Brother's Keeper

Jess Williams #2

by Robert J. Thomas

In Brother's Keeper, Jess Williams returns home to Black Creek Kansas, after hunting down and killing the three men who brutally murdered his family. When he arrives, he finds himself in the midst of a bloody war with Dick Carter and his hired killers. Carter wants revenge for the death of his only son Red, and Jess is the one who did the killing.

Jess' first job is to rid Carter and his hired killers and then finish his search for the brother he never knew he had.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Novels, Historical, Collections

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 3, 2011

About the author

Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

In 1990 Robert J. Thomas was sworn in as the full time mayor for the city of Westland, Michigan. He served twelve years, making him the longest serving mayor in Westland's history.

While he was mayor he wrote his first book titled, How to Run for Local Office, which has now sold over 25,000 copies worldwide.

He has written and published on Kindle, the Jess Williams Westerns series. Retired, he now lives in Mississippi with his wfe Jill.

Reviews

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brother’s Keeper is Book 2 of the Jess Williams series. Jess Williams returns to Black Creek, Kansas, after dispensing with some of the men who killed his family (in book 1). Little did he realize that he was returning to a town under siege and at war.

Two land owners are in dispute over water rights and the need to take care of their cattle. Dick Carter is one of the wealthy who does not take no for an answer. His son was equally as capricious and Jess gunned him down in a fair fight, but when Carter realizes that Jess has returned it is noticeably clear that Jess is numbered as one of the enemies.

Add to the situation that Jess’ twin brother was raised as a villain, the reader can trace the trajectory toward the climax. I LOVE this series albeit the story is a western we have all read before with an outcome that is virtually pre-determined.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quickest draw in the west

I have seen you tube videos of a man who can draw and fan off two shot in a quarter of a second. So fast it couldn't be recorded without high speed film. It is unimaginable what a quick draw like that could have been in the wild wild west. Of course the gun-slinging is legend - the stuff of TV - most times men were ambushed or shot in the back. In any case Jess has -and still is - building up a fearful reputation. Jess is still developing his character. Find out where he is going.......

[JANE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brother's Keeper

Well it's 4 in the morning. I'm in the hospital. Still can't put one of your books down. Good thing we have, mobile phones. I can read from my phone all night.5:12 in the morning. Nurse will be in to take my BS. And temp. In about 45 minutes. But I had to find out if Jess would really kill his brother. JD.

[Rich Cummings · Rating 2 out of 5]

The character has a dark streak that the author continues to try and promote and justify, but it doesn't resonate with me. There is no mercy and no chance of redemption which is a hope I like to hang on to. The main character is just a hard man with a warped sense of justice. It feels like he violates the western codes that I appreciate. This series is not for me.

[Mikel Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to play the cards you are delt.

A good western with a good plot, lots of fast action and a few good twist and turns that tell the story of the ruthlessness and brutality that was a real part of the wild west.

[Lee D. Penn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scares me to see how many books are left in this series!

Really good book, EXCEPT for that gratuitous interlude with Carl and Murry, which MAYBE was supposed to be amusing and wasn't!

[Rob Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story continues

Jess follows his vocation as he continues to gravitate towards his ultimate duel with his twin brother. Killing bad men along the way adds to the constant battle against evil.

[edlewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to a point

I was caught up in the suspense of the story. Then I read the bit between book one and two that told how the stories end. Now there is no reason to continue. DO NOT READ THE MATERIAL BETWEEN THE TWO BOOKS. !!!😤😖😩

[Jesse Deleon · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to wait for the comedy!

I read slot of Western with some comedy in it and Robert J. Thomas has written the funniest chapter that had me laughing out loud. Good thing I wasn't on the bus. A fan!

[Vic Falconer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Second Volume

This is a great and consistent continuation of the first novel. Jess Williams is a unique protagonist. Don't get on his bad side ....

[Ned · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

Love this series and look forward to the rest. It's a must read for everyone. Check it out. You will not be disappointed.

[IMHO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jess Williams returns in Bother's Keeper, going
home after hunting down the outlaws that
murdered his family. But there is not much rest
before people start lining up to kill him.

RECOMMENDED

[Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Well written. On to the next one

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book about Jess Williams. A good story, fast paced.

[Jimmy Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent story

I enjoyed the first two stories, but I don't believe I'll read anymore of them. The writing is ok, but I don't want to do more of them.

[LUAYNE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Jess helps two green horn, bounty hunter want to bees from new york, faces his brother in a gun fight, and continues his mission to rid the world of bad guys.

[Dan Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Second Book in This Series

This is the second book that I have read by Mr Thomas and it is a good one. I am going to keep reading this series.

[Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding

Robert has a flair for keeping the suspense flowing. I know I'm going to read all of his works. The next book is sure to be as good as the first.

[Brenda B. Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super read..

I like the hunt for the kill.

How calm Jess is. Till he gets his man.
On to the next in series.

[Kim Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Have I read awful books? Yes. This is one.

[Susan Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good western series.

This particular book in the series has quite a bit of both humor and sadness. I only gave it 3 stars because the editing was terrible but the story was a 5. So far I've enjoyed Thomas's series, but if the editing is bad in the next book I buy I won't buy anymore of this author's books. (Dad, if you see this and want more of this author just write me a check:D. LS)

[Douglas Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

A western about a gunslinger who takes out revenge on the killers of his family and then moves onto another member of his family (his brother) an evil gunslinger. Reminiscent of Louis L'Amour.


First sentence, "Jess woke at daybreak and ate a brekfast of salt pork and pan bread."

[Heather Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am half in love with Jess Williams

I got the book that is eight in the series from "Booksends" and it was free. After reading it I was happy to pay for the first seven! Wonderful books by a great
author. I am so hooked.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second novel in this series and I liked it. I will read more.

[Dan Panke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A western the way a fun western should be written. Jess Williams is a young bounty hunter forced to duel with his own brother.

[Douglas Fugate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great action western. The author interjects moral law and order, personal responsibility, and self-reliance throughout. Good character development.