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Speargrass-Opioid
The new tribal sheriff of Speargrass, Montana, is ex-rodeo champion, Franklyn Eaglechild, a man plagued with injuries from the past. His damaged health leaves him with a dim future of lost dreams. While coping with his personal defeats, Franklyn quickly discovers not everyone in Speargrass is thrilled to have a new sheriff in town looking into their business. Franklyn soon makes enemies in high places. Friends are scarce but lucky for Franklyn, he has at least one friend he can rely on—his adopted brother and DEA Special Agent, Riley Briggs in Great Falls. As an opioid crisis spirals out of control around Great Falls and Speargrass, Franklyn and Riley realize they need to join forces if there is any hope of putting an end to the destruction.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 14, 2020
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Dwayne Clayden
13 books28 followersDwayne Clayden combines his knowledge and experience as a police officer and paramedic to write realistic crime thrillers.
Crisis Point, Dwayne’s first novel, was a finalist for the 2015 Crime Writers of Canada, Arthur Ellis Awards.
OutlawMC, Wolfman is Back, and 13 Days of Terror are the next novels in the Brad Coulter Thriller Series, which continued in 2021 with Goddess of Justice.
In August 2020 Dwayne released the first novel in a new western crime thriller series, Speargrass-Opioid. The second in the series, Speargrass-Vengeance, will launch in Spring 2022.
His short story, Hell Hath No Fury, was published in AB Negative, an anthology of short stories from Alberta Crime Writers and On The Run (a Coulter Prequel) was published in May 2021 in Last Shot, an anthology from Western Canada Crime Writers.
In his 42 year career, Dwayne served as a police officer, paramedic, tactical paramedic, firefighter, emergency medical services (EMS) chief, educator, and academic chair.
The co-author of four paramedic textbooks, he has spoken internationally at EMS conferences for the past three decades.
Dwayne is a past member of the boards of the Crime Writers of Canada, and Alexandra Writers Centre Society and leads the Calgary Crime Writers.
Dwayne is a popular speaker with writing groups and writing conference attendees.
To learn more, visit him at: www.dwayneclayden.com
“Clayden’s writing is crisp and his characters jump from the pages. His novels allow me to delve into the depths of the villain’s mind but experience the goodness of Brad Coulter.”
JJ Reichenbach.
Crisis Point, Dwayne’s first novel, was a finalist for the 2015 Crime Writers of Canada, Arthur Ellis Awards.
OutlawMC, Wolfman is Back, and 13 Days of Terror are the next novels in the Brad Coulter Thriller Series, which continued in 2021 with Goddess of Justice.
In August 2020 Dwayne released the first novel in a new western crime thriller series, Speargrass-Opioid. The second in the series, Speargrass-Vengeance, will launch in Spring 2022.
His short story, Hell Hath No Fury, was published in AB Negative, an anthology of short stories from Alberta Crime Writers and On The Run (a Coulter Prequel) was published in May 2021 in Last Shot, an anthology from Western Canada Crime Writers.
In his 42 year career, Dwayne served as a police officer, paramedic, tactical paramedic, firefighter, emergency medical services (EMS) chief, educator, and academic chair.
The co-author of four paramedic textbooks, he has spoken internationally at EMS conferences for the past three decades.
Dwayne is a past member of the boards of the Crime Writers of Canada, and Alexandra Writers Centre Society and leads the Calgary Crime Writers.
Dwayne is a popular speaker with writing groups and writing conference attendees.
To learn more, visit him at: www.dwayneclayden.com
“Clayden’s writing is crisp and his characters jump from the pages. His novels allow me to delve into the depths of the villain’s mind but experience the goodness of Brad Coulter.”
JJ Reichenbach.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 26, 2020
An exciting new book from the author of the Brad Coulter series! Speargrass follows Franklyn Eaglechild as the new sheriff of the Indian Reservation (what they're called in the US) Speargrass, Montana, and his DEA brother Riley in nearby Great Falls. While Riley is dealing with gunrunners and drugdealers, Franklyn is dealing with a spate of overdoses on his own territory while adjusting to his new life as Sheriff and all the politics entailed. As the plot progresses, the two realize they need to work together if they're going to salvage their communities and save lives.
The structure and plot of this book made for an exciting page-turner with a great balance between thriller/mystery plot (with a fun splash of western theme) and exploration of characters. There were so many great characters in this, each so nuanced and dealing with their own complicated problems in very human ways (some constructively, some destructively) that brought them each to life for me. I found the author handled the overlap of cultures as well as the serious issue of the opioid crisis with care, and each character, especially the main character Franklyn, was richly rendered.
The author is retired from EMS (Emergency Medical Services) and he's had many years of experience with the opioid crisis which he drew on for this piece, both on reservations and in cities. That authenticity really came through. For me, the book captured how the opioid crisis can not only be devastating but that it doesn't discriminate--opioid addiction and overdose can happen to anyone, anywhere, and even to the people we look at as heroes, like Franklyn our main character, or families with little kids in suburbia, and people of any age. I felt it really captured that devastation the drugs wrought through lives and communities in a thoughtful, informed way. It left me with a lot to think about, which is always my mark of a good book.
The writing was great as well and what I've come to expect from this author. Readers of the Coulter Series will enjoy this one, and anyone who loves Longmire (the book series or the show) like I do should really enjoy this! I'm generally a hard-sell on westerns, besides Longmire, but this was excellent and may have converted me. If you like thrillers that delve into complex real-world subjects with three-dimensional characters you can really root for, this is a fantastic read.
The structure and plot of this book made for an exciting page-turner with a great balance between thriller/mystery plot (with a fun splash of western theme) and exploration of characters. There were so many great characters in this, each so nuanced and dealing with their own complicated problems in very human ways (some constructively, some destructively) that brought them each to life for me. I found the author handled the overlap of cultures as well as the serious issue of the opioid crisis with care, and each character, especially the main character Franklyn, was richly rendered.
The author is retired from EMS (Emergency Medical Services) and he's had many years of experience with the opioid crisis which he drew on for this piece, both on reservations and in cities. That authenticity really came through. For me, the book captured how the opioid crisis can not only be devastating but that it doesn't discriminate--opioid addiction and overdose can happen to anyone, anywhere, and even to the people we look at as heroes, like Franklyn our main character, or families with little kids in suburbia, and people of any age. I felt it really captured that devastation the drugs wrought through lives and communities in a thoughtful, informed way. It left me with a lot to think about, which is always my mark of a good book.
The writing was great as well and what I've come to expect from this author. Readers of the Coulter Series will enjoy this one, and anyone who loves Longmire (the book series or the show) like I do should really enjoy this! I'm generally a hard-sell on westerns, besides Longmire, but this was excellent and may have converted me. If you like thrillers that delve into complex real-world subjects with three-dimensional characters you can really root for, this is a fantastic read.
September 30, 2020
Speargrass-Opioid is the first book in an exciting new series by Dwayne Clayden. It is full of action and suspense and keeps you wanting to read more. Dwayne's experience working in the police force, with EMS and with the First Nations people shines through in this novel, making the situations seem real. The reality of the Opioid crisis comes alive in Dwayne's writing. I can't wait for the next book to hit the shelves!
May 16, 2021
An authentic look at the opioid crisis wrapped in an exciting and suspenseful thriller! I love Clayden’s Brad Coulter books and this novel is the start of another great series. Franklyn and Riley are a great duo and Franklyn’s desire to make his home Rez a better place is such a genuine desire. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
June 22, 2022
Amazing gripping read!
This is my 6th book from Dwayne Clayden. I'm still thinking what a find!
All his books were devoured in 1 sitting.
Action and excellent plots. Twists galore.
He's a Calgarian,we're from Red Deer!
I am eagerly awaiting his next offering.
Write faster!!!!
This is my 6th book from Dwayne Clayden. I'm still thinking what a find!
All his books were devoured in 1 sitting.
Action and excellent plots. Twists galore.
He's a Calgarian,we're from Red Deer!
I am eagerly awaiting his next offering.
Write faster!!!!
December 19, 2021
What a great book
Just like the Brad Coulter series
I read this in about 2 days
Really could feel the pain Franklyn felt from his rodeo days
Embarking on a new career is a challenge. Looks like he has more challenges ahead
It's equally challenging for an author to start a 2nd series with new characters abd locations etc
However Dwayne never disappoints makes characters come alive they feel like real people.
Looking forward to.the next books in the series
Just like the Brad Coulter series
I read this in about 2 days
Really could feel the pain Franklyn felt from his rodeo days
Embarking on a new career is a challenge. Looks like he has more challenges ahead
It's equally challenging for an author to start a 2nd series with new characters abd locations etc
However Dwayne never disappoints makes characters come alive they feel like real people.
Looking forward to.the next books in the series
November 8, 2022
Absolutely!
You need to keep reading but you don’t want to for fear of coming to the end. You want retribution in a big way! This is one of those, “Oh, no! I have to get up in 4 hours,” kind of book. There has to be sequel.
You need to keep reading but you don’t want to for fear of coming to the end. You want retribution in a big way! This is one of those, “Oh, no! I have to get up in 4 hours,” kind of book. There has to be sequel.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews