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Salvation
Set against the Rocky Mountains, this emotionally charged Western noir explores themes of fathers and sons, men and masculinity, and religion and spirituality through the lens of an unimaginable act—one best friend murdering the other
“Langsfeld’s writing hits like a sparks that seem harmless quickly burn you alive. It is searing and direct and quite possibly a perfect voice for our world.”—Dane Bahr, author of Stag
A small rural Colorado town is in a state of crisis at the height of winter. Tom Horak has just murdered his best friend, Rust Hawkins. Morris Green, the town’s Lutheran pastor, is experiencing a profound crisis of faith, questioning the very existence of God. And Marshal Thomlison, the local peace officer looking forward to retirement, is now thrown into the middle of a murder investigation.
Following his violent act, Tom retreats to a cabin in the hills, remembering the events of his hardscrabble childhood—a rural upbringing on a ranch with a distant mother and abusive father.
Rust Hawkins’s son is taken in by Pastor Green, since the boy has nowhere else to go. Thomlison's murder investigation acts as a kind of Greek chorus commenting on the various threads of this moving What could cause a man to commit such a violent act? What does this isolated community owe to one another? Can Tom find the peace he is searching for, even with blood on his hands? Can Pastor Green discover enough faith in our human condition to help Rust’s orphaned son, and can their growing bond perhaps offer the family life that each is sorely lacking?
Salvation is a stunning debut novel that tackles big themes with moving prose and a propulsive plot set against the grand and sometimes foreboding natural beauty of the Rocky Mountain West.
“Langsfeld’s writing hits like a sparks that seem harmless quickly burn you alive. It is searing and direct and quite possibly a perfect voice for our world.”—Dane Bahr, author of Stag
A small rural Colorado town is in a state of crisis at the height of winter. Tom Horak has just murdered his best friend, Rust Hawkins. Morris Green, the town’s Lutheran pastor, is experiencing a profound crisis of faith, questioning the very existence of God. And Marshal Thomlison, the local peace officer looking forward to retirement, is now thrown into the middle of a murder investigation.
Following his violent act, Tom retreats to a cabin in the hills, remembering the events of his hardscrabble childhood—a rural upbringing on a ranch with a distant mother and abusive father.
Rust Hawkins’s son is taken in by Pastor Green, since the boy has nowhere else to go. Thomlison's murder investigation acts as a kind of Greek chorus commenting on the various threads of this moving What could cause a man to commit such a violent act? What does this isolated community owe to one another? Can Tom find the peace he is searching for, even with blood on his hands? Can Pastor Green discover enough faith in our human condition to help Rust’s orphaned son, and can their growing bond perhaps offer the family life that each is sorely lacking?
Salvation is a stunning debut novel that tackles big themes with moving prose and a propulsive plot set against the grand and sometimes foreboding natural beauty of the Rocky Mountain West.
- GenresCrime
272 pages, Hardcover
First published February 3, 2026
6 people are currently reading
3391 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 6, 2026
Hard to believe this is a debut novel. So many layers and so many authentic situations. A quick read that packs a lot into a little, well worth your time.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
2.5 ⭐️
Well I really wanted to love this because it did sound interesting.
We have multiple povs-no quotation marks for my friends who I know that will drive wild—I did like that we had multiple povs and by the end we do see how they are all connected…. But overall this was very much boring and not emotionally charged like the book claimed to be.
We follow Tom who has killed his bestie Rust(obviously they weren’t friends in the end), so he goes on the run. As he is on the run we are unfolding his life-which of course was riddled with really hard things like abuse-which fuels him to have this deep current of anger throughout his life which essentially pushes him to do the things he does. He never really works through it and I found that a bit intriguing, but I just never felt emotionally attached to his character whatsoever.
Then we follow Green who is a pastor that takes in Rusts son(the guy who was murdered) Gus. I found Green’s POVs to be the most interesting I guess? Idk didn’t get deep enough and the man did not want to be a pastor.
Then we have the Marshall who has random chapters throughout that I think are supposed to be the most thought provoking… but yet again I felt let down.
I really wanted the son GUS to have a pov… but alas they didn’t happen.
This is a very character driven book and by no means the worst book I’ve read… but it left me wanting, I found myself bored several times, and I just wanted there to be SOMETHING.
Thank you counterpoint press for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Well I really wanted to love this because it did sound interesting.
We have multiple povs-no quotation marks for my friends who I know that will drive wild—I did like that we had multiple povs and by the end we do see how they are all connected…. But overall this was very much boring and not emotionally charged like the book claimed to be.
We follow Tom who has killed his bestie Rust(obviously they weren’t friends in the end), so he goes on the run. As he is on the run we are unfolding his life-which of course was riddled with really hard things like abuse-which fuels him to have this deep current of anger throughout his life which essentially pushes him to do the things he does. He never really works through it and I found that a bit intriguing, but I just never felt emotionally attached to his character whatsoever.
Then we follow Green who is a pastor that takes in Rusts son(the guy who was murdered) Gus. I found Green’s POVs to be the most interesting I guess? Idk didn’t get deep enough and the man did not want to be a pastor.
Then we have the Marshall who has random chapters throughout that I think are supposed to be the most thought provoking… but yet again I felt let down.
I really wanted the son GUS to have a pov… but alas they didn’t happen.
This is a very character driven book and by no means the worst book I’ve read… but it left me wanting, I found myself bored several times, and I just wanted there to be SOMETHING.
Thank you counterpoint press for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
February 7, 2026
Salvation opens in a small Colorado town locked in winter and moral collapse. A murder has already happened. A man is on the run. A pastor takes in a grieving child. An aging lawman watches it all unfold with the weight of experience and regret. From there, C. William Langsfeld lets the story move outward rather than forward, tracing how violence ripples through families, friendships, and faith itself. Each character arrives carrying a past that explains but does not excuse the choices they make. The novel is unapologetically character driven, revealing its people in fragments and memory rather than neat backstory, until their paths converge in a reckoning that feels earned rather than engineered.
This is a dark, heavy, and often brutal book, but one that insists on being read carefully. Langsfeld takes a bold risk with dialogue presented without quotation marks, a choice that initially slows the reader but ultimately deepens immersion. Speech blends into thought and action, reinforcing that the story is less about attribution and more about consequence. Themes of violence, masculinity, abuse, fatherhood, faith, trauma, and moral responsibility are handled with seriousness and restraint. As a debut, Salvation feels confident in its refusal to simplify hard questions. It asks whether redemption is possible after irrevocable harm, how fragile faith can be under pressure, and what it really means to seek peace in a broken world. The result is a novel that leaves the reader examining not only their own beliefs, but the unseen battles carried by the people around them.
This is a dark, heavy, and often brutal book, but one that insists on being read carefully. Langsfeld takes a bold risk with dialogue presented without quotation marks, a choice that initially slows the reader but ultimately deepens immersion. Speech blends into thought and action, reinforcing that the story is less about attribution and more about consequence. Themes of violence, masculinity, abuse, fatherhood, faith, trauma, and moral responsibility are handled with seriousness and restraint. As a debut, Salvation feels confident in its refusal to simplify hard questions. It asks whether redemption is possible after irrevocable harm, how fragile faith can be under pressure, and what it really means to seek peace in a broken world. The result is a novel that leaves the reader examining not only their own beliefs, but the unseen battles carried by the people around them.
January 26, 2026
#ad much love for my finished copy @counterpointpress #partner
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC
Salvation
< @c.williamlangsfeld >
Releases February 3, 2026
“They say the truth is stranger than fiction. I say bullshit. I think some people just have a hard time acceptin the truth so they say somethin like that to make it seem unbelievable. I say the truth makes sense, typically. If you look at all the factors that went into its makin, you can usually connect the dots,” (p. 36).
A Western? Umm not to sure about that. There’s no horses or gun slinging. It’s actually pretty normalish? Haha I saw Western and was like WHYYY DID I REQUEST THIS BOOK?! Okay I’m glad I did and I imagine I did because of the blurb.
This book was so good - like beyond good! I loved the Marshal Tomlinson chapters the best. The kind of deep thinking topics I love and totally geeked out to.
Tom sacrificed his own free life for his nephew. A cycle of abuse broken. Toxic masculinity.
Short chapters but the type of read you’ll think about long after you’ve read it.
Tom killed Rust
Gus bruises dead father.
Small town
Child abuse
Murder
Cancer
🎧: Also listened to the audio while following along and def recommend the audio. Christian Baskous and Dan Bittner were literally the perfect people to narrate this book. They not only captured the setting well but the characters too. Just loved this audio.
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC
Salvation
< @c.williamlangsfeld >
Releases February 3, 2026
“They say the truth is stranger than fiction. I say bullshit. I think some people just have a hard time acceptin the truth so they say somethin like that to make it seem unbelievable. I say the truth makes sense, typically. If you look at all the factors that went into its makin, you can usually connect the dots,” (p. 36).
A Western? Umm not to sure about that. There’s no horses or gun slinging. It’s actually pretty normalish? Haha I saw Western and was like WHYYY DID I REQUEST THIS BOOK?! Okay I’m glad I did and I imagine I did because of the blurb.
This book was so good - like beyond good! I loved the Marshal Tomlinson chapters the best. The kind of deep thinking topics I love and totally geeked out to.
Tom sacrificed his own free life for his nephew. A cycle of abuse broken. Toxic masculinity.
Short chapters but the type of read you’ll think about long after you’ve read it.
Tom killed Rust
Gus bruises dead father.
Small town
Child abuse
Murder
Cancer
🎧: Also listened to the audio while following along and def recommend the audio. Christian Baskous and Dan Bittner were literally the perfect people to narrate this book. They not only captured the setting well but the characters too. Just loved this audio.
February 10, 2026
Salvation by C William Langsfeld is a strong, dark, brutal and beautiful debut novel. I received a beautiful finished copy in the mail and the moment I saw the cover I was convinced I would love the book. And then I read that it was set in a small town in the Colorado mountains, and that sealed it, because I live in one too.
The story opens in the biting winter cold. One man has been murdered. Another man is on the run. An unhappy pastor takes on the job of creating a home for a grieving child. And a small town lawman finds himself struggling with the weight of the investigation. It is a book about relationships, violence, trauma, and faith. The men in the story are deeply impacted by recent events, but also learning to deal with the past.
It is a character driven story, where each character is strong enough to carry the book. However, I am so happy that each was there, adding a depth of emotion. All three men are revealed in fragments, letting the reader grow to know them through little moments in time.
Is redemption possible? Can this man who did the worst possible thing find healing?
Thank you @CounterpointPress for the #gifted book!
The story opens in the biting winter cold. One man has been murdered. Another man is on the run. An unhappy pastor takes on the job of creating a home for a grieving child. And a small town lawman finds himself struggling with the weight of the investigation. It is a book about relationships, violence, trauma, and faith. The men in the story are deeply impacted by recent events, but also learning to deal with the past.
It is a character driven story, where each character is strong enough to carry the book. However, I am so happy that each was there, adding a depth of emotion. All three men are revealed in fragments, letting the reader grow to know them through little moments in time.
Is redemption possible? Can this man who did the worst possible thing find healing?
Thank you @CounterpointPress for the #gifted book!
January 30, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ This was an interesting read. A very intriguing storyline. 3 main POV’s - Tom, Marshal Tomlinson, & Morris Green. One is running from the law and a lifetime of abuse, One is a lawman tasked with finding a killer and also at a point in his life and reflecting on it, and One is a pastor questioning his faith. The set up was unique reminding me of journal entries. It was a good ending where some are asking if they deserve salvation on one who has found their salvation.
The only thing that made it a bit difficult to read was no punctuation to recognize if it was internal dialogue or an actual conversation. Overall I enjoyed this read.
Thank you Counterpoint Press for my ARC.
The only thing that made it a bit difficult to read was no punctuation to recognize if it was internal dialogue or an actual conversation. Overall I enjoyed this read.
Thank you Counterpoint Press for my ARC.
February 4, 2026
Thank You to CounterPoint Press for this free book in exchange of my honest review of Salvation by C. William Langsfeld.
This is set against the Rocky Mountains and has such an intriguing storyline that had me captivated from the beginning. What happens when Tom murders his best friend Rust? To find out make sure to read this page turner. In this book it explores themes of fathers, sons, religon and more. The author wrote this so well and I loved every character in this one. The ending was well done and was such a vivid reading experience. This was one that I loved a lot and would recommend to any reader, especially to those who love western noir books.
This is set against the Rocky Mountains and has such an intriguing storyline that had me captivated from the beginning. What happens when Tom murders his best friend Rust? To find out make sure to read this page turner. In this book it explores themes of fathers, sons, religon and more. The author wrote this so well and I loved every character in this one. The ending was well done and was such a vivid reading experience. This was one that I loved a lot and would recommend to any reader, especially to those who love western noir books.
February 9, 2026
Salvation by C. William Langsfeld is a compelling, accessible read that moves quickly while still carrying emotional weight. The story thoughtfully explores how people shaped by very different lived experiences can collide, connect, and ultimately change one another. Langsfeld handles these intersections with empathy, allowing each perspective to feel human and grounded. It’s an engaging novel that stays with you after the final page.
February 15, 2026
It took me a few pages to get used to the author's writing style. Quick read with complex characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Everyone's dirty cept the boy, and he's been covered in stains by the sins of his father and his father's friend."
Fathers, sons, retribution, and forgiveness are always good fodder for serious fiction. More than likely, you throw all those things together, and bad things will happen. Langsfeld's dark tale is more of a character study than a mystery or crime novel; it's a slow-burning, involving story, and a pretty damned good debut.
The author photo at the end of the book surprised me . . . why, he's practically a kid! But, the man sure writes like someone who's got a few more decades, several cases of whiskey, and a couple of previous novels under his belt.
Book 5 in the Ross Library Winter Reading Challenge: A Book By An Author You've Never Read Before.
This book will be on sale 2/3.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Counterpoint Press for sharing.
Fathers, sons, retribution, and forgiveness are always good fodder for serious fiction. More than likely, you throw all those things together, and bad things will happen. Langsfeld's dark tale is more of a character study than a mystery or crime novel; it's a slow-burning, involving story, and a pretty damned good debut.
The author photo at the end of the book surprised me . . . why, he's practically a kid! But, the man sure writes like someone who's got a few more decades, several cases of whiskey, and a couple of previous novels under his belt.
Book 5 in the Ross Library Winter Reading Challenge: A Book By An Author You've Never Read Before.
This book will be on sale 2/3.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Counterpoint Press for sharing.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews