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Terror Near Town
Chet Harbison is a 20-year-old Rough Rider returning from the Spanish-American War to a small Missouri town where his family operates a Morgan horse and mule ranch. Along the way he rescues a tortured horse, and on arrival, learns that the owners of a neighboring farm have died in a mysterious fire with the only survivor being the family’s 17-year-old daughter, Callie.
Callie attempts to help Chet adjust to what should be a normal life back on the farm, as do a number of local residents—all with unique personalities who deal with everyday events in rural America. Unfortunately for Chet, a series of events, including confrontations with the notorious Spragg brothers and numerous encounters with an old flame, Lori Simpson, make that adjustment nearly impossible. Just when Chet’s involvement with Callie and the community start to fall into place, he finds himself and his future bride in a life-and-death battle, where only his Army training and wit can save them.
Callie attempts to help Chet adjust to what should be a normal life back on the farm, as do a number of local residents—all with unique personalities who deal with everyday events in rural America. Unfortunately for Chet, a series of events, including confrontations with the notorious Spragg brothers and numerous encounters with an old flame, Lori Simpson, make that adjustment nearly impossible. Just when Chet’s involvement with Callie and the community start to fall into place, he finds himself and his future bride in a life-and-death battle, where only his Army training and wit can save them.
248 pages, Paperback
Published October 18, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 25, 2026
I had difficulty with this. The story was slow with you much time devoted to repetitive explanations and unnecessary details. The "terror" finally came in the last 60 or so pages. The characters are likeable though, and it appears this is the first of a series.
October 25, 2017
An exciting novel by James R. Wilder chronicling the adventures of Chet Harbison, one of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders returning to his Midwestern home, fresh from the Spanish-American War. Chet struggles to come to terms with the changing world at the onset of the 20th Century, while building his life as a man in the town that last saw him as a boy. Along his journey he rescues an abused horse and finds a kindred spirit; meets a girl from his past and finds love; and encounters a notorious family bent on terrorizing his hometown and finds himself in a fight for his very life.
Each page drips with history and Wilder's true love for the Old West subject matter shines through, while the story's themes of building a life against the struggle of changing times while fighting for what is right are relevant to today's times.
This is a great opening chapter in the "Harbison Mystery" series, which promises to be very exciting and I look forward to the next installment.
Each page drips with history and Wilder's true love for the Old West subject matter shines through, while the story's themes of building a life against the struggle of changing times while fighting for what is right are relevant to today's times.
This is a great opening chapter in the "Harbison Mystery" series, which promises to be very exciting and I look forward to the next installment.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews