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Subtraction
In the alkali flats of 1869 Colorado Territory, Clara Kane counts.
Seventeen names. Seventeen men who burned her parents alive and left her and her brother for dead. Half-Chinese and orphaned at ten, Clara has spent twelve years turning grief into every bullet drop, every wind drift, every heartbeat between shots. The mathematics don't lie. They never do.
Now the last ten targets are gathered in the desert city of New Rome. One final night. One perfect count.
But when her brother reappears after twelve years-alive, disguised, and working for the man who destroyed them-Clara's precision begins to fracture. And at the moment she needs it most, the mathematics fail her.
What remains is a woman who has counted everything except the cost of becoming the thing she hunts. A haunting literary Western about revenge, identity, and what we measure when the world refuses to measure us.
Seventeen names. Seventeen men who burned her parents alive and left her and her brother for dead. Half-Chinese and orphaned at ten, Clara has spent twelve years turning grief into every bullet drop, every wind drift, every heartbeat between shots. The mathematics don't lie. They never do.
Now the last ten targets are gathered in the desert city of New Rome. One final night. One perfect count.
But when her brother reappears after twelve years-alive, disguised, and working for the man who destroyed them-Clara's precision begins to fracture. And at the moment she needs it most, the mathematics fail her.
What remains is a woman who has counted everything except the cost of becoming the thing she hunts. A haunting literary Western about revenge, identity, and what we measure when the world refuses to measure us.
92 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2026
About the author
Peter Gibson
63 books2 followersPeter Gibson first studied English Literature at University but now has three degrees in Philosophy, including a Ph.D from Birkbeck College, University of London. He is the founder of the website philosophyideas.com which catalogues philosophical ideas from across the centuries and he strongly believes that a wider knowledge of philosophy will improve the world.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 9, 2026
THE REVIEW
This was a compelling and engaging western revenge thriller. The almost poetic, cinematic style of writing the authors brought to life on the page allowed the reader to feel immediately immersed in the narrative, from the shifting setting of New Rome to the personal, close-up moments of vengeance that the protagonist engages in, allowing readers to step into each scene with clarity and engage with the characters on a personal level.
The detail and heart the author infused into these characters and this narrative in such a short time was astonishing. The way the author infused so much emotional storytelling into a narrative that was not only shorter but also involved a protagonist who has renounced emotions is powerful and compelling. The powerful themes of vengeance and the lines people cross to see their own form of justice highlight the dangerous path that those individuals risk in becoming the very thing they hate, and readers can feel that conflict grow as the protagonist’s journey grows.
THE VERDICT
Exhilarating, thrilling, and compelling, authors Peter Gibson and Stephenson Crossley’s “Subtraction” is a must-read western revenge thriller. The depth of storytelling and character dynamics, along with the exploration of the many ways people deal with grief, make this Western a haunting, fast-paced thrill ride that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
This was a compelling and engaging western revenge thriller. The almost poetic, cinematic style of writing the authors brought to life on the page allowed the reader to feel immediately immersed in the narrative, from the shifting setting of New Rome to the personal, close-up moments of vengeance that the protagonist engages in, allowing readers to step into each scene with clarity and engage with the characters on a personal level.
The detail and heart the author infused into these characters and this narrative in such a short time was astonishing. The way the author infused so much emotional storytelling into a narrative that was not only shorter but also involved a protagonist who has renounced emotions is powerful and compelling. The powerful themes of vengeance and the lines people cross to see their own form of justice highlight the dangerous path that those individuals risk in becoming the very thing they hate, and readers can feel that conflict grow as the protagonist’s journey grows.
THE VERDICT
Exhilarating, thrilling, and compelling, authors Peter Gibson and Stephenson Crossley’s “Subtraction” is a must-read western revenge thriller. The depth of storytelling and character dynamics, along with the exploration of the many ways people deal with grief, make this Western a haunting, fast-paced thrill ride that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
May 14, 2026
Subtraction is a surprisingly good, quick, compelling read. It has a cinematic feel, yet produces poignant lines of literary depth. The lead is engaging, and the narrative is something that could appeal both to fans of westerns and to fans of good character arcs. I could easily see this spawning a sequel, even though it’s self contained. It would also make.a fine film.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews