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The Sultan Saga #1

The Bowman Boys

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"Killing is easy. It’s the forgetting that’s hard."A little place called Sultan, a father and his four sons, and a whole mess of trouble...The year is 1923 and Prohibition is the law of the land. The Bowman family fights to survive and thrive in the remote woods and mountains outpost of Sultan, Washington. It is a time and place governed by the gun and the fist where family comes first, rules are meant to be broken, and enemies put down.

“The Bowman Boys is D.W. Ulsterman at his best. Lots of action, mystery, crackling dialogue, and a touch of romance while also having plenty to say about the importance of family, living by a code, and defending what’s yours.” -MobelyReviews

D.W. Ulsterman is the USA Today featured author of the international bestselling family drama, The Irish Cowboy, and a Kindle Scout winner for the San Juan Islands Mystery series.

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2018

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About the author

D.W. Ulsterman

90 books178 followers
D.W. Ulsterman is the bestselling author of THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS MYSTERY SERIES.

His most recent novel, THE TRUTHING TREE, is now available.

All of his novels are available here: http://goo.gl/kEPU6R

"Mr. Ulsterman doesn't disappoint."

-THRILLER JUNKIE

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5 stars
389 (54%)
4 stars
231 (32%)
3 stars
79 (11%)
2 stars
15 (2%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for GRETCHEN B.
47 reviews2 followers
May 31, 2019
Overall I liked the book however far too many characters appeared to be lifted straight from television shows like Boardwalk Empire, Justified and Peaky Blinders. The plot followed these shows almost exactly, which generally I like, but this felt lazy. The dialog was modern and did not feel well researched. Overall character development was weak and I had a very hard time keeping track of which brother was which, especially since I felt their names (Chase, Dalton, Dylan) were unlikely to have been used at the turn of the 20th century as given names.
Profile Image for Laura.
588 reviews
October 7, 2019
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.

This is the first book in the The Sultan Saga book series. It is set in a small town where the main characters own a bar and depend on the local distillers for their alcohol and for the law to look the other way (after being appropriately paid). They also do not appreciate any encroachment on their business, which they settle by in true mob fashion. The family and business is run with an iron fist by their patriarch Levi Bowman.

There's lots of action - as the family deals with a supply issue and some unwelcome publicity about their business from the church. In addition, a man who owed Levi some money is missing so the police are sniffing around. As if that weren't enough to capture your interest, Levi's three sons have various issues - with the most compelling being his son dealing with his war injuries and PTSD (not that this was a diagnosis in the 30's).

I really enjoyed this tale with all the wheeling and dealing and "your word is your bond" mentality. The Bowman family dynamic was most interesting to me and how they fought to preserve it, regardless of the consequences. Great character development. I look forward to the next book in the series.

The narrator, J. Scott Bennett, was fantastic. I have listened to other books he has narrated and really enjoy his style. He does different voices for the various characters so they are easily distinguishable as you listen.
74 reviews2 followers
April 11, 2022
Really good tale - really well told.

Love to read books that let me immerse myself in the story. This is one of the better ones at this.
The tale here is as ‘basic’ as the time it’s based in. The war to end all wars has finished, prohibition is in full swing and the backlots of the US are coming alive.
The characters seem so real you sometimes have to stop and tell yourself “these are the bad guys” at by law. These ‘people’ are so well set up you can relate to everything they feel and everything thing they say.
The timeframe is real as a novel can be and when you put all this together you get a truly great story - going to get the next one and bury myself again.
4 reviews
September 16, 2018
He does it again!

Mr. Ulsterman is a veritable genius of a storyteller. He never fails to deliver. Prohibition is not something I ever fancied reading about, but as usual, my favorite author has spun a web of intrigue impossible to resist. Due to his incredible display of character development, I feel as if I know each of these backwood, hardcore, wheelin', dealing' entrepreneurs.. I devoured this book in just a couple of hours and eagerly await the next installment of the Bowman family.
Author 5 books31 followers
May 8, 2024
Holy Smokes! what a great read.

I have enjoyed this story more than anything I've read in months. It was a terrific period piece and a shout out to family loyalty. If you're listening Hollywood, this could be a winner to offset the crap you pass off every evening trying to find something outside the Hollywood box to watch. On the other hand, you'd probably get it wrong. This is a visually stunning and well done example of pure storytelling. Can't wait to download the second book.....
Profile Image for Rabid Reader.
959 reviews18 followers
July 2, 2019
This is an entertaining book set in prohibition time, with traces of a Peaky Blinders type world this story takes you on a journey of booze, business, enemies, guns and family ties. The narrator did an excellent job of drawing you into the story and bringing out the feel of life in the 1920’s. A thrilling drama with subtle twists, action, intrigue and murder.
3,948 reviews9 followers
February 22, 2026
Interesting story about a family who sell whiskey during prohibition. There seems to be someone or someone’s who are trying to stop them. Multiple possible suspects and everyone in the family thinks it’s someone different.

The culprit is a bit surprising but then again not really.

Easy read, interesting enough to read the next one.
105 reviews1 follower
June 1, 2019
First in a series

Not as good as the San Juan series but set in a different time and place so I will give the second book a chance and see if I get more into it as the series develops.

327 reviews4 followers
July 11, 2023
Crazy time in history

Really liked the story. Loved the Bowman family and all of the characters within the story. Amazing how people from all walks of life take matters into their own hands. I can only imagine how prohibition was a crazy time in our American history.
146 reviews4 followers
March 3, 2021
Good Read

I can't say I saw how this book would end because I didn't. Wow, never saw that coming. Great read.
Profile Image for Debra H. Wruble.
419 reviews11 followers
August 24, 2021
Excellent

Well written story beginning the family saga of an old hired gun who have up that profession to run his prohibition whiskey with his four sons. Wonderful reading
3 reviews
March 19, 2022
The Bowman Boys

It was very interesting. It had everything, danger,love, family and a little bit of intrigue, I loved it. Can't wait to read book2.
23 reviews
April 12, 2022
After reading the 8 books of the San Juan Mysteries, I wasn’t to read about this family. Not disappointed.
14 reviews
April 14, 2022
The Bowman Boys

An exceptionally well written story about how hard and gritty it was to survive prohibition and to hold a family together.
8 reviews1 follower
August 9, 2023
entertaining

An entertaining tale, enough action and twists to keep my attention. Quite a cast of characters - and I mean characters!
24 reviews
May 26, 2024
Town of Sulton.

Great story fast paced with lots of grit and humour.. liked the romance and fun between the family and the town
71 reviews1 follower
May 22, 2025
love this book. this book from page one was full of action and the end was a surprise. did not think about it ending this way. The author did a great job with the way it was written.
50 reviews3 followers
May 2, 2025
An Enjoyable Read

Full of old time action with some mystery and a bit of humor. I felt like Levi and his sons were personal friends I was rooting for.
Profile Image for April.
2,201 reviews59 followers
February 6, 2020
The Bowman Boys
by D.W. Ulsterman

This Prohibition era book has plenty of drama, some mystery, a bit of romance all tangled together. The listener will get to figure out who the good and bad guys are. I found this quite entertaining.




The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. J. Scott Bennett is always an enjoyable listen!!!



I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews