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Cleve Trewe #2
Gunmetal Mountain
The second in the action-packed new series from Ralph Compton writer, John Shirley, takes traditional Westerns on a wild ride with the epic adventures of master gunfighter, horseman, and Civil War veteran Cleveland Trewe as he and his strong partner, Bernice fight for survival in 1880s Nevada . . .
Civil War veteran Cleveland Trewe stumbles onto a bizarre cult in the Sierra Nevada mountains—where the faithful are healed and fates are sealed . . . in blood.
They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. But it’s hard to know what’s going on inside the twisted mind of Magnus Lamb, the charismatic leader of an isolated logging town known for its healing hot springs. Some might say he’s created a peaceful utopia here on Gunmetal Mountain. But for Cleveland Trewe and his lovely traveling companion Berry, this little piece of heaven is more like Hell on Earth . . .
Cleve and Berry first discover the town after an encounter with a dangerous band of Indians. Cleve to vow to find "the Coyote," a young brave last seen headed for the strange settlement of Lambsville. At first, Cleve and Berry are charmed by the town’s natural beauty and simple way of life. But soon they see the community for what it really a brainwashed cult with some oddball beliefs, a rigid caste system, and a leader who thinks he’s the new Messiah. This not-so-innocent Lamb has heard about Cleve’s legendary gunfighting skills and wants him to lead an army to expand his power across the West. It’s bound to be a bloodsoaked mission, and Cleve wants no part of it. But if he refuses, there’ll be hell to pay . . .
Civil War veteran Cleveland Trewe stumbles onto a bizarre cult in the Sierra Nevada mountains—where the faithful are healed and fates are sealed . . . in blood.
They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. But it’s hard to know what’s going on inside the twisted mind of Magnus Lamb, the charismatic leader of an isolated logging town known for its healing hot springs. Some might say he’s created a peaceful utopia here on Gunmetal Mountain. But for Cleveland Trewe and his lovely traveling companion Berry, this little piece of heaven is more like Hell on Earth . . .
Cleve and Berry first discover the town after an encounter with a dangerous band of Indians. Cleve to vow to find "the Coyote," a young brave last seen headed for the strange settlement of Lambsville. At first, Cleve and Berry are charmed by the town’s natural beauty and simple way of life. But soon they see the community for what it really a brainwashed cult with some oddball beliefs, a rigid caste system, and a leader who thinks he’s the new Messiah. This not-so-innocent Lamb has heard about Cleve’s legendary gunfighting skills and wants him to lead an army to expand his power across the West. It’s bound to be a bloodsoaked mission, and Cleve wants no part of it. But if he refuses, there’ll be hell to pay . . .
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published August 22, 2023
5 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
John Shirley
323 books467 followersJohn Shirley won the Bram Stoker Award for his story collection Black Butterflies, and is the author of numerous novels, including the best-seller DEMONS, the cyberpunk classics CITY COME A-WALKIN', ECLIPSE, and BLACK GLASS, and his newest novels STORMLAND and A SORCERER OF ATLANTIS.
He is also a screenwriter, having written for television and movies; he was co-screenwriter of THE CROW. He has been several Year's Best anthologies including Prime Books' THE YEAR'S BEST DARK FANTASY AND HORROR anthology, and his nwest story collection is IN EXTREMIS: THE MOST EXTREME SHORT STORIES OF JOHN SHIRLEY. His novel BIOSHOCK: RAPTURE telling the story of the creation and undoing of Rapture, from the hit videogame BIOSHOCK is out from TOR books; his Halo novel, HALO: BROKEN CIRCLE is coming out from Pocket Books.
His most recent novels are STORMLAND and (forthcoming) AXLE BUST CREEK. His new story collection is THE FEVERISH STARS. STORMLAND and other John Shirley novels are available as audiobooks.
He is also a lyricist, having written lyrics for 18 songs recorded by the Blue Oyster Cult (especially on their albums Heaven Forbidden and Curse of the Hidden Mirror), and his own recordings.
John Shirley has written only one nonfiction book, GURDJIEFF: AN INTRODUCTION TO HIS LIFE AND IDEAS, published by Penguin/Jeremy Tarcher.
John Shirley story collections include BLACK BUTTERFLIES, IN EXTREMIS, REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY WEIRD STORIES, and LIVING SHADOWS.
source: Amazon
He is also a screenwriter, having written for television and movies; he was co-screenwriter of THE CROW. He has been several Year's Best anthologies including Prime Books' THE YEAR'S BEST DARK FANTASY AND HORROR anthology, and his nwest story collection is IN EXTREMIS: THE MOST EXTREME SHORT STORIES OF JOHN SHIRLEY. His novel BIOSHOCK: RAPTURE telling the story of the creation and undoing of Rapture, from the hit videogame BIOSHOCK is out from TOR books; his Halo novel, HALO: BROKEN CIRCLE is coming out from Pocket Books.
His most recent novels are STORMLAND and (forthcoming) AXLE BUST CREEK. His new story collection is THE FEVERISH STARS. STORMLAND and other John Shirley novels are available as audiobooks.
He is also a lyricist, having written lyrics for 18 songs recorded by the Blue Oyster Cult (especially on their albums Heaven Forbidden and Curse of the Hidden Mirror), and his own recordings.
John Shirley has written only one nonfiction book, GURDJIEFF: AN INTRODUCTION TO HIS LIFE AND IDEAS, published by Penguin/Jeremy Tarcher.
John Shirley story collections include BLACK BUTTERFLIES, IN EXTREMIS, REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY WEIRD STORIES, and LIVING SHADOWS.
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 27, 2023
I received an advance reading copy from Kensington Publishing, through Netgalley to read and review and I also purchased a copy to support the author.
'Gunmetal Mountain', is an entertaining story, a little long in the tooth at spots telling the story, has several likable characters and the second book in the A Cleve Trewe Western series. It's not a standalone, you'll have to read, 'Axle Bust Creek' first, as it continues the story of Cleve and Berry.
The two main characters, Cleve Trewe a Civil War Veteran, former lawman, gunfighter, protector and tough as nails. Then you have Berenice Conroy Tucker a widow, also a free spirit that likes exploring, learning about science, and two are in some sort of relationship.
I don't want too give anything away. Since if your a Western reader, you'll want to read this one, set in the Sierra Nevada mountains, you have the two main characters exploring.
Then mix a intertwining storyline, that involves a religious community lead by twisted mind of Marcus Long, mix in outlaws, innocent followers who unaware the truth of Gunmetal Mountain, loggers stuck working for Lamb, apostles that really are outlaws and shady characters controlling worshipers, mix in twist and turns, illegal whiskey, suspense, mix in a long in the tooth tale and of course the good verse evil theme.
In all the author John Shirley, wrote a entertaining tail, puts the reader in the pages and definite in the running for my favorite read of 2023. A note for readers, read this one, just as I did with the first in the series, read it as if I was the fictional character Cleve Trewe and it made reading it, that must better. Highly recommend the author John Shirley writing, he writes in multiple genres and can't go wrong with his Westerns.
'Gunmetal Mountain', is an entertaining story, a little long in the tooth at spots telling the story, has several likable characters and the second book in the A Cleve Trewe Western series. It's not a standalone, you'll have to read, 'Axle Bust Creek' first, as it continues the story of Cleve and Berry.
The two main characters, Cleve Trewe a Civil War Veteran, former lawman, gunfighter, protector and tough as nails. Then you have Berenice Conroy Tucker a widow, also a free spirit that likes exploring, learning about science, and two are in some sort of relationship.
I don't want too give anything away. Since if your a Western reader, you'll want to read this one, set in the Sierra Nevada mountains, you have the two main characters exploring.
Then mix a intertwining storyline, that involves a religious community lead by twisted mind of Marcus Long, mix in outlaws, innocent followers who unaware the truth of Gunmetal Mountain, loggers stuck working for Lamb, apostles that really are outlaws and shady characters controlling worshipers, mix in twist and turns, illegal whiskey, suspense, mix in a long in the tooth tale and of course the good verse evil theme.
In all the author John Shirley, wrote a entertaining tail, puts the reader in the pages and definite in the running for my favorite read of 2023. A note for readers, read this one, just as I did with the first in the series, read it as if I was the fictional character Cleve Trewe and it made reading it, that must better. Highly recommend the author John Shirley writing, he writes in multiple genres and can't go wrong with his Westerns.
August 17, 2023
Cleveland True is on the move again but this time it is to build a home and a life in the west with Baronies his beloved. After a weary ride from Axel bus they decide they’re going to stop in Paradise but right before getting there they’re way laid by some owl hoots. When Chase Breen decided to “befriend“ Cleave in Barrie on their way into Paradise he may as well have been wearing a sign that said we’re going to try and way lay you! Because Cleve seen it from a mile away but giving every man the benefit of the doubt he almost got the drop on our boy cleve but needless to say Cleve took out two of the three because Breen got away. After staying in Paradise for a couple of days the couple set off with another couple gill and freeja they were heading west to try and reach a friend of the girls who’s going to give him a job so they decided to travel together only to be once again caught on the trail but this time it was by Indians but this time instead of Cleve saving the day it is going to be Barry and the shaman needless to say however Cleve still had to make an oath to bring back the chiefs son who went missing while going to trade on gun Meadow Mountain. He said he would do hisbest. up they went to Gun Metal mountain but Cleve’s heart is heavy because he and Barrie are having misunderstandings she knew he was a gun fighter when the time called for it but the violence was something she could not make peace with,. After they reach the mountain she will be thankful that not only is Cleave a great gun fighter but that he is on her side. There is more than one outlaw taking cover in the religious village and I am not even talking about their leader lamb. Will cleave be able to save the Chiefs son Ajupa? Will Cleave in Barrie go their separate ways and has cleave seen the last of brain? This isn’t the best of summaries but John Shirley has done it again and written a great western this is the second book in the Cleveland True westerns and it’s a book I highly recommend. He is respectful of everyone even outlaws unless they force him to do his worst. I think Barry is a great woman for Clise but your Health to read the book to see if she thinks so as well. I love these books and have yet to get one less than five stars and gun metal mountain deserves five if not more. I want to thank Kensington books Ann galley for my free art copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
August 24, 2023
A different kind of story line from the westerns I typically read. As Cleveland Trewe and his partner, Bernice, make their way West, they are just trying to stay out of trouble. But trouble finds them. Ambushed by a small band of Indians, Cleve and Berry follow one of the survivors into a small town that promotes itself as paradise on Earth, Lambsville, Gunmetal Mountain. But this paradise has it's share of snakes, too. As Cleve investigates the town, he finds he and Berry have stepped into the middle of a cult-like community where the leaders have decided they need more land and they want to use Cleve's gun skills to help them get it.
While not your typical western plot, they story was good, with lots of action and of course, gunplay. This is the 2nd book in this series, it reads fine as a stand alone, but it is interesting to see the development of the characters from book 1. I'm a diehard western genre fan. I can live with taking a few liberties with the facts as we know them and still enjoyed John Shirley's Cleveland Trewe character. I read the first one, now this one and I'll be sure to read the next one, too.
While not your typical western plot, they story was good, with lots of action and of course, gunplay. This is the 2nd book in this series, it reads fine as a stand alone, but it is interesting to see the development of the characters from book 1. I'm a diehard western genre fan. I can live with taking a few liberties with the facts as we know them and still enjoyed John Shirley's Cleveland Trewe character. I read the first one, now this one and I'll be sure to read the next one, too.
June 9, 2023
In John Shirley's Gunmetal Mountain, Book 2 of the Cleve Trewe Western series (Pinnacle 2023), Civil War Veteran Cleve Trewe is trying to leave gun fighting in his past, traveling to California to start a new life with his friend (maybe girlfriend), Berry. Despite prodigious efforts to do just that, everywhere he goes, he ends up forced to defend someone's life and liberty with guns. Before I got very far in the book, he'd already killed five or six (I lost count). He and Berry are persuaded to travel with a family to what at first appears to be a beautiful restful mountain location called Gunmetal Mountain, only to find it isn't what it appears and once again, the only way out of the predicaments they face seems to be with his gun.
This is a bit dark because Cleve is dark, but it's fast moving with the typical Western focus on justice.
This is a bit dark because Cleve is dark, but it's fast moving with the typical Western focus on justice.
October 2, 2024
I liked it. Your typical Western thriller. A corny love story and the main characters getting involved in repeated conflicts and being pursued by an unscrupulous bad guy. There is a third book in the series and I’ll get to it eventually.
February 5, 2024
Horrible narration.
April 2, 2025
Just as good as the first one
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews