out the fine his family. He learns the hunters have the biggest spread in the Betterroot Valley Ian until recently had no problems and got along great with the smaller farmers. It seems there’s a new ranch in town that wants to be the biggest and baddest ranchers and they will do anything to accomplish that. Unfortunately they didn’t count on a mysterious stranger taking up for the H first Cody will save two of the triple H‘s farmhands then he will save his own brothers life he is still hesitant about meeting his family though but meeting them may cause more problems than Cody believes it’s worth. This is a great second book and what’s now called the Hunters series I do want to say however that this is the second book and the second time Cody has come to save a damsel in distress in his head a special bond with them I hope he doesn’t start having a new girl in every book I do not like westerns where every book they feel that way they’ve never felt before for a new person. I like when they already have a girlfriend/wife or have no interest in it I do not read westerns for romance and this is a great one I only hope it continues to be that way I have loved these last two books and cannot wait for the next one. I want to thank Kensington books and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
February 10, 2024
The First Day of Eternity by Charles G. West
The Hunters #2
Solid story set in the Bitterroot Montana Territory sees Cody “Crazy Wolf” Hunter find out he was not an orphan after all, going to surreptitiously see how his relatives are doing, and then becoming their guardian though the youngest of the bunch. I have to admit that I did not read book one in the series and felt at times I needed more background to flesh out Cody and perhaps that book might have given more information about his family, too.
Cody’s father and older brothers have established the Triple H ranch with a large herd of cattle roaming their and government land. They are on good relations with settlers, farmers, and the citizens of the nearby town BUT a new bunch of cowboys is in competition with them – the Kincaid brothers – and they are ruthless killers with a team that works for them that knows more about guns and killing than herding cattle. A range war is brewing and Cody arrives just in time to assist and weight the Triple H’s chances against the encroachers in a very positive way.
Cody becomes the target as he plays cat and mouse with those out to kill him while also protecting his family. He does what he learned to do best while with his Indian family and works as a one-man weapon to downsize the number of the enemy.
There was a bit of romance, a lot of family, discussions by good and bad men, a lot of killing, and the beginning of getting to know one another by the Hunters. The bones were there to the story but I wanted more information about Cody, the Hunters, the reasons behind what was going on, memories of the time the Hunters were together before they get together again, their thinking while the situation was brewing, what the women were thinking, and more interaction between characters. I never really engaged with or identified with any of the characters and wish I had been able to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Pinnacle Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
The Hunters #2
Solid story set in the Bitterroot Montana Territory sees Cody “Crazy Wolf” Hunter find out he was not an orphan after all, going to surreptitiously see how his relatives are doing, and then becoming their guardian though the youngest of the bunch. I have to admit that I did not read book one in the series and felt at times I needed more background to flesh out Cody and perhaps that book might have given more information about his family, too.
Cody’s father and older brothers have established the Triple H ranch with a large herd of cattle roaming their and government land. They are on good relations with settlers, farmers, and the citizens of the nearby town BUT a new bunch of cowboys is in competition with them – the Kincaid brothers – and they are ruthless killers with a team that works for them that knows more about guns and killing than herding cattle. A range war is brewing and Cody arrives just in time to assist and weight the Triple H’s chances against the encroachers in a very positive way.
Cody becomes the target as he plays cat and mouse with those out to kill him while also protecting his family. He does what he learned to do best while with his Indian family and works as a one-man weapon to downsize the number of the enemy.
There was a bit of romance, a lot of family, discussions by good and bad men, a lot of killing, and the beginning of getting to know one another by the Hunters. The bones were there to the story but I wanted more information about Cody, the Hunters, the reasons behind what was going on, memories of the time the Hunters were together before they get together again, their thinking while the situation was brewing, what the women were thinking, and more interaction between characters. I never really engaged with or identified with any of the characters and wish I had been able to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Pinnacle Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
November 20, 2023
This is the second book about Cody Hunt where he finds out that his father and brothers might still be alive. He goes looking for them and it is a good thing for they are in a fight with another cattle ranch but he is using the skills he learned from his Indian family to fight the other ranch. At the same time people are all trying to figure him out, this is another good book with good characters. I received this book from Netgalley.com
December 23, 2023
I love the western genre and am always looking for new authors....or new to me anyway....so choosing this book was an easy decision. The book summary hit all the high spots too. So was it any good? YES!!!! The story line was pretty original with a few legacy twists included but when Cody, Crazy Wolf, decides to find the family he has long thought dead, it opened a new door into what I hope is a series I can add to my TBR list as well as an author to my followed list. Easy 5 star read.
June 24, 2024
Excellent Western Adventure
Great characters, a solid plotline and a beautiful backdrop are brought together using high quality writing to provide the reader with an excellent and entertaining page turner. I hope that the author decides to continue with this storyline I to more volumes. Perhaps Colt could find his way back for a visit with ? whom he rescued and returned to her father?
Great characters, a solid plotline and a beautiful backdrop are brought together using high quality writing to provide the reader with an excellent and entertaining page turner. I hope that the author decides to continue with this storyline I to more volumes. Perhaps Colt could find his way back for a visit with ? whom he rescued and returned to her father?
March 23, 2024
Charles G West steps into the long void of Louis L’Amour. I’ve been disappointed by the western writers of late. Too many are writing rawnching romance novels masquerading as westerns. Harlequin on a horse.
West goes back to the man’s man. Willing to right the wrongs and take on the bad guys! Cody Hunter is a hero to follow. Great read!
West goes back to the man’s man. Willing to right the wrongs and take on the bad guys! Cody Hunter is a hero to follow. Great read!
July 10, 2024
This book is aptly named, because it seems like it takes an eternity to read it. It just keeps going on and on and on. It would have been a good 250 page book. That’s where I’m at and I have 120 pages to go! At this point, what’s going to happen is very predictable, so get to it! How can you take another 120 pages to get there!?
February 8, 2024
An Enjoyable Full-Bodied Western!
What a pleasure to read a well written western novel that is behind the typical simple plot western of a bad guy or gang holds a town at bay, etc. Most Enjoyable!
What a pleasure to read a well written western novel that is behind the typical simple plot western of a bad guy or gang holds a town at bay, etc. Most Enjoyable!
November 30, 2024
great series
This was a very interesting series that kept me going and going to see what happens next. Love the storyline and trials and adventures by the main character. Hope for a continuation of this series
This was a very interesting series that kept me going and going to see what happens next. Love the storyline and trials and adventures by the main character. Hope for a continuation of this series
February 18, 2024
Always disappointed when I finish a Charles G West Cody Hunter story. It means I can't continue my ride along with Cody / Crazy Wolf until the next story arrives. .
February 26, 2024
A 4 since I read it through in all the free moments I had
June 15, 2024
I love this series of books and can't wait for the next one.
September 30, 2025
Stress-free read. But too long, and the story meanders. The ending is a flop. The first book was better.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews