The Hostile Trail

Matt Slaughter #2

by Charles G. West

After surviving a Sioux attack in the Bighorn Mountains, trail partners Matt Slaughter and Ike Brister discover they are not out of danger when Matt's girlfriend is taken hostage, forcing them both to reholster their weapons for a deadly showdown with the bloodthirsty leader of the Sioux. Original.

Genres: Westerns

278 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Charles G. West first arrived on the western literary scene in March, 1998 with his first novel, Stone Hand, published by Penguin under their Signet imprint. The book was the first of a three-book series, featuring Jason Coles, master tracker. The public response to those first three books called for more western fiction by West, and as of January 2014, Signet has published forty-five.

Inspired in his youth by great adventure authors like A.B. Guthrie and Vardis Fisher, West has always sought to be true to the men and women who braved the dangers of the savage frontier that was ultimately forged to become the American west. Novels by Charles G. West are classified as historical/westerns due to his diligent research in his subject matter, choosing to weave his fiction into the fabric of the actual places and events, being true to the times as well as the people. As a result, his protagonists are usually not heroes, but are often called upon to perform heroic deeds.

Insisting that his protagonists must be instilled with a sense of fairness in addition to courage. West readily admits that many of the characters in his books are patterned after his two sons, both of whom are graduates of the University of Montana, one still lives in Kalispell, Montana - and is the source of much of the author's detail on the ways of the mountain man. Both sons share West's love for the Big Sky Country.

Presently, the author resides in Ocala, Florida with his wife, Ronda, whose name is found on the dedication page of every West novel.

Reviews

[Chili Diane Evance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. Takes you back in time to just before the battle of the Little Bighorn. I felt like I was right there in mountains and was watching the prequel to when the land was being changed for the Indians forever.

[Colton Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book, that Charles G. West has written. It will capture your imagination from the first to the 17th chapter. The way he describes the mountains, the hills, the prairies, and the forest will make you feel like you're in those places with the characters of this book. The action at times can be intense, from ambushes, to horse chases, to daring escapes and rescues, this book will keep you on your toes. If you like westerns, you're definitely not gonna wanna miss this epic adventure.

[Inky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Varies between 1 and 4 stars. I found the rape chapter very distressing. Who likes this stuff? While the author does not wallow in the deaths of friends, there are too many such deaths. Will not be reading the next one.

[Dan Panke · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite western author.

[Jordan Bowar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I really like this series.

[Ron Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rcsva13

A great read. I read the first book in this series and wanted to read this book and will be looking to reading number 3 in this series.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt and partner, Ike Brister, clash with a Sioux hunting party led by Iron Claw, creating enemies. Then Matt's friend, Molly, is captured by Iron Claw, Matt goes after her.