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Ride the High Range
Young Jim Moran never had a real family-but his sense of honor and razor-sharp instincts earned him a loyal partner who gave him a second chance, a home with a Montana Indian tribe, and a new name: Rider Twelve Horses. And when his friend is brutalized by a trio of killers, nothing can stop Rider's merciless search for justice.
282 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 7, 2010
About the author
Charles G. West
70 books77 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 12, 2019
My third Charles G. West novel, and the third one to star a convict with a heart of gold. I think I'm seeing a trend here...
September 1, 2021
The author must absolutely love coffee; all his main characters are obsessed with the stuff. Overall it's a great and easy to read western.
September 11, 2017
I like this author's historical treatment of the west, not too raw but realistic-you learn something-different ways to survive, he treats the different types of people like Louis L'aMour. He has main character learning and becoming better. He treats women with respect and intelligence in his writing.
August 30, 2022
I’ve never read - or thought about reading - western. But book choices are limited here and I found this one.
It was really good. The story was good and the style of writing matched the feeling.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
It was really good. The story was good and the style of writing matched the feeling.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
September 8, 2024
I read a lot of westerns. A lot! This is the first Charles G West book I have read. I am blown away!
This is NOT a formula western. No cliches. A terrific story.
The characters are surprisingly distinctive. The book has a plot line that never bores. The language is clear and easy to absorb without drawing attention to itself. I could actually “hear” the difference in their voices. Truly remarkable.
It was like seeing a movie of the book in my own theatre of the mind.
This book was a treat. I highly recommend it.
Note: Search for this author as “Charles West”. George G West doesn’t work. Odd, but true.
This is NOT a formula western. No cliches. A terrific story.
The characters are surprisingly distinctive. The book has a plot line that never bores. The language is clear and easy to absorb without drawing attention to itself. I could actually “hear” the difference in their voices. Truly remarkable.
It was like seeing a movie of the book in my own theatre of the mind.
This book was a treat. I highly recommend it.
Note: Search for this author as “Charles West”. George G West doesn’t work. Odd, but true.
December 18, 2019
Great Western author
This, along with all of his other books are well written with lots of action.
You can tell he's done lots of research into the times he's written about.
They're also well edited, unlike some.
My husband also loves his books and is happy i discovered him.
Imo you can't go wrong with anything he writes.
This, along with all of his other books are well written with lots of action.
You can tell he's done lots of research into the times he's written about.
They're also well edited, unlike some.
My husband also loves his books and is happy i discovered him.
Imo you can't go wrong with anything he writes.
August 14, 2022
Another winner of a Western buy writer Charles G. West.
Young Jim Moran goes on a life journey in this one.
We follow him shortly after the civil war, and onward as he grows into a young man.
He finds friends, enemies and love.
This writer is always enjoyable.
Young Jim Moran goes on a life journey in this one.
We follow him shortly after the civil war, and onward as he grows into a young man.
He finds friends, enemies and love.
This writer is always enjoyable.
January 8, 2026
I'm sure the author never skips a beat when it comes to coffee ☕️ This book had me 😆 about the spirit in the mountains and the relationship between Rider and Johnny. A happy ending is a stretch for my taste, but this reminds me of my youth watching enough westerns. Only bad ass ones though haha
January 12, 2019
Real history backs Jim, healing in Indian camp, chased by army lieutenant.
Typo:
p 47 principle chiefs is principal chiefs
Typo:
p 47 principle chiefs is principal chiefs
November 13, 2024
I'm not a fan of western reads, however, this one may have turned me into an avid fan.
October 9, 2025
A satisfying western full of action, gunplay, and vengeance!
Jaybird!
Jaybird!
November 30, 2025
Ride the High Range
A truly enjoyable western adventure with twists and turns keeping the reader guessing. I love it and the end as well.
A truly enjoyable western adventure with twists and turns keeping the reader guessing. I love it and the end as well.
December 9, 2010
Jim Moran joined Quantrill's Raiders near the end of the Civil War when just fifteen. After the war, he rode with a splinter group and grew increasingly disgusted when they targeted civilians. In a desperate attempt to warn a family of the coming raid, which turned out to be a set-up, he's wounded by one of the raiders and shot by the Union army hiding in the barn.
Most of the gang is wiped out, a few escaping, and Jim arrested. Only one man, five foot one scout Johny Hawk, believes him, as he heard the cries in the tumult. The young Lieutenant is intent on returning the boy for trial and hanging. He's left with one cjoice: rescue the book, freeing him while a guard sleeps, and they head for the high country.
Taking the name Rider to hide his identity, the two pair up and a legend starts to build. Johnny has a Crow woman for a wife and when they go for a visit, both are welcomed roundly. Another piece of the legend is added, when on a hunting trip with Johnny and two Crow braves, Jim steals twelve horses from a party of Cheyenne, drawing them away while the other three steal antelope carcasses, thus embarrassing an enemy on two fronts. The Crows dub him Rider Twelve Horses.
He becomes Rider, the spirit that can't be killed, when he saves a young Blackfoot boy from a mama grizzly and returns him to the village, all without being seen. The occasional Blackfoot that spots him during his roaming of the mountains only adds to the legend.
He still has an obsessed young Lieutenant after him. Add in two women, a white girl and a Crow maiden that are interested, the first betraying by accident, and three lowlifes assaulting Johnny and his wife to send Jim on a trail of revenge, you get a fast moving novel.
Most of the gang is wiped out, a few escaping, and Jim arrested. Only one man, five foot one scout Johny Hawk, believes him, as he heard the cries in the tumult. The young Lieutenant is intent on returning the boy for trial and hanging. He's left with one cjoice: rescue the book, freeing him while a guard sleeps, and they head for the high country.
Taking the name Rider to hide his identity, the two pair up and a legend starts to build. Johnny has a Crow woman for a wife and when they go for a visit, both are welcomed roundly. Another piece of the legend is added, when on a hunting trip with Johnny and two Crow braves, Jim steals twelve horses from a party of Cheyenne, drawing them away while the other three steal antelope carcasses, thus embarrassing an enemy on two fronts. The Crows dub him Rider Twelve Horses.
He becomes Rider, the spirit that can't be killed, when he saves a young Blackfoot boy from a mama grizzly and returns him to the village, all without being seen. The occasional Blackfoot that spots him during his roaming of the mountains only adds to the legend.
He still has an obsessed young Lieutenant after him. Add in two women, a white girl and a Crow maiden that are interested, the first betraying by accident, and three lowlifes assaulting Johnny and his wife to send Jim on a trail of revenge, you get a fast moving novel.
July 17, 2015
Ride the High Range
The absolute best by Charles G West. I was completely enthralled with this book. Given MR. West's talents and imagination I am confident that there will be more fantastic stories to come. I am forever a fan. I highly recommend this book to everyone who is able to read. So, "Giddy Up."
The absolute best by Charles G West. I was completely enthralled with this book. Given MR. West's talents and imagination I am confident that there will be more fantastic stories to come. I am forever a fan. I highly recommend this book to everyone who is able to read. So, "Giddy Up."
January 24, 2011
I like a good western and Charles G. West is up there with the best.
October 3, 2011
Don't mess with Rider...
March 12, 2016
A wonderful, well written story. If you're looking for a western/mountain man adventure tale, Charles G West is your man.
October 18, 2016
Very good read!
I really enjoy books about mountain men and their way of life. This is one of those! I didn't want to put it down!
I really enjoy books about mountain men and their way of life. This is one of those! I didn't want to put it down!
October 13, 2014
This book is very good. No rape scenes or anything like that. This is really a very good story.
Read
September 8, 2015vg
June 29, 2018
I like a good western and Charles G. West is up there with the best.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews