GUNWOOD USA

by Gordon D. Carroll, Athena Leo (Illustrator), Dominic Guttormson (Illustrator)

Gunwood USA, the smallest wildest city this side of Hades. 1.6 miles of bars, strip clubs and gambling joints. Where the cops have to be tough and their K9s tougher. Sarah, just back on the force after suffering a nervous breakdown, has a new rookie fresh from the Marines. He’s fast, handsome and lightning with a gun, but he has a secret. Add to the mix a savant detective, a midget stripper, a vigilante robber and an international assassin and you get a lethal combination that explodes with action.

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 14, 2014

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another page turner by Gordon Carroll but it didn’t grab me like the Gil Mason stories. It was well written and the characters were believable, even the midget stripper and the detective Sammy. The interaction among the police officers and the way the cats depicted Sarah’s insanity was downright frightening. Everything was tied to the new strip join about to open. The town of Gunwood sounded like a town where all slightly risqué things wind up and are overlooked unless it is blatantly wrong. Even the top cop was mugging people to get money for his kid’s college fund. I read it expecting Gil Mason to show up but then realized that this was not part of the series. Anyway, it was intriguing and certainly kept me reading into the wee hours of the morning but it just didn’t grab me. I gave it a 3 star because I liked it and because I like the author and will continue to follow Gordon Carroll to see what he writes next. Gil Mason’s 4th book for sure.

[Janet Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously Twisted Murder Investigation.
This story is filled with psychological drama. It is not just the murderer, it is also the cops. It also features dismemberment which is one of my all-time worst horrors not to expose myself to. So, I only read half of this book. It is somewhat related to the author's Sheepdog series in that it takes place in the small town where that main character was a cop. If you enjoyed Criminal Minds, you will enjoy this book. The author is a skilled wordsmith who draws the reader so quickly into the story that you won't want to put it down unless you are like me and are subject to nightmares.

[Connie Nealy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

If you want to book with a lot of twist, turns, and surprises this is it. I love the way Gordon Carroll writes. His characters are so easy to connect to and his storyline is amazing. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen, it does it. I have read everything he’s written and loved it all. My only complaint is I need more. So please Mr. Carroll, get busy writing.

[Sharon Lyman · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this truly awful.

I loved his 3 PI and dogs books.
I expected this to be a prequel on a minor character.
Instead it was some weird, stream of consciousness, psychobabble, bible thumping, skipping around in time vignettes about a bunch of totally unbelievable characters in a frenetic, fantasy, horror world.
D#*n!
Ignore this one. Read the PI/dog books. They're great.

[Sharon Lamb]

Fiction at it's best with multiple complicated characters, plot twists, and gritty realism to both make it an entertaining page turner until the end and to keep me awake with the horrors often faced by law enforcement and military veterans. Having read the amazing Sheepdog series I am waiting with bated breath for the next book!

[Cybercrone · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm still just so sad that these quite good plots are wasted on these books.
Everything else about them is awful. The writing, spelling punctuation, word usage and the endless gleeful and thorough descriptions of dogs ripping people apart, gory murders and just casual and fun terrorism by the police.
Guess you can't have everything, but this guys writing is truly nightmare inducing at times.

[Michael Scullin · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like cops, dogs, action, violence, and love amidst the mayhem, this is for you. The style is a bit too paramilitary for my taste, but Carroll writes what he knows, in a choppy, tv-script style, with lots of internal character angst, mixed with split-second reactions to danger. If you like Jack Reacher, this may be for you.

[Phil Calkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gunwood USA— a surreal headful of twists and turns from beginning to end. In fact, my headache hasn’t let up yet (Thanks Gordon!!)

Well worth the trials and psych-babble to get to the end! Just a hint of what’s ahead in this great writer’s future. Thank you for your service Sir! SemperFi!

[Mikel Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of very interesting characters.

A book of multiple plots and characters that have been combined into another excellent book by Gordon Carroll. If you enjoy reading action thrillers with great characters and interesting plots then I highly recommend this book and series.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very complicated and intense! You will never guess the ending. I could not read it as fast as I read the other series about K-9s. It is so intense, complicated, and intriguing. What a mind to conceive the complexities in this book. Ultimately, I loved it.

[Elizabeth Powell · Rating 2 out of 5]

The entire book was preposterous. Not sure why I continued to read it through to the end because the end was even more nonsensical than the rest of the book.

I had hoped it would be a continuation of the first two K9 books I had read by this author. Those I enjoyed and I want more.

[Jeff Benham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book predates the Gile Mason series, but there is a K-9 dog, Tim, and familiar faces too, like Sarah Hampton. Also, Dominic Elkins who is am ex-Marine showing incredible skill as a rookie with the police department. Plenty of excitement!

[Linda Timmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surreal

This story was simple but also complicated in a way that kept me entertained right up to the end. Sarah's response to the cats left me very uncomfortable but it was necessary. Absolutely couldn't put it down. Read it in one day.

[Graham Tallents · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely mind boggling. Non stop action and suspense from the first page to the last, with so many plot twists that you have no idea what might happen next. A real page turner and highly recommended.

[Linda Ballenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the rest of Carroll's books .... top notch

[Selinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's great very hard to put down. Losing sleep. Love it

[Dianne P. Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one

I could not put down. Many diabolic twists and turns, a story line I had never see before and a good one, at that.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did not like this book as much as the others. Interesting twists and turns. It did not flow as smoothly.

[Terrie Gorrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the K9 series. The characters are not very believable, and the plot is convoluted, also not very believable. Gordon Carroll's writing, though, is excellent.

[Claudette · Rating 1 out of 5]

Truly awful.

[Connie Hatch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to follow, written was ok, story line was fragmented

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I love Gordon Carroll’s books, this one is definitely not a favorite. I did not identify with any of the characters or really care about them. The story had aspects in it that were “out there” in terms of believable.
I will stick to his Sheepdog series as I did love those.

[Julie Eklund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very action driven story. It simply doesn't let up the tension from start to finish. I tried to read it straight through but at 4 a.m. I just couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.

Characters are oddball enough to be right at home in a Tarantino film. Snappy dialog, multi-dimensional protagonists and antagonists.

The descriptive list saying what's in the book is spot on. It has it all.

So when does the next one come out?

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Gordon Carroll's series written later in his career - And Gunwood is a good start for this young author. If you think some of his characters are a bit wonky don't let it turn you off of the folks he will bring you, down the line. I though Gunwood USA hilarious, and I think you might, as well. I know you can't go wrong with a Gordon Carroll book. That's entertainment.
REVIEWED on March 21, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, and BookBub. Not available at B&N or Kobo.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

GUNWOOD USA (contains SHEEPDOGS, HAIR OF THE DOG, & FERAL INSTINCT.

5 stars
A world class assassin, the Mob, crazy cops, genius cops, brave cops, and crooked cops - oh, yes, and a truly vicious K9 cop. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Could have downgraded one star because of editing errors but the stories ate still impressive.