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Mark of the Hunter
A man refuses to rest until he finds his family’s killer in this pulse-pounding tale of the American West.No child should have to witness what twelve-year-old Cord Malone sees the day his parents are murdered and his home burned to the ground. After he’s rescued from the blaze by his Uncle Jesse, the terrible images haunt him, as does the name of the man Eli Creed.Jesse tries to track Creed down, only to lose the man’s trail. But Cord won’t give up. He waits out his young years before setting out on a trail long gone cold—and one day, he will satisfy the need for revenge that burns inside him.
- GenresWesterns
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2013
21 people are currently reading
42 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 27, 2022
Good Western.
August 21, 2018
JUSTICE FOR LOTTIE MALONE
Revenge is something that itches until you can satisfy it one way or another. Cord Malone's life was miserable, his mother Lottie was physically abused by his father Ned Malone, who ran with The Sam Bass Gang. His father was a miserable example of a father and husband, but it was the life many families put up with, since the alcoholic father was the bread winner most of the time.
Levi Creed, a psychopath who had accompanied Ned Malone home was also going to have his way with Ned Malone's wife. In fact, when Cord entered the cabin he saw Levi Creed with his pants off on top of his mother, while his father was his stomach with a fatal head wound...dead.
His mother was dead in bed with her under garments all ripped...she was dead so Cord aimed the shotgun at Levi Creed, it didn't kill him but it certainly got his attention, he moved so fast that Cord couldn't reload his shotgun fast enough and Levi Creed snatched the gun from him knocking him out. Levi Creed then set about sitting the cabin on fire.
This is just a drop in the bucket at how many times situations like this happen. Domestic abuse and sexual deviants with no moral or ethical feelings or concerns about their victims.. Just sad all the way around...
Revenge is something that itches until you can satisfy it one way or another. Cord Malone's life was miserable, his mother Lottie was physically abused by his father Ned Malone, who ran with The Sam Bass Gang. His father was a miserable example of a father and husband, but it was the life many families put up with, since the alcoholic father was the bread winner most of the time.
Levi Creed, a psychopath who had accompanied Ned Malone home was also going to have his way with Ned Malone's wife. In fact, when Cord entered the cabin he saw Levi Creed with his pants off on top of his mother, while his father was his stomach with a fatal head wound...dead.
His mother was dead in bed with her under garments all ripped...she was dead so Cord aimed the shotgun at Levi Creed, it didn't kill him but it certainly got his attention, he moved so fast that Cord couldn't reload his shotgun fast enough and Levi Creed snatched the gun from him knocking him out. Levi Creed then set about sitting the cabin on fire.
This is just a drop in the bucket at how many times situations like this happen. Domestic abuse and sexual deviants with no moral or ethical feelings or concerns about their victims.. Just sad all the way around...
June 23, 2025
A young boy named Cord swears revenge against the outlaw who murdered his mother.
A simple yet effective premise but takes more deviations than I would have liked.
Once Cord becomes an adult, he sets out to find his mother’s killer and his first stop is to become employed as a cattle puncher for a while, until he hears a tip of where to find his mark. He then ventures out and meets some captivating side characters, until a crisis at the ranch derails him from his quest.
This hard turn from his initial goal then dominates the rest of the book. As the end of the book drew near, I was wondering how we would circle back to finding his mother’s killer, and then a predictable “twist” happens which completes the quest, but it doesn’t feel very satisfying because it feels too coincidental and not earned.
The ending of the book feels kinda awkward with how some plot threads and character arcs are resolved, and not as strong as West’s other novels I’ve read, but overall I still enjoyed the journey and the characters and would still recommend it as a fun read for fans of the genre.
A simple yet effective premise but takes more deviations than I would have liked.
Once Cord becomes an adult, he sets out to find his mother’s killer and his first stop is to become employed as a cattle puncher for a while, until he hears a tip of where to find his mark. He then ventures out and meets some captivating side characters, until a crisis at the ranch derails him from his quest.
This hard turn from his initial goal then dominates the rest of the book. As the end of the book drew near, I was wondering how we would circle back to finding his mother’s killer, and then a predictable “twist” happens which completes the quest, but it doesn’t feel very satisfying because it feels too coincidental and not earned.
The ending of the book feels kinda awkward with how some plot threads and character arcs are resolved, and not as strong as West’s other novels I’ve read, but overall I still enjoyed the journey and the characters and would still recommend it as a fun read for fans of the genre.
June 26, 2025
This is a decent western novel, but stops short of being really great. The novel builds several plotlines based on nothing more than conincidence. On one level this is a revenge novel and on another it is about a range war. The author manages to coincidentally merge the two plotlines together.
The major flaw in this novel is the coincidences. A minor, but annoying flaw, is the description on the back of the paperback gives the wrong name for the villain. Another flaw was the continued use of the phrase "have a tussle" for sexual congress between soiled doves and the men they serve.
I've enjoyed previous titles by West, but this one was a bit of a chore to get through. The final blow came on the last page, leaving to the imagination of the reader the hero's plans regarding his romantic future. Perhaps I'll discover that the author wrote a sequel that resolves some of this, but for now, I haven't a clue.
The major flaw in this novel is the coincidences. A minor, but annoying flaw, is the description on the back of the paperback gives the wrong name for the villain. Another flaw was the continued use of the phrase "have a tussle" for sexual congress between soiled doves and the men they serve.
I've enjoyed previous titles by West, but this one was a bit of a chore to get through. The final blow came on the last page, leaving to the imagination of the reader the hero's plans regarding his romantic future. Perhaps I'll discover that the author wrote a sequel that resolves some of this, but for now, I haven't a clue.
December 8, 2024
He watched his parents murdered before his eyes.
One of his fathers fellow outlaw gang. Then he was hit and left for dead, but survived.
Cord grown up, rides out to seek vengeance for his mother.
Running low on money and supplies. Hires on at a cattle ranch.
Making some friends and liking it. Yet when time comes.
Back to the outlaws trail he goes.
A chance meeting, getting closer to his target.
He learns a range war has started. Outlaws seeking to take over the ranch that was good to him.
Torn, he rides back to help. Not knowing, soon his hated enemy.
Would be hired on the opposing side.
Some interesting twists and turns. One note that kept it from higher rating from me.
By the end few things left in the air. Maybe for sequal.
Including does he get or really want. One of the possible main ladies for himself.
Anyways decent western read
One of his fathers fellow outlaw gang. Then he was hit and left for dead, but survived.
Cord grown up, rides out to seek vengeance for his mother.
Running low on money and supplies. Hires on at a cattle ranch.
Making some friends and liking it. Yet when time comes.
Back to the outlaws trail he goes.
A chance meeting, getting closer to his target.
He learns a range war has started. Outlaws seeking to take over the ranch that was good to him.
Torn, he rides back to help. Not knowing, soon his hated enemy.
Would be hired on the opposing side.
Some interesting twists and turns. One note that kept it from higher rating from me.
By the end few things left in the air. Maybe for sequal.
Including does he get or really want. One of the possible main ladies for himself.
Anyways decent western read
August 25, 2019
Another good Charles West book.
April 17, 2020
Good author with a better advantage story
July 10, 2022
Good read
October 8, 2022
This book was AMAZING!
December 1, 2013
The only visible sign of that terrible night years ago when Cord Malone was just twelve was the jagged scar across his forehead, given him by the vicious Eli Creed, a man Cord's outlaw father had brought home with him. The man had ravaged and murdered his parents, left him for dead in a burning house. Cord didn't care about his father, a man every bit as nasty as his killer, but the boy made a vow to find Creed and kill him.
Cord grew up to be a large man and left home to begin his search with no idea where to begin. Seven years had gone by. He found a job at the Triple-T cattle ranch and worked there for a while until he saved some money, catching the boss's daughter's eye, but as with most men, completely clueless about women.
A chance mention of Creed's name sets him back on the path where he befriends an old outlaw, a likable cuss named Dooley, and ends up with a young woman good with a gun or a skillet, whatever's required, in his search.
Another encounter with an old friend brings word that the Triple-T is in trouble, a big rancher planning to take over all smaller spreads has hired gunmen to steal cattle and kill anyone who gets in his way, including Cord's old boss.
So he sets out with his partners to aid old friends and in the end confronts his long held grudges.
Another fine western from a good writer.
Cord grew up to be a large man and left home to begin his search with no idea where to begin. Seven years had gone by. He found a job at the Triple-T cattle ranch and worked there for a while until he saved some money, catching the boss's daughter's eye, but as with most men, completely clueless about women.
A chance mention of Creed's name sets him back on the path where he befriends an old outlaw, a likable cuss named Dooley, and ends up with a young woman good with a gun or a skillet, whatever's required, in his search.
Another encounter with an old friend brings word that the Triple-T is in trouble, a big rancher planning to take over all smaller spreads has hired gunmen to steal cattle and kill anyone who gets in his way, including Cord's old boss.
So he sets out with his partners to aid old friends and in the end confronts his long held grudges.
Another fine western from a good writer.
May 28, 2015
A new western written in a old style way. Not just a shoot em up cowboy story. But a young man trying to honor his vow to his dying mother, and in the process becoming a man of honor.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews