The Survival of Margaret Thomas

by Del Howison

1870s - Missouri

Margaret ""Peggy"" Thomas and her husband, James, lead a simple and peaceful life; she tends to the farm while he works as sheriff in the nearby town of Bleak Knob. Their evenings are spent doing the thing they love most-being together.<.br>

One afternoon, after picking up fabric at the general store, Margaret watches helplessly as James is gunned down on the sidewalk in front of her. Days of mourning turn into weeks and then years, filled with little more than grief and alcohol.

A telegram, announcing the upcoming trial in Arizona of one of the men responsible for James' death, rouses the widow from her misery. Neither inexperience nor the prospect of a long and difficult journey will stop Margaret from facing her husband's killer.

Along the way, Margaret unexpectedly gains some new companions as she is joined by a free-spirited gypsy woman and a diminutive moonshiner. Together they will face the danger and violence of the Old West, but only Margaret will be able to answer the question that's plagued her from the beginning: Is she seeking justice or revenge? Told from Margaret's dark point-of-view and In the epic tradition of True Grit comes The Survival of Margaret Thomas.

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Unfinished, Historical, Fiction

349 pages, Hardcover

Published July 24, 2019

Reviews

[Sadie Hartmann]

THE SURVIVAL OF MARGARET THOMAS by Del Howison (owner of Dark Delicacies/editor of Horror anthologies/debut novel)

Release Date: Previously released in 2019/re-release from Pandi Press 2023
General Genre: Adventure Horror/Western
Subgenre/Themes: small-town horror, murder, revenge, justice, vengeance, strong female protagonist, grief

Writing Style: Character-driven, lean, clean prose, accessible, compelling

What You Need to Know: "action-packed debut adventure novel, Margaret “Peggy” Thomas’ peaceful life is turned upside down after the murder of the local sheriff, her husband, James; a dark, nuanced tale about justice, found family, and the choices we make in desperation when faced with nothing to lose. The Survival of Margaret Thomas transcends genre into a tale of hope, heart, and revenge."

My Reading Experience: In the tradition of Western-flavored books I've enjoyed like True Grit by Charles Portis, The Thicket by Joe Lansdale, and Red Station by Kenzie Jennings, Del Howison leans into painting the setting in the reader's mind in order to get an authentic sense of time and place before we begin to invest in the drama.
I love the way Howison invites his audience into the narrative slowly and intentionally. No words are wasted. I had a real sense of who the main characters were before the conflict is introduced.
Margaret "Peggy" Thomas is a complicated, spirited woman with a strong resolve and plenty of flaws-this made her feel realistic. I enjoyed observing her process through tragedy and grief in a variety of ways as her circumstances informed her choices-how would she deal with this new challenge? The friends she makes along the way on her journey was heartwarming; sweet.
Adventure horror Westerns are totally making a comeback with the Splatterpunk Western series from Death's Head Press blazing new trails for the indie market.
Del Howison's book proves that these modern Westerns cherry-pick the best aspects of Westerns that have delighted readers in the past, all the nostalgia and atmosphere we come to expect infused with Howison's clear affinity for Horror. The Survival of Margaret Thomas totally goes there, just to set early reader expectations.



A few minor issues with some stereotypes and dated language ("dwarf") and derogatory racial slurs like "squaw, gypsy, and Injuns". I know they're authentic to the time period but it still causes me to stumble out of the narrative.


Final Recommendation: If you enjoy strong female protagonists on a journey of recovery from past trauma and seeking some justice for what has been done to her and her family, this is your cup of tea. But you gotta love the Old West, it's almost a character in and of itself, plus, brace yourself for some horrific, dark stuff--this one is a medley of tropes and sub-genres.

Comps: Lansdale, SplatterWesterns, The Revenant, The film "The Wind", True Grit, Godless on Netflix

[Lynette Ackman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! I normally dislike Westerns, perhaps because the Westerns of my childhood were all about white men using violence. This book, however, started out with a strong female character and just got better as it went on and more characters were developed. I didn’t want to stop, and read it in two days - only stopping the first when it was hours past bedtime.

I found it less of a story of the “Wild Wild West” than the story of how those with less privilege on their side managed to survive, band together, and form a “family” not made of biology but of caring for each other when perhaps they had little reason to.

[LAPL Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Western has been an established genre of fiction for well over a hundred years. In the early to mid20th century, Western fiction grew in popularity, largely driven by similarly themed motion pictures and television programs. In the 1970s, however, the genre began to fall out of favor with the general population. Even so, there has always been an audience interested in new stories or masterful reworkings of existing tales. Indeed, there are continual rumblings of a comeback for the Western genre. All that may be necessary for this to happen is a strong story, with all of the genre trappings, that is told so well that it doesn’t seem like a pastiche or something that has already been seen before, a book like The Survival of Margaret Thomas by Del Howison.

Margaret “Peggy” Thomas was living a good life. She lived on a farm just outside of Bleak Knob, Missouri with her husband James. James is the local sheriff, which, for the most part, does little to interfere with their quiet, happy life together.

One day, while both James and Peggy are in town, the bank is robbed. James, as the marshal, steps in to attempt to stop the crime, and he is gunned down while pushing Peggy out of harm’s way. The bank robbers get away, James dies in the street and Peggy begins her new life of remorse and regret. She blames herself for James’ death, thinking that if she hadn’t been in town, if he hadn’t been trying to protect her, he would have survived the bank robbery.

Three years later, Peggy receives a telegram. It is from a sheriff in San Pueblo, Arizona who states that a member of the gang that killed James has been captured and is going to be put on trial. She is welcome to attend if she would like. This cuts through the fog of drink and regret in which Peggy has been functioning. She knows that she really hasn’t been living since James died, and she wonders if she should try to go. It won’t be easy. Arizona is a long way from Missouri, and Peggy would be a woman traveling alone. This will be a long, difficult and dangerous journey, but she will go. She needs to go. It is the one final thing she must do for James.

In The Survival of Margaret Thomas, Del Howison tells a story that is instantly familiar, with all of the recognizable trappings of a western tale, but simultaneously seeming like a welcome discovery of something new and exciting. Howison’s portrayal of the 19th century West seems spot on. It is a brutal and savage place, in the process of being tamed, but still a force to be approached with caution. It is also a stark reminder of how difficult communication and travel were during this time. Today, travelling from Kansas City, MO to Yuma, AZ, the points between which Peggy must travel by train over the course of several days, takes only a matter of hours. And this does not include the days of riding on horseback between Bleak Knob and Kansas City on one end of the journey and between Yuma and San Pueblo on the other.

Howison uses Peggy’s journey to explore not only the territory, but also the people living within it. He creates a series of interesting and memorable characters that Peggy encounters, some of which come to play crucial roles in her journey. He also illustrates the markedly different experiences of those living in town, on the outskirts of a settlement and those whose homes were only accessible by days of travel to a train station.

The Survival of Margaret Thomas is proof that there are still compelling Western stories to be told. It is also proof that Del Howison, an established writer and editor in horror fiction, can cross genres more easily and effortlessly than his characters are able to cross state lines and it appears he has staked a new claim on the Western.

Reviewed by Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch Library

[Derek McCaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This delivers on the promise of the title — this gritty novel is about a woman surviving, getting past a defining tragedy, and forming a new life, all in the shadow of a quest for justice. Del Howison’s strength lies in character building — even Margaret’s dog Slocum is vivid. In his West, probably like the real one, redemption doesn’t quite equal justice, but Margaret Thomas and her companions find something close.

Howison unflinchingly portrays the ugliness underneath frontier society, and you could wish his villains are inhuman. For a guy who owns a horror book store, Howison understands that cliche — we’re the most monstrous. For that reason, I have to say this book isn’t for the faint of heart. He writes in visceral detail that reminds me a bit of Jonathan Maberry’s flair for action.

I don’t think I’ve picked up a Western novel since reading some Louis L’amour in college, and I kept expecting this to veer into horror and fantasy. It doesn’t, but The Survival of Margaret Thomas proves that genres are hokum; all that matters is story. And it’s here.

[Joseph Maddrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll put this in terms that western movie fans will understand: Del Howison's novel is WESTWARD THE WOMEN meets CHINA 9, LIBERTY 37 meets BONE TOMAHAWK -- elevated by the author's dry wit, attention to historical detail and colloqiualisms, and matter-of-fact approach to human savagery.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book with an interesting array of characters. The majority of the story is about Mrs. Thomas’ journey to San Pueblo and the people she meets along the way. The book is also realistic in the sense that Mrs. Thomas, on at least a couple of occasions, makes a decision you know is dead wrong and suffers the consequences. Peggy and Bantam also make a great team - even if they wouldn’t agree!

I flew through this pretty quickly but it’s definitely one of the few books I’m already looking forward to reading again. If you’ve ever read “Whiskey When We’re Dry” and liked it, this book is for you.

[Jacki Secrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unsuspecting treat! I had never read a western before, but I was immediately drawn into the strong, enduring lead character's story and swept along into her journey. Vivid characters. Sad, funny, heart-pounding...all the good stuff.

But skip if you're sensitive to brutality. This western DEF has heaps of old-timey brutality mixed in.

[Emily Wicks Escott · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a 2.5. Very slow paced for the 1st half at least with just all of a sudden action events sprinkled in once in awhile. Very gruesome at times like make my stomach upset disturbing, gruesome scenes. I didn’t expect that. I wanted an action packed western era story. Couple things that did line up very well. But the way it wrapped up was very nice.
The last chapter was probably my favorite.

[Edith Coley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suvival of Margaret Thomas Is a Western by Del Howson. The Audible Edition is narrated by Carol Monda.


Carol Monda gave voice to Mr.Howison's characters and in doing so deftly gave wings to his wonderful words.
Margaret, or Peggy as she preferrèd, spoke in
a low-pitched, huskier voice. She probably smoked. We know she drank a good bit of
whiskey. She had a well–seasoned sound. Peggy's
friend, Bantam, the dwarf ànd former shyster who went straight after serving timè for trying to sell stolen goods
to her as wife to James Thomas, the small town Missouri sheriff, had a cranky, gruffness to his talky and opinionated voice. Dwarf Bantam was as likable as a character could be; as were the man-hating gypsy woman, Gena, and Ann, the dancehall/lady of the evening,whom Peggy met in Dallas and the Irish "priest” she met on the train, thanks to the brilliànt characcterizations of Mr. Howison and the narration of
the talented Ms. Monda. I do not think I’ve enjoyed
characters as much as these. Even that robbing gang of
murderers was a worthy listen.Ślocom trekked admirably alongside Peggy as she rode Horse,was her trusted
companion and much loved mutt. Hè was very memorable for his bravery and loyalty,even to non-dog lovers.



Del Howison with the attention to details he gave in his
writing which lent so much authenticity to this tale
could singlehandedly bring about the resurgence of the great Western as a popular sub-genre of Fiction, but he
does hàve good help with the Audible Editions anyway.


The isolation and lack of conveniences were a given in
the west and in the 1870’s, and Missouri was considered the beginning of the west. Life was tough,brutal even, and lonesome for anyone living on her/his own. Peggy sounded tough and lonesome,and I think she was. The tàle she
told of her trek Into far off and treacherous Arizonà Territory with her self-described “family of misfits"
should not be missed.! highly recommend this tale to all
who read or like to listen to a dynamic voice tell a great
story about survival in the 1870's west.

[Lori Britain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book with all the interesting, formidable characters who somehow find each other in this adventure that starts with the death of the main character's husband. I hope to see more from this author soon. I listened on audible and the reader's voice was perfect for the story.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rip-roaring western novel of revenge, adventure, friendship, and tragedy. The protagonist and narrator, Margaret "Peggy" Thomas is wonderful; she is complex, true-hearted, conflicted, and fascinating - one of the best and most interesting female characters I have come across in this genre. There is a lot of graphic violence and intense scenes of abuse of women which weren't critical to the plot; they felt gratuitous and voyeuristic, their purpose merely to disturb (particularly the last bit with the Indian woman - why?!) to the point that I almost abandoned the book and it will rightly turn away a number of readers. Without this level of abusive violence, this book has a lot of good, fresh, and compelling material.

[Jessica Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a little bit for me to get into the story but I found myself interested in the assortment of eclectic characters, including the dog! Some of the descriptions were horrific, which surprised me! Overall the book kept me on my toes and was interesting. It took you back in time and was educational while it was spinning it’s tale.

[Sarah Stout · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the characters and plot had potential, this book just didn't do it for me. Something about the prose just seemed too simple, and it didn't mesh well with the random scenes of extreme violence. Perhaps it would have worked better with more pages to flesh out the story. Just seemed rushed and almost unbelievable.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book. Good story. I found some parts off-putting and unnecessary, but I was engaged in reading and as I neared the end, I really didn't know HOW it would end!

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely not Little House on the Prairie. Not for the faint of heart. Really good. Amazing anyone survived the frontiers.

[Deborah Blythe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

Very well written about life in the 1800s. Highly recommend this great fast read if you are interested in the old west.

[Hidenzeke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiesty women in the old west. Fairly graphic in some parts if you aren't a violence person. Good story line. Lots of events. Bitter sweet ending.

[Kalyn Zapata · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could have done without the graphic scene. I get it, but I would have given an extra star without it.

[Mary E Trimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the 19th century west, The Survival of Margaret Thomas by Del Howisan is a gritty, mesmerizing novel of determination and justice.

Margaret Thomas still grieves over the death of her husband, Sheriff James Thomas, shot by bank robbers. She bears guilt, too. If he hadn’t tried to protect her during the shooting, he likely would not have been killed.

Two years after her husband was killed, Margaret receives a telegram from the sheriff in San Pueblo, Arizona saying that the man believed to be the bank robber and her husband’s killer had been captured and is awaiting trial. He suggests that she might be willing to testify at the trial.

Margaret sets out on horseback with her dog trailing alongside. It’s a long way from Missouri to Arizona, but she’s determined to go, even if it means two days on horseback, then a series of three trains, then horseback again. Along the way she meets up with a dwarf, a man whom her husband arrested some time back, and who is now redeemed. He decides to join her. Later they meet up with a Gypsy woman, down on her luck, with noticeable bruises and a ruined wagon. She unhitches her horse and joins them. Later, another woman joins the group, a former “woman of the night” who seeks a new life, or at least a different one than she has now.

The Survival of Margaret Thomas is a vividly told story of courage, wit, and a sense of the true wild west. Plan to settle back with this book for a wild ride.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I got this book I thought it was a sort of western-horror and I was curious about this mix, new to me.
I have to admit I didn't read a lot of Western stories in my life even if I read books about life of the pioneer (My Antonia by Willa Cather is a favorite)
The Survival of Margaret Thomas is not a horror as we usually intend this term: it's the story of the descent of a woman into a personal hell, of how she started to live again.
It's a great book that does not spare any uncomfortable details, a travel into a wild world that is going to change.
Margaret is an intriguing character, strong and frail at the same time. The author did a good job in developing the characters, i liked the dog as he's realistic and lively.
The plot flows, kept me hooked and I rooted and felt for Margaret.
This is the first book i read by this author and won't surely be the last. My bad I didn't discover him before but I added a number of his books to my horror TBR
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Pandi Press Books for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

[Grammy Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish there was a key for half stars. the Survival of Margaret Thomas was more than a three but less than a four. This was my first Western. I found it on Audible and "read it" on my daily walk. Out of the gate I was excited to meet Margaret Thomas. She appeared to be a strong woman of the 1870s in Missouri. Margaret was willing to travel to the isolated frontier wilderness of southwest alone seeking justice for her murdered sheriff husband. She was faced with multiple events that would have left a less determined and skilled women defeated. Along the way she collected a few "friends" who wanted to accompany Margaret to her Arizona frontier destination adding burden and compaionship to the long journey. Margaret overcame multiple strifes during the quest leaving to wonder what could posssibly happen next. This may have been my first western genre to read but I have watched many of the classic western movies which gave me an edge of predictablity on how Margaret would survive each challenge. This was a Good Read for a differenct change of pace for me.

[Scott Delgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a huge westerns fan, but I love reading. I've read western stories by Richard Matheson and Elmore Leonard, but I found myself getting bored after a while with all the "And then the Apache did this..." Therefore, I didn't know what to expect from this book. I thought it was great.

The first half to 3/4 of the book felt more like a Ray Bradbury or John Steinbeck novel with its laidback tone and character development. It wasn't hammering you over the head with action. It was just a well-written nice "road" story. Someone is on a journey and meets people on the way. It's a great lazy days book to read in the summer or the fall. I enjoyed it. It's not until the last 1/4 of the book that things start pick up. Then you go from laidback to a bit more gruesome and action. It's a great build up.

If you like westerns along the lines of "True Grit" with a hint of Steinbeck's "Cannery Row" and some visceral action toward the climax, check this book out.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Great story. Well written. Fleshed-out characters. Character development is off the rails. Oh, and there's humor. The laugh-out-loud kind. There's also blood and guts, so don't say you weren't warned.

Late 1800s, Missouri. Peggy is a widow in a funk. Her sheriff husband had been shot dead 2 years prior by bank robbers, and she hadn't come to terms with it, thinking it was her fault for having been at the scene, with him protecting her from the gunfire. She receives a telegraph inviting her to attend the trial of one of the gang members - in Arizona. She decides to go.

This is the story of her adventure through the Wild West. She takes her horse, Horse, and her dog, Slokum. They add to their party along the way: Bantum, an ex-con dwarf; Gina, a gypsy woman who finally killed her husband after years of beatings; and Anne, a woman of ill repute. They become a family, have each others' backs, and each shows his/her strengths and weaknesses along the way.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's 1870 and Margaret journeys from Missouri to Arizona to attend the trial of her husband's killer. As she travels, she gathers others with her. Each has his/her own story of suffering, Bantam, the dwarf; Gina, the gypsy; and Anne, the prostitute. Oh, and of course, I can't omit the ever faithful and heroic dog, Slocum.
I found my self sitting on that long train ride getting to know each of these travelers. I loved Margaret's life reflections as she definitely moved from a not so very comfortable zone into a zone of danger driven by her need to move on from the loss of her husband.
As a dog lover, my one major concern was Slocum's survival. When things got really dangerous, Slocum opted to guard the horses. Smart boy!!
There are some graphic scenes so be prepared.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible review - Carol Monda needs to meet George Guidall, two of the best narrators I have ever listened to. And YES, this is a great book to be compared to True Grit... I loved it, from start to finish. The narrator made this book, she is a peach!! There are some rather vivid descriptions in here that I was not expecting, but there was also love, laughter, companionship, and a whole lot of heart. I will be looking for more of Del Howison. I love westerns and this one is great one!! It would make one heck of a movie. It has it all, a horse called horse, a dog named Slocom, a wagon, a train, a whore, a gypsy and a small feller and some really, really bad guys. A great book.

[Mickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled onto this book, as it was included in Audible. Never heard of it or the author before.
It is a real winner.

Be warned: there are some grisly scenes before it’s all over. My heart actually beat faster during some of them, and tears ran down my face during others.

The reader is perfect. The story terrific. The characters wonderfully offbeat and as real as any I’ve encountered.

Read this book.

[Katie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't have high hopes for this audible freebie as the reviews were mixed, but it turned out to be excellent. Strong, tough female characters and a vivid retelling of the gold rush America through these characters' eyes. A neat, succinct story that wasted no emotions but created some visceral scenes of love, friendship, and human cruelty. A great little listen.

[Shanel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 2/3 of the book were kind of slow but entertaining enough, but the last 1/3 got super weird with long fight/fire/people missing scenes and seemed out of place compared to the rest of the book.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might have given this book four stars (I rarely give 5) but there was a chapter towards the end where the bad guys molest a pregnant native american woman and then brutally kill her. I can't tell you how because it was so disgusting. I already knew how evil these people were. I did not need that incident to let me know how horrible they were. I feel that a female author would not have included that in the story.

[Cathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction, but I’ve never had much interest in Westerns - not sure why?!?
This was really good!
I couldn’t wait to know what was going to happen next.
I am a bit sad I finished it! lol