Customer Reviews

Death Head Crossing

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Just when you think they aren't writing westerns like they used to, a good one like this one by James Reasoner comes along -- keeping the old-fashioned virtues but with a story that contemporary readers coming to westerns for the first time would also enjoy.

James Reasoner's new book is a mixture of western and detective story. Hell Jackson is the hero/gunslinger who is investigating a series of deaths by a mysterious killer who calls himself "The Hand of God." There's a fair number of suspects sprinkled throughout to keep one guessing. The book is good and worth the price for anyone who likes this type of fiction. Buy it! I certainly hope we'll see Mr Jackson again. i

Hell Jackson a gun slinger, with the unwanted help of Everett Howard a reporter, set out to put an end to the strange killings at Death Head Crossing. Reasoner gives you a western murder mystery. He keeps your interest even with the graphic description the murder victims. Each page you turn you hope it has the answer for: Who is "The Hand of God killer? By Ruth Thompson author of "The Blue Grass Dream"

Death Head Crossing is just the name of a little town in Texas - until the population starts shrinking one body at a time. But the deaths are as mysterious as the face of the murderer. Gunslinger Hell Jackson curiosity makes him the ideal man to put a stop to these killings even with the aid of an unwanted partner: Everett Sidney Howard, a cub reporter from New York City looking to make a name for himself riding alongside a famous gunman.

James Reasoner has written a gripping novel in Death Head Crossing. A book that is as much a murder mystery as it is a western. The burnt off faces of the victims making for horrific deaths, which hook the reader with wanting to discover how this happens - and why.

Jackson and Everett make for an unlikely partnership but work very well as a team as they start to compile a list of suspects as the body count continues to grow. The discovery that the killer calls himself "The Hand of God" leading to all kinds of possibilities. And as the hunt of the killer escalates the reader begins to wonder as to the true identity of Hell Jackson too. Of course all this allows James Reasoner to plant all kinds of red-herrings and twists to the tale which in turn draw the reader deeper into the story.

Death Head Crossing is one of the best westerns I've read by James Reasoner and I'd urge all fans of westerns - and mystery murders - to give this one a try, I'm sure you wont be disappointed.

Highly recommended.