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Tanner's Law
A soldier gets swept up in the gold rush in this western from Charles G. West....Tanner Bland leaves his Virginia home on foot to fight for Dixie and rides back on a fine horse. Most folks would call that a profit—until they consider his loss. With everyone thinking the soldier dead, his younger brother marries Tanner’s fiancée hours before he returns. His home no longer his own, Tanner heads west to join an old army pal and hit the gold mines of Montana. But the wagon train the men join is not what they are hoping for. In the train with them are the four Leach brothers, each one meaner than the next. Now, if Tanner and his buddy want to make it to Montana alive, they’ll have to keep their enemies close…and their weapons closer. “The West as it really was—savage, heroic, and unforgettable.”—Ralph Compton
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 2, 2008
9 people are currently reading
39 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 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 21, 2018
After fighting for the South in the war, Tanner Bland arrives home only to find that his bride-to-be, believing him to be long dead, is in the process of marrying his brother. Tanner, like the real man he is, shrugs off his disappointment and heads out west. He joins a wagon train, meets the Leach brothers, and the adventure moves into high gear. This was first western I had read since studying them many years ago at university, and I was interested in how the genre had developed. It is pretty standard fare with few actual surprises, but it is well written and the prose does have its moments. I enjoyed it for what it was and was quietly satisfied that people are still double dog darned.
October 1, 2020
Young Tanner Bland is a Confederate soldier at the tail end of the Civil War when he finds himself a lone survivor after a fierce battle. Stumbling about, he finds another survivor, named Jeb, a happy-go-lucky fellow, and together they decide to make their way to Richmond to join Robert E. Lee’s army. But the war is effectively over and after they learn of the surrender at Appomattox, the two friends separate, each with their own goals for the future. Tanner heads home to the family farm and his fiancé in Virginia while Jeb heads to Kansas. Unfortunately for Tanner, he arrives home only to find his family has thought him dead and his fiancé is now married to his younger brother.
Tanner has no choice but to leave home again, so he seeks out his old friend Jeb. After busting him out of jail, the pals decide to head for the gold fields of Montana and seek their fortune. But tragedy strikes in the form of the four Leach brothers who slaughter a wagon train, including Jeb. The second half of the novel is devoted to Tanner’s revenge…and be assured, he takes no prisoners.
Charles G. West is among my favorite of the modern western writers. While his prose isn’t always the most profound, his characters are always interesting, and his plots unfold in fun ways. His settings are historically accurate, and he often uses historical events as backdrops to his stories. Tanner is typical of his heroes. That is, he is a normal person thrust into extraordinary circumstances and it is his ideals that define his status as a hero.
A nicely engaging stand-alone novel, with characters that are fun to root for.
Tanner has no choice but to leave home again, so he seeks out his old friend Jeb. After busting him out of jail, the pals decide to head for the gold fields of Montana and seek their fortune. But tragedy strikes in the form of the four Leach brothers who slaughter a wagon train, including Jeb. The second half of the novel is devoted to Tanner’s revenge…and be assured, he takes no prisoners.
Charles G. West is among my favorite of the modern western writers. While his prose isn’t always the most profound, his characters are always interesting, and his plots unfold in fun ways. His settings are historically accurate, and he often uses historical events as backdrops to his stories. Tanner is typical of his heroes. That is, he is a normal person thrust into extraordinary circumstances and it is his ideals that define his status as a hero.
A nicely engaging stand-alone novel, with characters that are fun to root for.
September 30, 2020
A pretty good revenge tale that takes a while to find its plot and kind of just ends rather than satisfactorily tying up all of its loose ends. The only other criticism that I have is that there is a bit of repetition (The main character's favorite phrase seems to be some form of "You might shoot me, but I'll take you with me before I die" because he says it way too often).
May 25, 2018
Seldom do you read two books from the same genre, then have one of them make you quit the other book and when that happens you realize the author's a master of his craft.
Well that's the case with Tanner's Law, written by one of the greatest Western authors of the 21st century, Charles G. West or like I do at times in my reviews just refer to him as Chucky. West never disappoints, puts his readers right into the pages and a master at creating believable characters.
In this one Tanner Bland, fights for the Confederacy in the Civil War, he's with his platoon when they get wiped out, with survivors surrendering and he decides to head home verse ending up in a prison camp. While escaping from the battlefield, he runs into Jeb Hawkins, a soldier from his troop, the two partner up and end up teaming with a local group that raids the Yankee supply trains.
Once the war ends, Tanner heads home to Virginia and his girl Ellie. While Jeb ends up going home to Kansas, but Tanner heads West after arriving home to his younger brother marrying, his girl and the two head to the gold fields.
Along the way they end up joining a trail drive, were they first run into the Leach brothers, but ultimately ends up putting one of the friends on the vengeance trail and to know the rest you'll have to read, 'Tanner's Law'.
Chucky writes a relatively clean story, not afraid of violent scenes, you get just the meaty parts, without all the descriptive details and well worth it to give his books a try.
Although be warned you'll end up hooked and you'll try other Westerns.
Well that's the case with Tanner's Law, written by one of the greatest Western authors of the 21st century, Charles G. West or like I do at times in my reviews just refer to him as Chucky. West never disappoints, puts his readers right into the pages and a master at creating believable characters.
In this one Tanner Bland, fights for the Confederacy in the Civil War, he's with his platoon when they get wiped out, with survivors surrendering and he decides to head home verse ending up in a prison camp. While escaping from the battlefield, he runs into Jeb Hawkins, a soldier from his troop, the two partner up and end up teaming with a local group that raids the Yankee supply trains.
Once the war ends, Tanner heads home to Virginia and his girl Ellie. While Jeb ends up going home to Kansas, but Tanner heads West after arriving home to his younger brother marrying, his girl and the two head to the gold fields.
Along the way they end up joining a trail drive, were they first run into the Leach brothers, but ultimately ends up putting one of the friends on the vengeance trail and to know the rest you'll have to read, 'Tanner's Law'.
Chucky writes a relatively clean story, not afraid of violent scenes, you get just the meaty parts, without all the descriptive details and well worth it to give his books a try.
Although be warned you'll end up hooked and you'll try other Westerns.
March 17, 2024
So I enjoyed reading this western and like many of the other westerns I have read it's a story about revenge. This one starts right at the end of the civil war and the main character was a corporal in the Confederate Valley Army (Shenandoah Valley). He had left his childhood sweetheart at home so he could go off to war but he would like to go out to Montana too. Apparently there are a few places where gold was found. And so Tanner Bland sets off with his friend Jeb Hawkins as both are lucky enough to survive the war.
Right from the start this book has plenty of danger, action, guns shooting and bullets flying. Its a good western and very decently written so I am unsure why so few have read this?
Anyway all too soon Tanner and Jeb cross paths with some very bad brothers: four of them to be exact. These guys are truly rotten. They are not only murderers and thieves but they also abuse women too. Tanner being the brave man he is (and he has intelligence too) he's not scared to step in and do stuff when he has to. And he's not willing to rest until he gets all four brothers for the injustice they do during the story. Tanner himself is one of those quite people who says very little and he sees almost everything.
Tanner has a lovely horse named Ashes. That is him there on the cover. But there are other horses in here too including Indian ponies. Ashes carries him great distances and Tanner takes great care of him. He definitely cares for his horse.
Nothing about the plot actually surprised me. There were a few minor things in here that made me think and that had gripped my autistic curiosity, like why is there a Virginia City in Nevada? Shouldn't it be in the state of Virginia?? But I googled it and I saw it was named after a person who had been named Virginia. But Tanner has countless adventure and encounters in here throughout the book. There are many deaths, tragedies and just simple bad luck. Sometimes you just go around a corner and run right smack into the very people who want to kill you! But there are also kind people in here too, who help him. Its quite the action packed story.
This is not one of those stories where the main character is immune to injury. Tanner gets plenty of injuries in here, some severe. But if you want to know who actually survives it you will have to read it yourself.
And I do say that is a beautiful cover!
Right from the start this book has plenty of danger, action, guns shooting and bullets flying. Its a good western and very decently written so I am unsure why so few have read this?
Anyway all too soon Tanner and Jeb cross paths with some very bad brothers: four of them to be exact. These guys are truly rotten. They are not only murderers and thieves but they also abuse women too. Tanner being the brave man he is (and he has intelligence too) he's not scared to step in and do stuff when he has to. And he's not willing to rest until he gets all four brothers for the injustice they do during the story. Tanner himself is one of those quite people who says very little and he sees almost everything.
Tanner has a lovely horse named Ashes. That is him there on the cover. But there are other horses in here too including Indian ponies. Ashes carries him great distances and Tanner takes great care of him. He definitely cares for his horse.
Nothing about the plot actually surprised me. There were a few minor things in here that made me think and that had gripped my autistic curiosity, like why is there a Virginia City in Nevada? Shouldn't it be in the state of Virginia?? But I googled it and I saw it was named after a person who had been named Virginia. But Tanner has countless adventure and encounters in here throughout the book. There are many deaths, tragedies and just simple bad luck. Sometimes you just go around a corner and run right smack into the very people who want to kill you! But there are also kind people in here too, who help him. Its quite the action packed story.
This is not one of those stories where the main character is immune to injury. Tanner gets plenty of injuries in here, some severe. But if you want to know who actually survives it you will have to read it yourself.
And I do say that is a beautiful cover!
August 6, 2025
This isn’t a bad book, it just doesn’t do much to set itself apart from many of his other stories. From now on, I won’t read any more Revenge plots from West because if you’ve read one you’ve basically read them all.
The story starts out pretty well. Tanner is in the Confederacy with his friend, and after their unit gets wiped out, they join a ragtag band of guerrilla rebels until their morale fades and the war ends. Tanner returns home to discover his sweetheart has since married his brother after believing he was dead. And so, Tanner heads west.
So far so good, but then it devolves into the usual plot where a massacre turns Tanner onto the path of revenge and the story plays out rote. I felt that Tanner had a personality before this point, but then he becomes generic as he begins his vengeance. There’s one resolution at the very end of the story that feels too convenient and dissatisfactory.
Again, not a bad book, just nothing particularly special. I would only recommend it if you haven’t read many of West’s other works, otherwise it’s a pass from me.
The story starts out pretty well. Tanner is in the Confederacy with his friend, and after their unit gets wiped out, they join a ragtag band of guerrilla rebels until their morale fades and the war ends. Tanner returns home to discover his sweetheart has since married his brother after believing he was dead. And so, Tanner heads west.
So far so good, but then it devolves into the usual plot where a massacre turns Tanner onto the path of revenge and the story plays out rote. I felt that Tanner had a personality before this point, but then he becomes generic as he begins his vengeance. There’s one resolution at the very end of the story that feels too convenient and dissatisfactory.
Again, not a bad book, just nothing particularly special. I would only recommend it if you haven’t read many of West’s other works, otherwise it’s a pass from me.
November 30, 2018
Tanner may be too late. The Leach villains lead Indians to massacre .
June 22, 2019
Another fun, easy to read western.
January 10, 2024
Overall really good book that had me hooked the entire time. The ending could have been better, and there were some ends that could have been tied up.
January 30, 2024
Kind of the standard western vengeance novel. It is well told, but the ending is a bit abrupt and unsatisfying.
June 9, 2012
Tanner Brand will make the Leach brothers pay for the crimes they've done.
Charles G West is one of my favorite western authors. I love a reading a western novel. I think it's because the stories always seem to be fun and have the good guy always gets his man.
Charles G West is one of my favorite western authors. I love a reading a western novel. I think it's because the stories always seem to be fun and have the good guy always gets his man.
March 2, 2015
Trainer's Law
Another great novel by the interesting and suspenseful imagination of Charles G. West. Seems each of his stories are better than the last. Excuse me while I find another of MR. West's superb novels.
Another great novel by the interesting and suspenseful imagination of Charles G. West. Seems each of his stories are better than the last. Excuse me while I find another of MR. West's superb novels.
July 25, 2009
Tanner Bland fought for the South. After the war, he returns home to find his sweetheart, thinking he;d been killed in the war, married to his brother.
He heads west.
He heads west.
March 16, 2012
I enjoyed this book. I have never read Charles G. West before and was pleasantly surprised. Has a male perspective, but I enjoyed that too!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews