Dead Reckoning

by Mike Blakely

After a botched confidence scam, swindler Dee Hassard begins a killing spree that covers half of the Colorado Territory. His first victim is the brother of rustler-turned-preacher Carrol Moncrief. Now Carrol must fall back on his former outlaw savvy to track the murderer down.

As the manhunt drifts mysteriously toward a legendary wilderness landmark known as the Mount of Snowy Cross, it embroils a number of men and women whose lives it will change forever. In the final reckoning, either the preacher or the killer must go to his dusty death.

Genres: Fiction

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 15, 1997

Reviews

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Moncreif is a lawman transporting a swindler named Dee Hassard to prison. As the two converse, Dee learns that Frank's brother Carrol is none other than the famous "fightin' parson" Carrol Moncreif. Pastor Carrol is currently guiding a group of zealots to a place out west but is better-known for having abandoned his former outlaw ways and becoming a preacher. No sooner than Frank and Dee settle down to camp on the trail when Dee kills Frank and escapes custody.

Five different parties (three solo and two pairs) share protagonist POV narratives, all finding their way towards the Mount of the Snowy Cross, a mountain valley shaped so that the snow forms a large cross of snow.

There's a bit of a slight of hand here, with all these various characters filling familiar stereotypical placeholders in a western on first glance but with some further variations that show some hope come from honest faith.

Verdict: "Dead Reckoning" (1997) is an interesting western adventure; a combination revenge tale, treasure hunt, diligent faith, and love story.

Jeff's Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG-13

[W Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. A lot deeper than your average shoot 'em up Western. Very interesting how Blakely ties together such a diverse set of characters in an interesting yet believable way, and the ending is appropriately satisfying. I've never read any of Blakely's books I didn't enjoy greatly. A prequel and/or sequel would seem easy to justify, and I'd definitely read them.

[J. Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly this book was fantastic. It was a bit of a slow start but it picked up pace quickly and really hooked me. I hope there's a sequel with some of these characters, especially Clarence. I thought he would be an annoying character but he became my favorite and I hope someday we'll get to see the story continued.

[Gordon Allbritton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool book.

[Vitalia Strait · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a quick read that I think would have been more interesting if it was longer. As it is, I didn't really get to know any of the characters or motivations.

[rancidesticide · Rating 4 out of 5]

its a short-read, plot kind of reminds me of red dead 2 lol.

slow start of setting up the world;
there's a lot of overexplaining, characters only have a few moments that make you know who they really are.

its still a good read, but thats my love for westerns.

[Michael Medlen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Typical Western...

[Gabriel · Rating 2 out of 5]

If there's one thing I learned it's that there are a lot of books called Dead Reckoning.

Found this in an antique shop. Knew nothing of it, but was in the mood for a western. It's a fun pulpy story. The plot is engaging, but that's about all you'll really get from it. Not a fan of Blakely's style at all. A lot of eye-rolling lines and prose that makes the audience feel like an idiot, constantly explaining things that did not need explaining, that could have easily been inferred from the character's actions.