Hell Town Shootout

Cash Laramie & Gideon Miles #10

by Edward A. Grainger

On his own in the fleapit of Hell Town, Wyoming, U.S. Marshal Gideon Miles has had the tables turned on him and is being pursued by the very outlaw gang he had come to apprehend. Cornered in Bellows Hotel with his ammunition--and luck--running dangerously low, he uses every skill at his disposal as he makes a last ditch gamble to save his life. This taut, fast novella of 6500 words brims with an energetic, fresh narrative. Amazon best-selling author Edward A. Grainger, once again, rescues the Western from the dusty clichés and takes it to bold new directions. "Hell Town Shootout" also offers a personal glimpse into the life of Gideon Miles through the lawman's thoughts and poetry.

33 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 4, 2015

About the author

AKA: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

U.S. Marshal Gideon Miles has always had more problems carrying out his duties than most marshals. You see, Miles is black and in 1885, the war and the reasons for it still weigh heavily on people's minds.

So when on the trail of a gang of bank robbers and their fifteen grand haul, he finds himself caught in an ambush in Hell Town, Wyoming. No local law and the majority as crooked as those he pursues, the few honest are unwilling to aid a "black man" arresting whites.

Short of ammunition and surrounded, Miles must think, use his head, to get out of this mess.

I'm a fan of Grainger's(David Cranmer in disguise) writing. Always delivers interesting stories in this series of Miles and his sometimes partner Cash Laramie.

Recommended.

[Kevintipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claude Guestman had the misfortune of being killed by a bullet intended for U.S. Deputy Marshal Gideon Miles as he ran for cover at the Bellows Hotel. At least Guestman got laid first by the whore Carlie who is now running from her room and screaming as best she can. Marshal Miles won’t be nearly so lucky if those chasing him have their way.

Marshal Miles is running out of bullets and rues the fact that he ever came to Hell Town, Wyoming. The place is such a dump of a town there is no local lawmen to deal with anything that happens. That meant it was Marshal Miles who had to go after a gang of outlaws who, according to the town’s madam Laurel Wedgewood, had cheated her out of a lot of money. But, instead of fleeing, the gang had been waiting at the edge of town and they nearly got him. A running gun battle has ensured with the bad guys pursuing him back to the hotel.

Needing firepower and hoping the madam has at least one weapon, Marshal Miles plans to barricade himself in her upstairs room and hope for the best. Gideon Miles is no dummy and he is pretty sure she has answers to give him even if she doesn’t have a weapon though no self-respecting madam would be weaponless.

The latest in a long series of books featuring Gideon Miles is another good one. Filled with plenty of action and a bit of a mystery this latest western from Edward A. Grainger aka David Cranmer is another good one. It opens with a bang and a break neck pace that is maintained from start to finish. Well worth your time Hell Town Shootout: Gideon Miles Novelette is a western that quickly pulls you in and does not let go until long after the last page.


Hell Town Shootout: Gideon Miles Novelette
Edward A. Grainger
http://www.davidcranmer.com
Beat To A Pulp
http://www.beattoapulp.com
March 2015
ASIN: B00UB84TPS
E-Book
33 Pages (estimated)
$0.99


Material was supplied by the publisher in exchange for my objective review.


Kevin R. Tipple ©2015

[Heath Lowrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see Edward A. Grainger (aka David Cranmer) return to Gideon Miles. Gideon is a character near and dear to me, one I've had the pleasure of helping shape (full disclosure!) and the way Grainger portrays the Marshall is spot on, and every bit as rounded and fully-realized as any hero in a Western story has ever been. This one, "Helltown Shootout", finds the level-headed and pragmatic lawman up against overwhelming odds as he takes on an entire gang of outlaws in a thrilling cat-and-mouse series of violent encounters. Allies are scarce in Helltown, and Gideon Miles finds himself pretty much on his own, relying only on his quick wit, blazing Colt, and trusty spring-loaded wrist blade. In the epilogue, Grainger gives us some nice insight into Gideon's processes, and the things that inspire him as one of the first black U.S. Marshall's in the Wyoming Territory. Highly recommended for action fans.

[Warren Stalley · Rating 5 out of 5]

US Deputy Marshal Gideon Miles tracks down a despicable band of outlaws to the aptly named Hell Town, Wyoming. The bank robbers led by Frank Jorge are none too pleased at the Marshal’s arrival so inevitably there is a blazing barrage of bullets bringing with it buckets of blood. Low on ammunition with the odds stacked against him Gideon finds out that he can’t trust anyone in the fleapit town. Edward A Grainger (pen name of author David Cranmer) crafts a short yet spellbinding addition to the series that he created. There may not be an appearance by US Marshal Cash Laramie but Gideon Miles gets the limelight he deserves in this modern publication set in old wild west.

[Cravin Morfish · Rating 3 out of 5]

not bad

I wished it would have been fleshed out. Easily could have been a novel. Worth reading, but it's very short.

[Peter Cornell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not that much

I didn't know it was a short story. And, it wasn't all that good. Just a quick little bit and done.