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John Hawk #1
Hell Hath No Fury
From acclaimed storyteller Charles G. West, the Spur Award-winning adventure that first introduced the legend of John Hawk, an army scout with a tracker’s eye, a cowboy’s grit—and his own brand of justice . . .
"Rarely has an author painted the great American West in strokes so bold, vivid, and true." — Ralph Compton
To start their new life together, Jamie Pratt and his young bride join a westward wagon train bound for the Rocky Mountains. They get as far as Helena when their unscrupulous wagon master deserts them, leaving them as good as dead in a godforsaken, blood-scorched land. The other settlers agree to set stakes where they are, but Jamie and his bride press on toward the Bitterroot Valley, deep into Sioux territory.
Jamie’s brother, Monroe, enlists the legendary scout, John Hawk, to find them. A hardened veteran of the range, Hawk is living off the land in a little cabin on the Boulder River when Monroe comes begging for his help. To rescue Jamie and his bride, Hawk—and his guns—will come out fighting, riding fast and fierce into deadly odds. For any other man it’s a suicide mission. For Hawk, delivering justice is what he was born to do . . .
Winner of the 2018 Spur Award for Best Paperback Western
"Rarely has an author painted the great American West in strokes so bold, vivid, and true." — Ralph Compton
To start their new life together, Jamie Pratt and his young bride join a westward wagon train bound for the Rocky Mountains. They get as far as Helena when their unscrupulous wagon master deserts them, leaving them as good as dead in a godforsaken, blood-scorched land. The other settlers agree to set stakes where they are, but Jamie and his bride press on toward the Bitterroot Valley, deep into Sioux territory.
Jamie’s brother, Monroe, enlists the legendary scout, John Hawk, to find them. A hardened veteran of the range, Hawk is living off the land in a little cabin on the Boulder River when Monroe comes begging for his help. To rescue Jamie and his bride, Hawk—and his guns—will come out fighting, riding fast and fierce into deadly odds. For any other man it’s a suicide mission. For Hawk, delivering justice is what he was born to do . . .
Winner of the 2018 Spur Award for Best Paperback Western
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published January 24, 2023
415 people are currently reading
555 people want to read
About the author
Charles G. West
71 books75 followersCharles 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
September 6, 2024
This is a fairly fast-moving, action-packed story about John Hawk, an Army scout in the Montana territory. This is the first book in a series about Hawk. The story takes place in the 1800’s and Hawk is a friend of the Crow and the Blackfoot. The Sioux have sent war parties into Montana. This all gets very exciting as Hawk hunts for a missing couple. If you enjoy a good western story with no foul language etc., this story is for you.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is seven hours and thirty-eight minutes. Eric G. Dove does a good job narrating story.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is seven hours and thirty-eight minutes. Eric G. Dove does a good job narrating story.
June 15, 2018
A good, new series from West features John Hawk as a scout and adventurer. He helps a family track down a killer and then helps them with rustlers. The only problem: Hawk is twice saved by circumstances beyond his control, which makes you wonder how he has managed to stay alive on his own. Still, a good action packed western, sure to be a good series. Recommended.
January 29, 2025
It was the late author Bill Crider, with his 'Outrage at Blanco' novel that made me love revenge stories so much and in away revenge stories for me will always be a tribute to him.
Another awesome read, the 2018 Spur Award winner, from one of the greatest Western writers of the 21st Century. West never disappoints, puts his readers right into the pages and a master with creating believable characters.
With Hell Hath No Fury, author Charles G. West created a masterpiece one that has a multiple intertwining storyline, glad it's the first book in the John Hawk series, since you want to read more about Hawk and it's long over due that he's now a Spur Award winning author.
Part of the storyline involves army scout John Hawk, whose well like by the high ranking command, one of the other scouts Ray Nestor jealous of this, he not as good as Hawk and his enemy.
The other storyline involves Jamie Pratt and his wife Rachel, add in rustling involving missing cattle from the Pratt Brothers Ranch, it's action packed, good verse evil, mix in a two clues from scenes in this story and realized that he's written both the Range Detectives and Will Tanner series's for the Johnstone estate.
To Be Continued
Another awesome read, the 2018 Spur Award winner, from one of the greatest Western writers of the 21st Century. West never disappoints, puts his readers right into the pages and a master with creating believable characters.
With Hell Hath No Fury, author Charles G. West created a masterpiece one that has a multiple intertwining storyline, glad it's the first book in the John Hawk series, since you want to read more about Hawk and it's long over due that he's now a Spur Award winning author.
Part of the storyline involves army scout John Hawk, whose well like by the high ranking command, one of the other scouts Ray Nestor jealous of this, he not as good as Hawk and his enemy.
The other storyline involves Jamie Pratt and his wife Rachel, add in rustling involving missing cattle from the Pratt Brothers Ranch, it's action packed, good verse evil, mix in a two clues from scenes in this story and realized that he's written both the Range Detectives and Will Tanner series's for the Johnstone estate.
To Be Continued
November 9, 2017
A sprawling, surprising story. I look forward to the next in the series.
March 9, 2024
If you’re like me, you need a good Western every so often, this first in a series fits the bill nicely.
December 8, 2017
I was already excited and looking forward to Charles G. West's newest addition. I read a lot of Westerns and really love Mr. West's characters and stories. They are well written and well rounded, including this book Hell Hath No Fury. We as readers are introduced to Hawk, an army scout and general bushman who prefers to be left alone. Circumstances prevent that however, when he finds himself searching for a missing wagon, and the couple that was driving it. Adventure follows in a cool, calm manner, the ladies are intrigued by the silent and capable scout. The peace doesn't last as Hawk gets in the crosshairs of an angry ex-scout, a family of cattle rustlers and a group of Indians who know Man with Feather in His Hat has big medicine.
Hawk is a promising protagonist, a strong, capable and seasoned man - a man to ride the river with. Looking forward to more in the Hawk series.
Hawk is a promising protagonist, a strong, capable and seasoned man - a man to ride the river with. Looking forward to more in the Hawk series.
April 12, 2018
New Western author for me, but apparently not for a lot of other people. John Hawk is a scout for the Army. For someone that tries to be a nice guy and do the right thing, he makes a lot of enemies. Murdering Scoundrel Roy Nestor doesn't like him because Hawk is a better scout and tracker. Renegade Indians don't like him any better. Along the way he also incurs the wrath of a murdering cattle rustling family. Makes for some really good western action!
November 29, 2023
Outside of my normal reading picks. Glad I chose it. Story is fairly predictable, but a nice change of pace.
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January 7, 2020Winner, 2018 Spur Award for Best Western Mass Market Paperback Novel
July 13, 2018
This is the first Western that I have ever read and I loved it. There was tons of action to keep me entertained throughout the whole book!
June 16, 2018
Lively and quite entertaining. My main love with westerns are the flora and fauna descriptions and the chases and scrapes. There were several cliff hanger moments which kept me entertained.
May 6, 2018
Review
For a western this was a good book . It kept me turning pages till I finished it. I liked the Hawk character.
For a western this was a good book . It kept me turning pages till I finished it. I liked the Hawk character.
November 20, 2017
A MAN TO RIDE THE RIVER WITH
Let's add John Hawk to our list of the western fighting men who helped settle the west. Bushwackers,owlhoots and anything else you wanted to say about the west.
John Hawk who lost his parents and left behind by his aunt and uncle because they couldn't feed another mouth, after all they had four mouths of their own to feed, didn't really want another. So now this six year old is alone in a the wilderness. Rescued by soldiers who take him to a missionary where he stays until the missionary dies and he then he lives with the Crows and the Blackfoot tribes, until he's old enough to fend for himself.
I think John Hawk is a man to ride the river with and some...ENJOYABLE READING🌵🍵
Let's add John Hawk to our list of the western fighting men who helped settle the west. Bushwackers,owlhoots and anything else you wanted to say about the west.
John Hawk who lost his parents and left behind by his aunt and uncle because they couldn't feed another mouth, after all they had four mouths of their own to feed, didn't really want another. So now this six year old is alone in a the wilderness. Rescued by soldiers who take him to a missionary where he stays until the missionary dies and he then he lives with the Crows and the Blackfoot tribes, until he's old enough to fend for himself.
I think John Hawk is a man to ride the river with and some...ENJOYABLE READING🌵🍵
June 16, 2024
I might be biased because I'm a huge Louis L'Amour fan, but this was not my favorite. The description on the back of the book was only a small part of the plot. And there was so much going on-lots of action that didn't feel related. In addition, the dialogue felt off to me. I was happy because the protagonist didn't seem to have racist attitudes about Native Americans, but then the dialogue of the Native Americans seemed stereotypical. Not sure if I'll read any more of these even though I was excited to read a western by a different author.
April 14, 2018
Hawk is Riding High.
Nice story with characters that are engaging. This is going to be an adventure I'm willing to take. Looking forward to sequels.
Nice story with characters that are engaging. This is going to be an adventure I'm willing to take. Looking forward to sequels.
April 22, 2018
Great Character
Great story all the way to the end. Can't go wrong by Charles West. Great read while waiting for the next Robert J Thomas, Jess Williams Series to come out.
Great story all the way to the end. Can't go wrong by Charles West. Great read while waiting for the next Robert J Thomas, Jess Williams Series to come out.
May 17, 2023
Good first book
Good first book. Lots of excitement. Great lead into the next book. Good first book. Lots of excitement. Great lead into the next book.
Good first book. Lots of excitement. Great lead into the next book. Good first book. Lots of excitement. Great lead into the next book.
July 22, 2020
With a title like "Hell Hath No Fury" one expects at some point to discover a vengeful woman along the way. However, West doesn't even introduce such a character until nearly the end of this novel-- and in fact, she plays only a small vignette, only slightly larger than a cameo, in this story. She does manage to propel the story to its ultimate conclusion.
This is the first in a series of western's featuring an army scout named John Hawk. Hawk spent much of his boyhood life living among crow and blackfeet tribes and has a special relationship with them. As the novel opens, Hawk is working to help track down a group of Sioux raiders. Another scout, Roy Nestor, turns out to be a foil for Hawk. He resents Hawk's work ethic and skill and has a high opinion of himself. Nestor turns out to be the villain of the tale and dogs Hawk's trail when Hawk moves on to other work.
I like the fact that Hawk is the type of a character who avoids trouble. Unlike many other heroes, he is not a bully on the side of the good guys, but rather a simple hard-working man with a desire to avoid trouble. While he seeks to avoid trouble, this does not include running from it. At one point, he shoots a man in the foot to diffuse the situation and avoid killing him.
The only part of the story that West glosses over is the capture of the white woman, Rachel, and what she endured. West ignores totally the trials she would have endured. There is no mention of the likely rape, beating, etc. she would have endured. Rather than suffering PTSD or other emotional distress, she responds to kindness of Hawk and Monroe (her brother-in-law she had never met) promptly and sadly West missed out on an opportunity to make this western novel stronger by avoiding her trauma.
Hawk survives a number of adventures-- and West makes another classic western mistake. He refers to liquor as an antiseptic-- something that was not a practice for many years to come. Frontier liquor was not known for its purity. Corn liquor often had plugs of tobacco dissolved in it to provide color. Some even put rattlesnake heads for some other reasons that I could never discern. This is a common error-- and one that nearly every western movie or book tends to make-- so easily forgiven.
West creates a realistic version of the old west. He doesn't dwell on the weapons overly much-- simply calling them by their caliber, with the exception of Hawk's Winchester. The characters are all real enough-- their motivations seem valid-- and the dialogue isn't exaggerated so that we think every character talks like George "Gabby Hayes" in a Roy Rogers western.
Overall, West writes a good, clean, western novel. Solid violence without dwelling on it. Good frontier characters, developed fairly well, proper western frontier dilema and difficulty.
I'll be reading more by this author.
This is the first in a series of western's featuring an army scout named John Hawk. Hawk spent much of his boyhood life living among crow and blackfeet tribes and has a special relationship with them. As the novel opens, Hawk is working to help track down a group of Sioux raiders. Another scout, Roy Nestor, turns out to be a foil for Hawk. He resents Hawk's work ethic and skill and has a high opinion of himself. Nestor turns out to be the villain of the tale and dogs Hawk's trail when Hawk moves on to other work.
I like the fact that Hawk is the type of a character who avoids trouble. Unlike many other heroes, he is not a bully on the side of the good guys, but rather a simple hard-working man with a desire to avoid trouble. While he seeks to avoid trouble, this does not include running from it. At one point, he shoots a man in the foot to diffuse the situation and avoid killing him.
The only part of the story that West glosses over is the capture of the white woman, Rachel, and what she endured. West ignores totally the trials she would have endured. There is no mention of the likely rape, beating, etc. she would have endured. Rather than suffering PTSD or other emotional distress, she responds to kindness of Hawk and Monroe (her brother-in-law she had never met) promptly and sadly West missed out on an opportunity to make this western novel stronger by avoiding her trauma.
Hawk survives a number of adventures-- and West makes another classic western mistake. He refers to liquor as an antiseptic-- something that was not a practice for many years to come. Frontier liquor was not known for its purity. Corn liquor often had plugs of tobacco dissolved in it to provide color. Some even put rattlesnake heads for some other reasons that I could never discern. This is a common error-- and one that nearly every western movie or book tends to make-- so easily forgiven.
West creates a realistic version of the old west. He doesn't dwell on the weapons overly much-- simply calling them by their caliber, with the exception of Hawk's Winchester. The characters are all real enough-- their motivations seem valid-- and the dialogue isn't exaggerated so that we think every character talks like George "Gabby Hayes" in a Roy Rogers western.
Overall, West writes a good, clean, western novel. Solid violence without dwelling on it. Good frontier characters, developed fairly well, proper western frontier dilema and difficulty.
I'll be reading more by this author.
August 25, 2019
I love a good Western novel, but they seem few and far between nowadays. Once upon a time Louis L'Amour put one out every year, and Larry McMurtry wrote several. But though they are still being published, the quality seems to have thinned. Hell Hath No Fury, by the appropriately named Charles G. West, won an award from the Western Writers Of America for Best Novel, but I found it just okay.
West has created a character name John Hawk, and this is the first in a series, which right away tells us that Hawk will not die, although he gets shot at often. The first problem with this book is that Hawk is basically Superman in buckskin. He is always one step ahead of his enemies, and has no faults that I can discern. Characters who have no flaws aren't very interesting.
We meet Hawk as he is working as a scout for the U.S. Army in Montana. He was raised by the Indians, so knows their ways. "He had lived too long with the Indians to not see their side of things." This being a book written in contemporary times, it is as politically correct as possible--the bad Indians are a rogue party of Sioux, while Hawk helps Blackfeet that have stolen cattle, because they are starving.
Hawk's rival is Roy Nestor, who is directly opposite of Hawk. He has no redeeming features. When he drunkenly calls Hawk out, the scout with a hawk feather in his hat humiliates him, thus earning himself an enemy. We patiently wait for these two to face off at the end of the book.
West tries to keep a lot of balls in the air, not always successfully. Hawk is hired by a rancher to find his brother and sister-in-law. He then gets involved with a war with another rancher. There are a lot of dead people by the end, but Hawk is always shooting in self defense. Twice he is saved by circumstances beyond his control, which is really stretching it, since these incidents happen only a few chapters from each other.
Still, even an average Western is a pleasure. West has a nice way with a phrase, such as describing two gunmen: "Between the two, there weren’t enough brains to fill the head of a lizard." And though Hawk is too perfect, one can't help but admire the man. I kept picturing a younger Sam Elliott playing the part.
West has created a character name John Hawk, and this is the first in a series, which right away tells us that Hawk will not die, although he gets shot at often. The first problem with this book is that Hawk is basically Superman in buckskin. He is always one step ahead of his enemies, and has no faults that I can discern. Characters who have no flaws aren't very interesting.
We meet Hawk as he is working as a scout for the U.S. Army in Montana. He was raised by the Indians, so knows their ways. "He had lived too long with the Indians to not see their side of things." This being a book written in contemporary times, it is as politically correct as possible--the bad Indians are a rogue party of Sioux, while Hawk helps Blackfeet that have stolen cattle, because they are starving.
Hawk's rival is Roy Nestor, who is directly opposite of Hawk. He has no redeeming features. When he drunkenly calls Hawk out, the scout with a hawk feather in his hat humiliates him, thus earning himself an enemy. We patiently wait for these two to face off at the end of the book.
West tries to keep a lot of balls in the air, not always successfully. Hawk is hired by a rancher to find his brother and sister-in-law. He then gets involved with a war with another rancher. There are a lot of dead people by the end, but Hawk is always shooting in self defense. Twice he is saved by circumstances beyond his control, which is really stretching it, since these incidents happen only a few chapters from each other.
Still, even an average Western is a pleasure. West has a nice way with a phrase, such as describing two gunmen: "Between the two, there weren’t enough brains to fill the head of a lizard." And though Hawk is too perfect, one can't help but admire the man. I kept picturing a younger Sam Elliott playing the part.
December 21, 2024
“Hell Hath No Fury” feels like a story written on rails. Following the familiar grooves of the Western genre, ticking boxes rather than breaking new ground. The plot rolls along steadily enough, but there is little to intrigue the reader.
The main issue lies with our protagonist, Hawk, who - despite the very many trials and tribulations thrust his way - remains frustratingly distant. We spend half the book circling him, catching only fleeting glimpses of his character. Even when we finally get closer, it is still just scraps, fragments that never quite add up to a fully fleshed-out man. He is competent and stoic, but his interior life is non-existant.
The moral landscape is equally stark, painted in absolutes. Hawk’s nemesis, Roy Nestor, is pure villainy, without a single redeeming feature or complexity. He's shit at his job and sneers, bullies, and kills, offering nothing in the way of nuance. Everyone else falls neatly into their roles, good or bad, with no shades of grey to complicate matters.
When the violence begins, it comes thick and fast. Bodies pile up by the final page, yet every single one of Hawk’s kills lands squarely in the realm of self-defence. It is too tidy, stripping the story of any real tension or moral ambiguity.
The dialogue, meanwhile, rings hollow. While Hawk himself avoids the usual prejudices about Native Americans, their own dialogue leans heavily on tired stereotypes. It feels less like a window into lived experience and more like something borrowed from old films.
“Hell Hath No Fury” delivers the basics, gunslingers, vengeance, and bloodshed, but never steps outside the lines. It is the literary equivalent of a tin badge, serviceable and polished, yet ultimately hollow.
⭐ ⭐
The main issue lies with our protagonist, Hawk, who - despite the very many trials and tribulations thrust his way - remains frustratingly distant. We spend half the book circling him, catching only fleeting glimpses of his character. Even when we finally get closer, it is still just scraps, fragments that never quite add up to a fully fleshed-out man. He is competent and stoic, but his interior life is non-existant.
The moral landscape is equally stark, painted in absolutes. Hawk’s nemesis, Roy Nestor, is pure villainy, without a single redeeming feature or complexity. He's shit at his job and sneers, bullies, and kills, offering nothing in the way of nuance. Everyone else falls neatly into their roles, good or bad, with no shades of grey to complicate matters.
When the violence begins, it comes thick and fast. Bodies pile up by the final page, yet every single one of Hawk’s kills lands squarely in the realm of self-defence. It is too tidy, stripping the story of any real tension or moral ambiguity.
The dialogue, meanwhile, rings hollow. While Hawk himself avoids the usual prejudices about Native Americans, their own dialogue leans heavily on tired stereotypes. It feels less like a window into lived experience and more like something borrowed from old films.
“Hell Hath No Fury” delivers the basics, gunslingers, vengeance, and bloodshed, but never steps outside the lines. It is the literary equivalent of a tin badge, serviceable and polished, yet ultimately hollow.
⭐ ⭐
July 16, 2023
A slice of rugged western life
Traveling along with Hawk as he rides his horse from one situation to another is fairly interesting. He’s a calm person who has a code of honor. He’s a great tracker and a crack shot. Best of all, he’s smart.
However, Hawk’s amazing skill set leads to a jealous antagonist wreaking havoc. While I don’t quite believe the impassioned animosity of the antagonist, it makes for more intense drama and heightens the conflict(s) in the story.
This novel is more like a collection of dangerous incidents, with encounters with the antagonist as bookends. There are gunfights, ambushes, rescues, fights to the death, murders, and bits of history throughout. Only one section relates to the book’s title.
What’s frustrating are the myriad comma errors, poor paragraphing, and some redundant recaps of backstories. There are a few formatting errors and unintentional grammar errors.
Other than the distracting errors, this novel is an enjoyable reading experience, but it ends at a somewhat arbitrary point. Hawk is moving on, but there’s no over-arching problem for him to solve. It’s just the end of one job before he takes on another.
Traveling along with Hawk as he rides his horse from one situation to another is fairly interesting. He’s a calm person who has a code of honor. He’s a great tracker and a crack shot. Best of all, he’s smart.
However, Hawk’s amazing skill set leads to a jealous antagonist wreaking havoc. While I don’t quite believe the impassioned animosity of the antagonist, it makes for more intense drama and heightens the conflict(s) in the story.
This novel is more like a collection of dangerous incidents, with encounters with the antagonist as bookends. There are gunfights, ambushes, rescues, fights to the death, murders, and bits of history throughout. Only one section relates to the book’s title.
What’s frustrating are the myriad comma errors, poor paragraphing, and some redundant recaps of backstories. There are a few formatting errors and unintentional grammar errors.
Other than the distracting errors, this novel is an enjoyable reading experience, but it ends at a somewhat arbitrary point. Hawk is moving on, but there’s no over-arching problem for him to solve. It’s just the end of one job before he takes on another.
October 15, 2020
Although I don't generally read novels in the "western" genre, I do love historical fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel as it surprised me several times. I don't like it when books are predictable. Of course, the theme is good vs evil. The evil guys were not the Indians either which I liked. The story starts out with a young couple heading westward to Montana. The wagon train is led by Nestor who is a very unpleasant man. Jamie, the young man, is killed, and his newlywed wife is kidnapped by Indians. A scout, Hawk, is hired to find out what happened to Jamie by his brothers. Hawk is the hero of the book who encounters several situations that he must deal with. The book made me think about living during that time and the hardships that early settlers endured. People in the wild west often settled scores on their own. The medical treatment certainly was not good. The book moved along well, and I can say it kept my attention all the way through. I gave it 4 starts as I would consider it Historical Fiction LIGHT.
August 2, 2025
This book follows the general plot of West’s novels: a revenge story that gets side tracked by a range war then the villain conveniently resurfaces at the end.
However, I liked this book in particular because the characters were much better written and developed.
Hawk has the typical proxy lead characteristics that West writes, but he has some extra wit and a sense of humor about him that’s refreshing. I liked his interactions and he felt much more real to me.
I also liked the range war villains, especially how dastardly the daughter was.
I’m also glad that this is the first book of a series, so I’m looking forward to see how West continues to develop upon his characters and story world.
However, I liked this book in particular because the characters were much better written and developed.
Hawk has the typical proxy lead characteristics that West writes, but he has some extra wit and a sense of humor about him that’s refreshing. I liked his interactions and he felt much more real to me.
I also liked the range war villains, especially how dastardly the daughter was.
I’m also glad that this is the first book of a series, so I’m looking forward to see how West continues to develop upon his characters and story world.
November 12, 2017
Disappointed
Charles G. West is one of my favorite western writers. I have read all his westerns .
Some of them three and four times.The Matt Slaughter series is one of the best. I could barely wait for his next book Hell Hath No Fury to come out. I had a hard time believing that this was the same author. There was hardly any background on the main character Hawk till near the middle of the book and very little then.All in all an unsatisfying read.This is the first time I have written a negative review and I hate that it had to be on a talented and wonderful author as Mr. West.
Charles G. West is one of my favorite western writers. I have read all his westerns .
Some of them three and four times.The Matt Slaughter series is one of the best. I could barely wait for his next book Hell Hath No Fury to come out. I had a hard time believing that this was the same author. There was hardly any background on the main character Hawk till near the middle of the book and very little then.All in all an unsatisfying read.This is the first time I have written a negative review and I hate that it had to be on a talented and wonderful author as Mr. West.
October 21, 2017
This is a new author to me and I loved it. He pulls you into the story with his descriptive writing style.
Set in the 1800 Rocky mountains an army scout "Hawk" is hired by a man looking for his younger brother and his wife. They set out fearing that Indians have killed them.
Fast paced, lively characters, old fashioned cattle thieves, murder, bar fight shot outs and more will keep you reading late into the night.
This is the first in a series called John Hawk Westerns and I am looking forward to the next one coming out in May of 2018.
Set in the 1800 Rocky mountains an army scout "Hawk" is hired by a man looking for his younger brother and his wife. They set out fearing that Indians have killed them.
Fast paced, lively characters, old fashioned cattle thieves, murder, bar fight shot outs and more will keep you reading late into the night.
This is the first in a series called John Hawk Westerns and I am looking forward to the next one coming out in May of 2018.
July 10, 2018
I liked John Hawk and all the characters with the exception of Nestor, of course. I think this story is about family loyalty and honour. Monroe was a good man and brother, trying to find his sibling. He went searching for Jamie who did not return with his new bride. He did not just hire John to find Jamie but went with him. I really liked the names of the Indigenous men. Again, a brother who tried to avenge his sibling's death. Obviously, to no avail. I loved the relationship John had with his horse. I will read more of this series.
February 4, 2021
First Western
This was the first western I've read , it was okay.
This book is about an Army scout, whose name is Hawk. Hawk is just trying to do the right thing by his standards, be a good scout, track the Indians, and help out another gentleman find out what happened to his brother and his wife.
A common guy that just keeps getting in the middle of it.
This was the first western I've read and although, it was a little slow, in the beginning for me, it did pick up, plus it kept me interested.
Good reading.
This was the first western I've read , it was okay.
This book is about an Army scout, whose name is Hawk. Hawk is just trying to do the right thing by his standards, be a good scout, track the Indians, and help out another gentleman find out what happened to his brother and his wife.
A common guy that just keeps getting in the middle of it.
This was the first western I've read and although, it was a little slow, in the beginning for me, it did pick up, plus it kept me interested.
Good reading.
June 1, 2025
This is my very first western book I've ever read in general, and I'm glad I read it. This book is about one man, named John Hawk, who is a very good scout for the United States Army in Montana. Monroe Pratt, asks Hawk for his help, to locate this newly married couple. They were headed to the Missoula Valley, when they're evil waggon master desserts them. Hawk has to find them. Very good story, highly recommend.
November 25, 2017
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway!
It's been a long time since I've read a western but this one was short but sweet. I am already anticipating the release of the next volume in May of 2018.
Vivid descriptions and rough characters had me sucked in and I finished it quick.
Check it out!
It's been a long time since I've read a western but this one was short but sweet. I am already anticipating the release of the next volume in May of 2018.
Vivid descriptions and rough characters had me sucked in and I finished it quick.
Check it out!
March 17, 2018
... like a women scorn'd.
No one is angrier than a woman who has been rejected in love. The title of this Western ... is just a title. The book has got 'em all - scouts, army, native warriors, rustlers, cowboys, ranches, gun battles, and a story to stitch them together. A good one to boot, I reckon.
No one is angrier than a woman who has been rejected in love. The title of this Western ... is just a title. The book has got 'em all - scouts, army, native warriors, rustlers, cowboys, ranches, gun battles, and a story to stitch them together. A good one to boot, I reckon.
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