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Hell Riders
191 pages, Paperback
Published March 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 29, 2026
Hell Riders is book one in Owens’ Blood and Dust series.
It’s 1884, Texas. A team of bandits are destroying towns and killing good folk left and right. The bandits are headed straight for Sheriff John and Deputy Bear’s small town.
It’s obvious Owens read a lot of Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour Westerns because this book fits right in with those classics. The pretty women, the Saturday night shindig (Bear might even take a bath before he asks a lady to the dance), horses and cattle, bad guys (the “Hell Riders”) riding into town, a banker, and the honorable sheriff. The iconic Mr. Owens from Little House and Festus from Gunsmoke make an appearance, too (or at least their stand-ins do).
But this Western is different from anything Grey or L’Amour wrote because it’s infused with Owens’ humor. I laughed then laughed some more. I also cried. There’s one scene that just about did me in.
I’m looking forward to book two in the series!
It’s 1884, Texas. A team of bandits are destroying towns and killing good folk left and right. The bandits are headed straight for Sheriff John and Deputy Bear’s small town.
It’s obvious Owens read a lot of Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour Westerns because this book fits right in with those classics. The pretty women, the Saturday night shindig (Bear might even take a bath before he asks a lady to the dance), horses and cattle, bad guys (the “Hell Riders”) riding into town, a banker, and the honorable sheriff. The iconic Mr. Owens from Little House and Festus from Gunsmoke make an appearance, too (or at least their stand-ins do).
But this Western is different from anything Grey or L’Amour wrote because it’s infused with Owens’ humor. I laughed then laughed some more. I also cried. There’s one scene that just about did me in.
I’m looking forward to book two in the series!
May 12, 2026
Hell Riders feels very much like an old-school action western with a straightforward, high-stakes setup that immediately gives classic frontier movie vibes. The idea of a small Texas town preparing to defend itself against an approaching threat creates tension right from the beginning, and the Sheriff/deputy dynamic gives the story a strong traditional western foundation.
What I appreciated most was the sense of urgency and atmosphere surrounding the town of Sunset. You can feel the pressure building as panic spreads and the townspeople realize they may have to stand alone. It has the kind of rugged survival energy that fans of classic westerns usually enjoy.
The reason I ended up giving this 3 stars instead of higher honestly comes down more to the visual presentation of the book than the premise itself. After reading the synopsis, I personally don’t feel the current cover fully captures the scale, grit, and cinematic western tension the story seems to contain.
If I had only seen the cover while browsing, I probably wouldn’t have expected this kind of intense frontier conflict and action-driven atmosphere. I think some western readers who would actually enjoy the story may unintentionally overlook it because the presentation doesn’t immediately communicate the dramatic stakes or classic western feel strongly enough.
Overall, I think the concept has solid appeal for readers who enjoy traditional western action stories. I just feel the visual identity could better reflect the intensity and atmosphere the book appears to offer.
What I appreciated most was the sense of urgency and atmosphere surrounding the town of Sunset. You can feel the pressure building as panic spreads and the townspeople realize they may have to stand alone. It has the kind of rugged survival energy that fans of classic westerns usually enjoy.
The reason I ended up giving this 3 stars instead of higher honestly comes down more to the visual presentation of the book than the premise itself. After reading the synopsis, I personally don’t feel the current cover fully captures the scale, grit, and cinematic western tension the story seems to contain.
If I had only seen the cover while browsing, I probably wouldn’t have expected this kind of intense frontier conflict and action-driven atmosphere. I think some western readers who would actually enjoy the story may unintentionally overlook it because the presentation doesn’t immediately communicate the dramatic stakes or classic western feel strongly enough.
Overall, I think the concept has solid appeal for readers who enjoy traditional western action stories. I just feel the visual identity could better reflect the intensity and atmosphere the book appears to offer.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews