Blood in Sweet River

Cleve Trewe #3

by John Shirley

Genres: Fiction

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published August 20, 2024

About the author

John Shirley won the Bram Stoker Award for his story collection Black Butterflies, and is the author of numerous novels, including the best-seller DEMONS, the cyberpunk classics CITY COME A-WALKIN', ECLIPSE, and BLACK GLASS, and his newest novels STORMLAND and A SORCERER OF ATLANTIS.

He is also a screenwriter, having written for television and movies; he was co-screenwriter of THE CROW. He has been several Year's Best anthologies including Prime Books' THE YEAR'S BEST DARK FANTASY AND HORROR anthology, and his nwest story collection is IN EXTREMIS: THE MOST EXTREME SHORT STORIES OF JOHN SHIRLEY. His novel BIOSHOCK: RAPTURE telling the story of the creation and undoing of Rapture, from the hit videogame BIOSHOCK is out from TOR books; his Halo novel, HALO: BROKEN CIRCLE is coming out from Pocket Books.

His most recent novels are STORMLAND and (forthcoming) AXLE BUST CREEK. His new story collection is THE FEVERISH STARS. STORMLAND and other John Shirley novels are available as audiobooks.

He is also a lyricist, having written lyrics for 18 songs recorded by the Blue Oyster Cult (especially on their albums Heaven Forbidden and Curse of the Hidden Mirror), and his own recordings.

John Shirley has written only one nonfiction book, GURDJIEFF: AN INTRODUCTION TO HIS LIFE AND IDEAS, published by Penguin/Jeremy Tarcher.

John Shirley story collections include BLACK BUTTERFLIES, IN EXTREMIS, REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY WEIRD STORIES, and LIVING SHADOWS.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Denice Langley]

A good western gives the reader the feel of a time when civilization was not quite civilized. When lawmen were few and far away and when you staked a claim, you defended it with your life. BLOOD IN SWEET RIVER does all of this. Set in the post Civil War era, the divisions between the Blue and Gray still exists and memories of the pain and suffering inflicted by some will bring many a man to the killing point. John Shirley has built a realistic community and populated it with characters that feel real, their clothes, food, homes, actions are all true to the era, lending an authentic feel to the story. John Shirley has written many books across several genre. This is the first title of his I've read, but it's a western written for those of us who would quickly DNF a book that doesn't feel authentic.

Cleveland Trewe and his wife have "gone west" after the end of the civil war to escape the trouble and bloodshed still shaking out of the end of the war. They have found a place in the Sierra mountains of Nevada and staked their claim. The problems have just started and they must defend their claim with their lives. The Trewes are part of a team of people trying to make a new start, even if it starts in blood and bullets. If you are a Johnstone fan, you'll love Shirley's work too.

[HornFan2]

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.

With Blood In Sweet River, is set in California, the foothills of the Sierra Mountains, it finds Cleve with Bernice, along with his partner Leon, wife Theresa, his friend Kanaway, are leaving San Francisco, heading to Sweet River Valley to start a Cattle Ranch, add Luis and Smallwolf two Cowboy's he hires, another old friend Milt, then add in surviving Paitue and Washoe members that Cleve befriends, helping them and being a former Major.

He builds a rugged brigade, that must fight for his cattle ranch in the Sweet Valley, he's up against the Hawthorne's, and the Payton brothers have other plans for the Valley. Mix in action, adventure, gunfighters, a US Marshall, good verse evil, although it's predictable and to know what happens you'll have to read it.

Totally have enjoyed reading John Shirley's, Cleve Trewe Series. Total like the character Cleve Trewe, he's created, a Civil War Veteran, former lawman, gunfighter, protector and tough as nails. Add the science angle with his wife Bernice, adds more to the storyline, what she studies and can't wait for the next installment in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Kensington Publishing and the author for the advance Arc copy.

[Steve Ring]

I really like this series. This book has a lot of action, but interesting characters. The women are especially strong. I particularly like all the science that is worked into these books. It is interesting to think about how some of the discoveries at that time would have been received.

[Dinoman11]

8.4/10

[Pam Proulx]

Good read