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Jess Williams #27
Black Raven
Jess is turning in some dead men for the bounty to the sheriff of Allentown when suddenly a stagecoach rides in. The stagecoach was robbed and one woman, Nancy Shuler, whose husband was killed during the robbery, was kidnapped by the three men responsible. Jess immediately drops everything and goes after the three men and rescues Nancy in the nick of time.
On the way back to Allentown, Nancy makes Jess an offer for him to escort her to Stratton, Texas, where she and her husband were headed to. He refuses the job offer and warns her that there has been a lot of Indian attacks taking place between Allentown and Stratton, but she is insistent on making the trip one way or another.
Basil Thorndike, the second best bounty hunter next to Jess, shows up and his intention is to kill Jess because Jess is collecting so much bounty money. This is causing a disturbance with the other bounty hunters as well because they, too, haven't been able collect any bounties. Now the other bounty hunters are talking about teaming up to take Jess out of the business. Jess changes Thorndike's mind by offering him one thousand dollars to escort Nancy to Stratton. Before they leave though, his feelings of guilt and his mistrust of Thorndike forces him to go along on the trip to Stratton with Thorndike and Nancy.
Things are bad enough, but it gets worse when they come across a half-dead half-breed Apache along the trail and Thorndike has a hatred for Indians since they murdered his family. Jess insists on taking the Apache, Black Raven, to Stratton. He finds out that three men had left Black Raven for dead and kidnapped his half-breed squaw, Little Feather.
Once Jess gets Nancy safely to Stratton and keeps Black Raven locked up secretly in the Stratton Hotel, he waits for Raven to recuperate enough for him to travel. When they leave Stratton, Thorndike agrees to join them as long as he gets to keep the bounty money from the three men who kidnapped Little Feather.
The hunt to find Little Feather and the three men who took her turns into a nightmare for Jess. He's towing around Black Raven dressed up as a white man and after they find and rescue Little Feather, Raven insists that Little Feather join them on the hunt for the three men who kidnapped her. He finds himself with two half-breed Apache Indians, one dressed like a white man and one dressed like a white woman, along with a bounty hunter who hates Indians and might shoot Jess the first chance he gets.
On the way back to Allentown, Nancy makes Jess an offer for him to escort her to Stratton, Texas, where she and her husband were headed to. He refuses the job offer and warns her that there has been a lot of Indian attacks taking place between Allentown and Stratton, but she is insistent on making the trip one way or another.
Basil Thorndike, the second best bounty hunter next to Jess, shows up and his intention is to kill Jess because Jess is collecting so much bounty money. This is causing a disturbance with the other bounty hunters as well because they, too, haven't been able collect any bounties. Now the other bounty hunters are talking about teaming up to take Jess out of the business. Jess changes Thorndike's mind by offering him one thousand dollars to escort Nancy to Stratton. Before they leave though, his feelings of guilt and his mistrust of Thorndike forces him to go along on the trip to Stratton with Thorndike and Nancy.
Things are bad enough, but it gets worse when they come across a half-dead half-breed Apache along the trail and Thorndike has a hatred for Indians since they murdered his family. Jess insists on taking the Apache, Black Raven, to Stratton. He finds out that three men had left Black Raven for dead and kidnapped his half-breed squaw, Little Feather.
Once Jess gets Nancy safely to Stratton and keeps Black Raven locked up secretly in the Stratton Hotel, he waits for Raven to recuperate enough for him to travel. When they leave Stratton, Thorndike agrees to join them as long as he gets to keep the bounty money from the three men who kidnapped Little Feather.
The hunt to find Little Feather and the three men who took her turns into a nightmare for Jess. He's towing around Black Raven dressed up as a white man and after they find and rescue Little Feather, Raven insists that Little Feather join them on the hunt for the three men who kidnapped her. He finds himself with two half-breed Apache Indians, one dressed like a white man and one dressed like a white woman, along with a bounty hunter who hates Indians and might shoot Jess the first chance he gets.
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 9, 2014
175 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Robert J. Thomas
193 books61 followersLibrarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
In 1990 Robert J. Thomas was sworn in as the full time mayor for the city of Westland, Michigan. He served twelve years, making him the longest serving mayor in Westland's history.
While he was mayor he wrote his first book titled, How to Run for Local Office, which has now sold over 25,000 copies worldwide.
He has written and published on Kindle, the Jess Williams Westerns series. Retired, he now lives in Mississippi with his wfe Jill.
In 1990 Robert J. Thomas was sworn in as the full time mayor for the city of Westland, Michigan. He served twelve years, making him the longest serving mayor in Westland's history.
While he was mayor he wrote his first book titled, How to Run for Local Office, which has now sold over 25,000 copies worldwide.
He has written and published on Kindle, the Jess Williams Westerns series. Retired, he now lives in Mississippi with his wfe Jill.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 15, 2021
Another Jess Williams story that had a decent plot and character interaction.
March 30, 2021
Black Raven
Gosh Jess sure can get in trouble can't he? He's always in trouble helping someone.guess he really wants to a good guy. I read where the guns were returned to the guy who had them in our century. Jd
Gosh Jess sure can get in trouble can't he? He's always in trouble helping someone.guess he really wants to a good guy. I read where the guns were returned to the guy who had them in our century. Jd
July 26, 2021
Good book
Good book. Read all of the books in order to really enjoy it. Storyline continues to grow and develop a. Characters are realistic and get better and better.
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Good book. Read all of the books in order to really enjoy it. Storyline continues to grow and develop a. Characters are realistic and get better and better.
...................
February 26, 2023
Black Raven
Not the usual western story. But like moments from time to time this was about division of the races and the destruction it can cause and a way to put it closer to an end. I loved it!!!
Not the usual western story. But like moments from time to time this was about division of the races and the destruction it can cause and a way to put it closer to an end. I loved it!!!
July 12, 2017
Another great story
Another great. Funny but intense story with twist and turns. Great characters. I love Jess Williams and how he represents himself. A true gentleman with honor.
Another great. Funny but intense story with twist and turns. Great characters. I love Jess Williams and how he represents himself. A true gentleman with honor.
November 13, 2017
Enemies to friends, a hard ride.
Another enjoyable book in a long list of enjoyable tales of the Wild West by Robert J. Thomas. I highly recommend reading the Jess Williams series.
Another enjoyable book in a long list of enjoyable tales of the Wild West by Robert J. Thomas. I highly recommend reading the Jess Williams series.
July 10, 2021
Wildbillq
Very good book as allways can't wait to read the next one keep up the great work and I'll keep reading thanks Bill
Very good book as allways can't wait to read the next one keep up the great work and I'll keep reading thanks Bill
August 24, 2015
Robert J Thomas has published at leasr a ton of books starring Jess Williams. He must publish so many books because he certainly hasn't had the time to read any of his reviews.
I've been a fan of westerns sine the early years of the second half of the last century. Mr. Thomas, in no way, can be related to Zane Gray, or any good western author. If you try to track his movements on a map, you won't find even 50% of the places he writes about. If you find two cities on a map and he is riding between them, you realize he would need to average more than 40 miles a day for a solid week - or he would have to ride from dawn to midnight to make it. He sometimes rides like a Pony Express rider, but both of his horses are still going strong.
The arsenal he carries with him is unbelievabe. Hand guns? He has two. He has a .50 caliber Buffalo gun, a 10 guage shotgun and a second 10 guage sawed off shotgun he keeps in a special holster. He also carries a Spencer .30 caliber rifle and keeps dynomite in his saddle bags.
It's a good thing he has a pack horse as a companion to his own trusty stead just to carry ammunition and extra dynamite.
Speaking of dynamite, he's running around in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona where it is hot, Hot, HOT in the summer. Dynamite in the last century wasn't nearly as stable as what we have today. Galloping across rugged terrain would probably result in spontaneous explosions.
Frankly, his dialogue is forced and he uses the word implied when he means said. "Get off that horse", he implied. GGAAAGGHHH!!!.
I was desperate for a shot of western and this is the second portion I have had of Mr. Thomas. I won't go back for thirds.
I've been a fan of westerns sine the early years of the second half of the last century. Mr. Thomas, in no way, can be related to Zane Gray, or any good western author. If you try to track his movements on a map, you won't find even 50% of the places he writes about. If you find two cities on a map and he is riding between them, you realize he would need to average more than 40 miles a day for a solid week - or he would have to ride from dawn to midnight to make it. He sometimes rides like a Pony Express rider, but both of his horses are still going strong.
The arsenal he carries with him is unbelievabe. Hand guns? He has two. He has a .50 caliber Buffalo gun, a 10 guage shotgun and a second 10 guage sawed off shotgun he keeps in a special holster. He also carries a Spencer .30 caliber rifle and keeps dynomite in his saddle bags.
It's a good thing he has a pack horse as a companion to his own trusty stead just to carry ammunition and extra dynamite.
Speaking of dynamite, he's running around in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona where it is hot, Hot, HOT in the summer. Dynamite in the last century wasn't nearly as stable as what we have today. Galloping across rugged terrain would probably result in spontaneous explosions.
Frankly, his dialogue is forced and he uses the word implied when he means said. "Get off that horse", he implied. GGAAAGGHHH!!!.
I was desperate for a shot of western and this is the second portion I have had of Mr. Thomas. I won't go back for thirds.
October 29, 2014
This book is a continuation of the Jess Williams story. While I did not like this one as good as the first one I still really enjoyed reading it. Thomas includes all of the best ingredients into his westerns - the good guy wins, the bad guys lose badly, the good guy rides off into the sunset. The only thing that lacks (and it doesn't take anything away from the story) is the love interest of the young gunslinger who rides into town. This is a fast paced read and you will really enjoy this if Westerns are your thing.
November 16, 2014
Too "Hookey"
Seldom does a good story get published with such poorly researched facts and lack of realism, not to mention poor (if any) proper editing! Never had a writer used words like "implied" instead of "said." I couldn't believe the author actually used the word "sled" of "travois," but probably has no idea what that is. This overall amateurish approach and lack of reality ruined what could have been an acceptable western.
Seldom does a good story get published with such poorly researched facts and lack of realism, not to mention poor (if any) proper editing! Never had a writer used words like "implied" instead of "said." I couldn't believe the author actually used the word "sled" of "travois," but probably has no idea what that is. This overall amateurish approach and lack of reality ruined what could have been an acceptable western.
December 24, 2017
Number 27 in the series, this one weaves indians into the story at the suggestion of the author's wife. If you enjoy the Jess Williams stories, this one is one of the best yet. Unfortunately, like his others, this one also had excessive errors, I counted 7. On the other hand, if mixing up "your" and "you're" doesn't bother you, read on.
August 17, 2014
Black Raven
Black Raven
I enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to reading more from this author. It was good reading but also funny as all get out! I have not read but many Western's that were humorous as this one and still get the coverage of the Old West!!! I will certainly be reading more of them.
Black Raven
I enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to reading more from this author. It was good reading but also funny as all get out! I have not read but many Western's that were humorous as this one and still get the coverage of the Old West!!! I will certainly be reading more of them.
June 7, 2024
Another Jess Williams adventure. This time he finds himself in the middle of a recently widowed woman dead set on traveling through hostile territory; a wounded half-breed Apache and a fellow bounty hunter who has thought (more than once) of killing Jess himself. Action from the title page to the last sentence of the book.
January 2, 2024
One of my favorite in this series.
Jess works with another bounty hunter and helps an Apache, as well. There are a lot of good laughs in this, killing, and kindness. My kind of bounty hunter.
Jess works with another bounty hunter and helps an Apache, as well. There are a lot of good laughs in this, killing, and kindness. My kind of bounty hunter.
October 18, 2022
Ok read
Jess is repeating his actions by picking up strangers and collecting bounty. He helps save an Indian couple, a kidnapped white woman, and runs from other bounty hunters upset because he gets the highest bounties.
Jess is repeating his actions by picking up strangers and collecting bounty. He helps save an Indian couple, a kidnapped white woman, and runs from other bounty hunters upset because he gets the highest bounties.
August 14, 2014
Non Stop action throughout.
Non Stop action throughout.
Anyone who wants to go back in time and see what the people were like, this is a great way to learn.
Non Stop action throughout.
Anyone who wants to go back in time and see what the people were like, this is a great way to learn.
August 17, 2014
Good story. Haven't read books 1 - 26, but it didn't matter as the story was easy to follow. The hero is larger than life and extremely likable.
August 25, 2014
Not bad, but not my style of western.
September 10, 2014
Light summer read; decent Western
March 9, 2015
Great read
I had trouble putting this book down. The characters were believable and felt real. I plan to read more of his works.
I had trouble putting this book down. The characters were believable and felt real. I plan to read more of his works.
March 22, 2015
Awesome reading!
I love cowboys...
I enjoyed the book the characters, especially Jess.
I wish to someday find such a strong, kind hearted man.
I love cowboys...
I enjoyed the book the characters, especially Jess.
I wish to someday find such a strong, kind hearted man.
June 17, 2015
This guy is pretty popular, but not because of the polished writing.
April 3, 2014
Another very good novel by this author. I very much enjoyed reading this novel.
July 24, 2014
What a fun series! Can't wait until I read the next
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews