Red Ruckus

Morgan Clyde #3

by Brett Cogburn

WHEN YOU CAN’T TRUST THE LAW
HE DELIVERS JUSTICE

Morgan Clyde, former New York City peacekeeper and Union army veteran, is a man of righteous words and a gunfighter of uncanny skill. With deadly aim he has ended the reign of every badman to walk the dirt-packed streets of Indian Terriotry’s notorious Ironhead Station. But now he faces those who wear the badge.
 
HOSTILE HOMECOMING
 
With every corrupt businessman, immoral thief, and brutal outlaw either behind bars or six feet under, the town of Eufaula has come under the jurisdiction of men who bend the law to their own whims. They’ve broken their sworn oaths to protect the innocent and annointed themselves as judges, juries, and executioners.
 
Now Morgan must break the law to enforce it, even if it means putting old friends—and lovers—into his line of fire . . .
 
Praise for Spur Award winner Brett Cogburn

“Cogburn treats familiar subjects with freshness and originality, spinning engaging tales true to the Western tradition but told in his own distinctive voice.”
—Roundup Magazine

“Cogburn amazes and astounds.”
—Booklist
 

Genres: Westerns

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 23, 2022

Reviews

[Cathy Geha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Ruckus by Brett Cogburn
Morgan Clyde 3

Gun battles, horse stealing, lynching, corrupt marshals, and a man with skills called in to clean things up – or die trying. Morgan Clyde is a man who gets the job done while doing what he believes to be right…no matter what.

What I liked;
* Morgan: war veteran, sure-shot, divorced, has been a lawman and worked for the railroad, a legend or if not – one in the making
* Dixie: war veteran, ex-lawman, farmer, friend of Morgan’s, might have a sweet spot for Molly
* Molly: immigrated from Ireland, has a checkered past in regard to work, strong, has a business, might have a sweet spot for Dixie though she used to have one for Morgan
* Cumsey: horse thief, sweet talker, prankster, likable, seems to land in trouble, would like to find out how he turns out
* Noodles: Sicilian barber who works for and with Molly in her establishment – would like to see him with his family if the series continues
* Seeing some of the characters from previous books
* Getting to know more about Morgan and his past
* Wondering if Morgan will reconnect with his son in the future
* Thinking about Morgan and hoping he finds a way to be at peace with himself and move toward a better future
* Hoping Molly and Dixie will have happy lives – together or apart
* The potential for more books in the series and wondering what will happen next
* That the task Morgan was set at the beginning of the story was achieved – no loose ends

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Knowing that there are still people doing evil now just as they were in this story
* Morgan’s ex-wife and the trouble she creates

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read another book in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Pinnacle for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red Ruckus by Brett Cogburn
Morgan Clyde 3

Gun battles, horse stealing, lynching, corrupt marshals, and a man with skills called in to clean things up – or die trying. Morgan Clyde is a man who gets the job done while doing what he believes to be right…no matter what.

What I liked;
* Morgan: war veteran, sure-shot, divorced, has been a lawman and worked for the railroad, a legend or if not – one in the making
* Dixie: war veteran, ex-lawman, farmer, friend of Morgan’s, might have a sweet spot for Molly
* Molly: immigrated from Ireland, has a checkered past in regard to work, strong, has a business, might have a sweet spot for Dixie though she used to have one for Morgan
* Cumsey: horse thief, sweet talker, prankster, likable, seems to land in trouble, would like to find out how he turns out
* Noodles: Sicilian barber who works for and with Molly in her establishment – would like to see him with his family if the series continues
* Seeing some of the characters from previous books
* Getting to know more about Morgan and his past
* Wondering if Morgan will reconnect with his son in the future
* Thinking about Morgan and hoping he finds a way to be at peace with himself and move toward a better future
* Hoping Molly and Dixie will have happy lives – together or apart
* The potential for more books in the series and wondering what will happen next
* That the task Morgan was set at the beginning of the story was achieved – no loose ends

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Knowing that there are still people doing evil now just as they were in this story
* Morgan’s ex-wife and the trouble she creates

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read another book in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Pinnacle for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cogburn's knowledge of the old west keeps this western novel fresh and vibrant. Though billed as a Morgan Clyde western it is very much an ensemble. To call it a Morgan Clyde Western would be like saying Friends was a Rachel Green Story. Morgan is the main character, but the other characters make the novel much richer. Cogburn even introduces a new character, an outlaw character.

This time around, though, Cogburn uses an odd plotline, making Clyde kind of a secret agent. While this plotline moves the conflicts together in a satisfying manner, Cogburn makes it seem like Clyde solved the corruption in the Indian Nations by dealing with one corrupt posse. The individual conflicts are handled very well, but the odd manner in which Cogburn facilitates Clyde's involvement lowers my rating slightly.

With that stated-- I don't think anybody writes better western novels. While I think the Widowmaker Jones novels are superior-- Clyde's adventures are fine historical novels. Cogburn knows his horsemanship, his territory, his history, and his weapons. He excels in mentioning weapons that to modern readers are obscure and force us to the internet to look them up. While those weapons are obscure to those of us who were convinced by television and movie westerns that everybody carried a Colt Peacemaker, they were common on the frontier.

Readers looking for real western details can't go wrong with Cogburn. Despite this one not being up to par with his other works, it was still an enjoyable novel.

[Denice Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read amny of Brett Cogburn's westerns and enjoyed them all. I guess that's why I keep reading them and sharing them with family and friends. The stories are great, the communities realistic and the characters exactly what you'd expect in the era.

[Madison Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This may be the first western I've ever read, and wkth that being said, I feel like the first 1/3 of the book is very slow. I will say once it got good I couldn't put it down! A few turns I didn't expect.

[papasteve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another rollicking western by Brett Cogburn. And sorry, son, but there is no "real" Rooster Cogburn--just like your books, a work of fiction.

[Joseph A. Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Twas a very good book to read all of it I enjoyed. So yes I recommend. Hope you enjoy to

[Nolan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought the story was a little on the slow side until about the last 20% of the book.