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The Black Hills
In this historically accurate Western epic from debut author Rod Thompson, a young farm boy comes of age in a frontier crucible of death, vengeance, and beauty.
When four hoodlums brutally murder a farming family in the Dakota Territory, they leave a fourteen-year-old boy for dead in the field…That’s a big mistake.
After bearing witness to the savage acts that destroyed his world, young Cormac Lynch knows only one way to make things right. Coming upon the men, he takes aim and takes his revenge—rescuing the beautiful Irish redhead Lainey Nayle in the process.
With a deadly reputation, Cormac grows up to back down from no man…and only one woman. He and Lainey face the danger and anguish of the frontier with grit and humor. But when Lainey’s life is endangered again, Cormac must once again make good on his reputation…
When four hoodlums brutally murder a farming family in the Dakota Territory, they leave a fourteen-year-old boy for dead in the field…That’s a big mistake.
After bearing witness to the savage acts that destroyed his world, young Cormac Lynch knows only one way to make things right. Coming upon the men, he takes aim and takes his revenge—rescuing the beautiful Irish redhead Lainey Nayle in the process.
With a deadly reputation, Cormac grows up to back down from no man…and only one woman. He and Lainey face the danger and anguish of the frontier with grit and humor. But when Lainey’s life is endangered again, Cormac must once again make good on his reputation…
- GenresWesterns
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 6, 2011
6 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 26, 2015
It's more like a 2.5 star book but there was no option for that. Guess I am feeling generous today. I found the story line more than a little jumbled, the character is here and there and everywhere. It's almost like the author took everything that has ever happened in previous westerns and tried to get them all in one book. The writing at the start of the book came across as amateurish somewhat naive and I felt like I was reading a book written by a kindly grandfather. Midway through the book the author does pick up the pace and gain more strength and confidence in his writing style. Not sure that a die-hard western fan is going to love this one.
March 23, 2019
Cormac Lynch is a carefree thirteen year old living with his mother, father and seventeen year old sister. As Cormac, his mother and sister are in the fields picking potatoes one day, they are attacked by a group of men. These men kill Cormac’s father, defile then kill his mother and sister and beat Cormac then leave him for dead.
After the men leave, Cormac eventually wakes up and is heartbroken by what is left of his family and his life. He realizes he has no time to fully grieve for the senseless death of his family and buries them under a tree on their farm. He is determined to avenge the death of his family follows the murders as they plan to attack another family traveling through the country.
Although Cormac’s father taught him how to hunt, Cormac is gifted with the ability to shoot so fast that it doesn’t even look like his hand has moved. Cormac finds the murders then kill them with one shot. After all the murders are dead, the family is grateful to him for saving their lives. Cormac invites the family to stay at his farm. The Sharwartzes are a pleasant German couple and have unofficially adopted a young Irish girl named Lainey Nayle. Lainey is disgusted by Cormac and his killing of men so she does whatever she can to avoid interacting with him.
As time passes, Cormac and the family fall into a daily routine and eventually function as a family unit. While the years pass, Cormac and Lainey grow and develop and Cormac begins to feel romantic feelings towards Lainey. A violent situation occurs while leads to Lainey telling Cormac to leave and him becoming a wanderer. Cormac works on ranches and other plays but Lainey always holds a place in his heart. Cormac’s shooting becomes legendary and he becomes known as Mackle.Cormac or Mac strives to be helpful and kills when he sees someone being attacked.
This book was a immersive read. Watching the transformation from a young teen to a young man is inspiring yet heartbreaking in that trauma forced him to grow up fast. While I don’t usually read books from the western genre, I was surprised to find this an enjoyable read although I got impatient waiting for Cormac and Lainey to reunite as adult and felt a little disappointed that their reunion was more fleshed out.
After the men leave, Cormac eventually wakes up and is heartbroken by what is left of his family and his life. He realizes he has no time to fully grieve for the senseless death of his family and buries them under a tree on their farm. He is determined to avenge the death of his family follows the murders as they plan to attack another family traveling through the country.
Although Cormac’s father taught him how to hunt, Cormac is gifted with the ability to shoot so fast that it doesn’t even look like his hand has moved. Cormac finds the murders then kill them with one shot. After all the murders are dead, the family is grateful to him for saving their lives. Cormac invites the family to stay at his farm. The Sharwartzes are a pleasant German couple and have unofficially adopted a young Irish girl named Lainey Nayle. Lainey is disgusted by Cormac and his killing of men so she does whatever she can to avoid interacting with him.
As time passes, Cormac and the family fall into a daily routine and eventually function as a family unit. While the years pass, Cormac and Lainey grow and develop and Cormac begins to feel romantic feelings towards Lainey. A violent situation occurs while leads to Lainey telling Cormac to leave and him becoming a wanderer. Cormac works on ranches and other plays but Lainey always holds a place in his heart. Cormac’s shooting becomes legendary and he becomes known as Mackle.Cormac or Mac strives to be helpful and kills when he sees someone being attacked.
This book was a immersive read. Watching the transformation from a young teen to a young man is inspiring yet heartbreaking in that trauma forced him to grow up fast. While I don’t usually read books from the western genre, I was surprised to find this an enjoyable read although I got impatient waiting for Cormac and Lainey to reunite as adult and felt a little disappointed that their reunion was more fleshed out.
May 9, 2017
I liked this book a lot because it was a western that takes place locally. It is an interesting tale about a fella who gets revenge on a bunch of bad guys who murdered his family.
June 26, 2019
Awesome, non stop action and a cute Love story.
March 6, 2012
I really like westerns (used to watch John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies with my dad), although I don't read many of them. So, to shake things up a bit, I grabbed this off the shelf and was glad I did.
Warning: not for the faint of heart. This western contains beautiful and picturesque scenic descriptions in true Louis L'Amour old style. However, that's where the resemblance stops. Rod Thompson has managed to recreate a western setting with a solid dose of reality that made my heart race. There were times I wanted to stop reading. Not because the writing was terrible, but because the gritty violence made me cringe and despise those who were committing it. Let me be quick to point out that I'm not talking about the kind of nauseating violence represented in icky books that glorify rapes and shootings or try to 'romanticize' them. Rather, this is a story of Cormac Lynch, a boy emerging into adulthood, who witnesses the murder of his entire family. Thank goodness for the lighter, playful, and even humorous parts of the story, which lifted the mood just at the right times.
****POSSIBLE SPOILER MATERIAL****
The writing is so vivid that I felt genuine anger and horror during the murder scenes. Cormac's grief helped me to connect with him easily. It was easy to understood that his big heart and optimistic personality would always be shadowed by the tragedy so ruthlessly placed on him during his boyhood, zapping his innocence. I knew he'd be propelled to move forward in his life and I kept reading, curious to see how he'd find justice for the wrong committed. And yes, because anyone who knows me knows I love true romance, I also wanted to see him find happiness with the Irish woman he fell in love with.
I recommend this to anyone who likes westerns... or anyone who thinks they might like to try one.
Warning: not for the faint of heart. This western contains beautiful and picturesque scenic descriptions in true Louis L'Amour old style. However, that's where the resemblance stops. Rod Thompson has managed to recreate a western setting with a solid dose of reality that made my heart race. There were times I wanted to stop reading. Not because the writing was terrible, but because the gritty violence made me cringe and despise those who were committing it. Let me be quick to point out that I'm not talking about the kind of nauseating violence represented in icky books that glorify rapes and shootings or try to 'romanticize' them. Rather, this is a story of Cormac Lynch, a boy emerging into adulthood, who witnesses the murder of his entire family. Thank goodness for the lighter, playful, and even humorous parts of the story, which lifted the mood just at the right times.
****POSSIBLE SPOILER MATERIAL****
The writing is so vivid that I felt genuine anger and horror during the murder scenes. Cormac's grief helped me to connect with him easily. It was easy to understood that his big heart and optimistic personality would always be shadowed by the tragedy so ruthlessly placed on him during his boyhood, zapping his innocence. I knew he'd be propelled to move forward in his life and I kept reading, curious to see how he'd find justice for the wrong committed. And yes, because anyone who knows me knows I love true romance, I also wanted to see him find happiness with the Irish woman he fell in love with.
I recommend this to anyone who likes westerns... or anyone who thinks they might like to try one.
March 6, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I'd never read a Western before and glad that this was my first experience with the genre. I love how it is really a coming of age book for Mac as he realizes that all his wants is to be home.
February 20, 2012
If you love real westerns, like going to the RKO on 86th Street on Saturday morning during the '50s... this is for you.
It was for me!
Loved it.
It was for me!
Loved it.
July 27, 2012
absolutely love it
March 5, 2013
Great western! The author is as great as the book! Can't wait for the next book! :)
May 31, 2016
Good book. It started off great. Ending could have been better but, I was definitely satisfied. I liked it
June 16, 2012
I am currently reading this and its great.
May 27, 2014
a fast pace story with some great fighting and hog slapping. A fun read!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews