The Switchback Trail

by Terrell L. Bowers

Cullen Durant viewed the position of handyman at the Melbourne ranch as a break from his old job, a chance to taste some of the easy life. The only major problem was dealing with the two women on the ranch, until bizarre things started to happen. A rancher is gunned down in cold blood and Cully finds himself the target of an ambush, but has no idea as to the motive. Added to the mix are a suspicious fever, which kills off a thousand head of cattle and some unexpected repercussions from an upcoming arranged marriage. Before he can figure out the complex puzzle, there is a kidnapping for ransom. The only way for Cully to save the victim and untangle the string of mysteries is to walk into a trap where he'll most certainly be killed . . . not exactly the easy life he had imagined!

Genres: Westerns, Mystery

192 pages, Hardcover

First published June 4, 2010

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

If a questionably competent screwball comedy, a dime store romance novel (of the chaste variety), and an old western had a baby, it would be this book. It is absurd and theatrical and utterly unrealistic, but it's weirdly entertaining despite (because of?) all that. No one behaves like an actual human being, the dialogue would've sounded hopelessly silly even if it had been being said by Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn, the action is almost comically genre-typical (ambushes! shoot outs! kidnapping! someone being forced to stand on something unstable while they have a noose around their neck!)...and yet, the identity of one of the villains surprised me (probably because I was too busy snickering to pay attention) and it was certainly not the worst way to spend a couple of hours.

Three stars is probably a little generous, since I don't know that I could actually say it was "good." But, hey, I'll take some fairly harmless silly entertainment. I think it was even supposed to be funny at times.

[Carolyn Hone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story—if you got rid of the uppity mother!

Again sometimes this author likes to have snotty, mean girls. Martha the mother is really mean to everyone including her husband. I guess Victoria can’t help how she has been raised. Loved Cully the handy man with his patience, his entertaining wit and fast gun. Hopefully he can bring the good out of Victoria and get rid of the overbearing snootiness. I guessed the bad guy wrong. I’m glad to see some cowboy wised up enough to wear a metal protection plate in front of his chest when confronting an outlaw. All his books end too soon. We never get to a wedding and you never know what the couple is going to do after they finally get together.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could have been better. So I only gave it four stars.

Slow at first. But it got better after a little while. I didn't like the characters very much. Everybody seemed hateful and judgemental. There were twists and turns in the plot which made it interesting. I didn't like the character of Victoria at all - she was hateful and mean all the way to the end. The mother should have been told off by her husband instead of excusing her behavior. The banker should have been berated and received some sort of punishment for his role in this affair.

[Larry L. Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story!

My only issue with this book: when Victoria rode to town after Cully was shot she changed into riding clothes but when she was finished eating with Concho she wiped her hand on her dress?????

[Ola G. Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

My. First book by Mr. Bowers: Quick read, different style but I enjoyed it!

This is my first story by Terrell L Bowers. It was a quick read, but it kept my interest and I will look for another one by this author! I have been reading Westerns all my life! Loved them!

[John Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great tale

This story has so many twists and turns that I was blown away by the ending. It has plenty of action and adventure with just the right amount of romance to balance it out. Great fun read.

[Shirley Funkhouser · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book

I have waited for quite a while to finally read a book worth reading! Its good , makes you think, contains no filth or bad language! It has a outstanding story base, thought, trail and conclusion. Never have I given such a excellent review on a book. Five star you better believe it.

[Anthony R Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a tale

Cully is in the middle of everything. Greed, murder, killing cattle and wanting water. A handyman or is he more? A story full of intrigue, full of many twists and turns.

[Beverly Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story!

Very good storyline! Loved how the reader was kept in the dark until the ending over the first killing! Great writing!

[Patricia Braddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book

Lots of action and fast paced book by this Author and hope to read more books by this Author real soon. I never figured who was the bad guy til the end

[Shirley Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Switchback Trail

I loved it! Mr Bowers is a fine storyteller! Thank you. It’s hard to get the required words here but I think you will enjoy this book!

[Mike Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

The story is very interesting. I will have to check out the next in the series if can. Worth the time😀😁😊

[Larry Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story with the right amount of page turning

A good Western without a lot of foreshadow ing. Gives you new villains as the book develops. I enjoyed reading it.

[myron mcdowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book has slot of twist and turn

Anyone could read this book a good clean book with alot of humor plus a lot of exciting parts in it