December Westerns Wednesday Roundup

(I am still fine. I have finished writing the second episode in the northern adventure radio/podcast series and expect I'll be spending December not writing much after the Christmas card rush. I'll be back to writing work in January!) I was somewhat overwhelmed this year by Advanced Reader's Copies. (ARCs) While I am quite delighted…

Kolkata Noir – by Tom Vater

Three short novellas linked by place and characters through time, collected into a short book suitable for reading during Noirvember. Indeed, I quite early on began to suspect that the third story was in its way paying homage to Casablanca, which was later confirmed to me through the author's notes. (Casablanca, however, is, according to…

I’m fine

The province of British Columbia has been badly impacted by flooding and landslides recently. Communities are still underwater. Major transportation links have been severed. Power and water services have been impacted. Lives have been lost. Panic buying has emptied grocery stories. Colder weather is not making anything easier. I have been lucky. My town has…

A Room in Dodge City by David Leo Rice

A Room in Dodge City by David Leo RiceMy rating: 3 of 5 starsI mostly enjoyed reading this strange, meandering little book even though I didn't know what was happening a lot of the time. I have a feeling it's a book intended primarily for people with more formal education - or more self-directed education…

The Family Man by Anna Willett

I received a free copy of this book in expectation of an honest review in return. Here it is! Set in Australia, this is a quick read, more of a thriller than a mystery - I found myself guessing early on who the criminal *really* was, it turned out not only incorrectly but also rather…

Gunsmoke and Dragonfire – A Fantasy Western Anthology

I picked this book up because it's editor was one of my regional liaison people for the Nanowrimo event last year - to be perfectly honest, when I got it, I had tempered expectations - as I've said before, I'm not a huge fan of fantasy, and while I'm happy with the concept of cross-genre…

I Write Westerns Because – Road Trips!

This post is one of an intermittently-appearing series "I write westerns because..." in which I share thoughts. Some thoughts are likely better thought out than others. Chances are, the following could use a round of edits for consistency and clarity, but it hasn't gotten one because I'm trying to operate on the shared is better…

Devil Hunt by Lucian Bridges

Devil Hunt by Lucian BridgesMy rating: 3 of 5 starsI received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Mr Bridges!This is a book that I felt had significant potential, with a very gung-ho plot line that starts off with a great introductory chapter. It feels like…

Strangers and Pilgrims by Kristina Hall – Western Wednesday Book Review – October ’21

Strangers and Pilgrims by Kristina HallMy rating: 3 of 5 starsI was lucky enough to be gifted a copy of this book by the author. Thank you Ms Hall!I don't think I've ever read a novel so clearly infused with Christian belief before. I found it a bit of a strange experience, although not unpleasant.Our…

Canaryville by Charlie Newton

Canaryville by Charlie NewtonMy rating: 4 of 5 starsGripping reading, kept me up to midnight on a night I really should have been sleeping. This is a story about a cop sixteen days away from retirement trying to solve a violent crime which threatens to unleash racially-based riots across Chicago. It takes us particularly into…