Customer Reviews

Death Rattle

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Titus Bass strikes again! If you've read the other books in this series, I'm sure you already ache to follow Titus on another adventure, so pick this up.

Johnston is a great writer, easily on a par with Elmer Kelton or Kirby Jonas or Louis L'Amour. Well worth the read!

Having read and reread all of Terry Johnston's series with Titus (Scratch)Bass.I love how the characters from his past keep popping up in his life. This installment is no exception as we get to say hello again to old friends from the past. This is a great story if you are familiar with the rest of the series.

Have read all of Terry's Tiltus Bass novels and find them to be not only great stories but also great history lessons of the American West. I have a special interest in Terry's Titus Bass books as he mentions people in the novels that my great grandparents knew, such as John McLouglin, Robert "Doc" Newell and Joe Meek. My great grandmother's sister married Doc Newell a number of years after he had retired from beaver trapping and setteled in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Keep an eye out for the last Titus Bass novel later this year titled Wind Walker.

A pat on the back for this seller! Not only was the "used" book in practically brand new condition, but the transaction was smoothly done, no issues. Thank you so much!

i was very happy with the service i got and the speed in witch i got my product. will shop with amazon again

Because I'd read all the other books with Titus Bass, I had to read this one. But, this is clearly not Johnston's best work. Whereas the other novels were fast paced and exciting, this one is much slower and in places tedious. Maybe it's because Titus is aging; he's just naturally slowing down.

Titus Bass, variously a cattle rustler, a trapper, a doting husband and father, and a man with a serious "rep" in and around the 1840s Rocky Mountains, is one of those heroes that transmogrifies from book to book, sequel to sequel. Unfortunately for those of us dummies who start reading the series in the middle, there's a lot of old war stories that just don't make sense. Half of this book cannot be read unless you know the prior goings-on. Too bad, because the other half could stand on its own. In this free-standing half, we have the story of Titus (aka "Scratch") joining up with his trapper buds (and some not so buds) to steal horses from the Mexicans in California. There's much excitement in this endeavor, and no little killing. Following which there's a boring interlude in which Scratch makes his way through the mountains back to his wife and kids. They all set out for Taos, NM, although you have to be privy to earlier books to have the slightest idea why (characters from earlier books pop in and out constantly, with no other introduction to speak of, except little footnotes which Mr. Johnston is kind enough to supply, indicating which of his prequels will reference the individual). In Taos, a real hair-raising scenario ends the book, based on history, apparently. The killing which takes place there makes the American Psycho look like Peter Pan. Thus, the good, the bad, and the many passages you can skip. Diximus.

Howdy folks. James Drury here. You might remember me from the Virginian. I don't read many of Terry Johnston's books, but I read this one and I want to leave you some of my thoughts. First, it's a shame to have Terry Johnston gone. He left us way too young, and cancer got another one. I do enjoy Johnston's stuff, but I have to say it's a little rough for my tastes. I read all of Kirby Jonas's novels on audio tape, and Kirby has a similar flair to Johnston as far as historical authenticity but without the bite of graphic violence, too much cussing, and other things just better left to the imagination. I know I sound like I'm slamming an author who was well-loved by many and always will be. I don't mean to slam him, and I do recommend this and all of his books if you are strong of stomach. For a milder, but still authentic taste of the West, read Kirby Jonas's books or listen to me read them on audio. Thanks for hearing me out.