The Reckoning (A Jess Williams Novel) [Kindle Edition]

Robert J. Thomas (Author), Jill B. Thomas (Editor), Barb Gunia (Illustrator), Dave Hile (Illustrator)

Book Description

Don't let the prologue of this book fool you; this is a western novel.

The Reckoning is the first in the series of Jess Williams western novels written by Robert J. Thomas. Jess Williams is an ordinary young boy with a loving family growing up in Black Creek, Kansas. That all changes when he comes home and finds his entire family brutally murdered.

Forced to become a man overnight, he vows to avenge his family's savage deaths. He begins to practice with his Pa's Colt .45 and then a stroke of destiny arrives when he discovers a new pistol and holster that mysteriously appears. Jess practices with it relentlessly until he becomes so quick that he is unbeatable on the draw.

He leaves home transformed from a boy to a highly skilled shootist with no reason to live except to hunt down and kill each of the three men responsible for the murders of his family. As he begins his journey, he does so with a pistol and holster that no one has ever seen before--and won't again for almost one-hundred years.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I love the Jess Williams character. Young, tough, deadly and compassionate, all rolled up into one personality. Wow!" -- James Elrod, a reader from Ohio.

"I loved "The Reckoning" and the character. The Author has me waiting for book two! -- Keith Madden, a reader from Michigan

"I loveded 'The Reckoning' and the character. The Author has me waiting for book two!" -- Keith Madden, a reader from Michigan

"One raw tale of extreme revenge. I could feel the main character change as the story progressed. I'm a believer!" -- Eric Lockhart, a reader from Tennessee.

"That's the way I like my westerns. No holds barred, anything goes! Four thumbs up for the Author." -- Mark Neal, a reader from Michigan

"The Reckoning was excellent! The Author has me hooked and I can't wait to read 'Brother's Keeper.'" -- Michael Reddy, Publisher of "The Grateful Gadsby"

"I love the Jess Williams character. Young, tough, deadly and compassionate, all rolled up into one personality. Wow!" -- James Elrod, a reader from Ohio.

"I loved "The Reckoning" and the character. The Author has me waiting for book two! -- Keith Madden, a reader from Michigan

"I loveded 'The Reckoning' and the character. The Author has me waiting for book two!" -- Keith Madden, a reader from Michigan

"One raw tale of extreme revenge. I could feel the main character change as the story progressed. I'm a believer!" -- Eric Lockhart, a reader from Tennessee.

"That's the way I like my westerns. No holds barred, anything goes! Four thumbs up for the Author." -- Mark Neal, a reader from Michigan

"The Reckoning was excellent! The Author has me hooked and I can't wait to read 'Brother's Keeper.'" --Michael Reddy, Publisher of "The Grateful Gadsby"

All I can say is WOW! I was a little reluctant when I read the fact about the main character in the story having a gun and holster that no one has seen before and wouldn't for almost one-hundred years but after I picked it up, I could not put it down! Talk about justice and action! If you are tired of reading the same old style of westerns, read this one. The author claimed that he wanted to create an exciting new twist to the old western novel and he accomplished it with this book and especially with this character, Jess Williams. I can't wait for book two, Brother's Keeper! --Tim Abramski, retired police officer.

I love to read western novels with a lot of action. I've read a lot of westerns but I have to admit, I've never read one quite like this. I couldn't believe the raw and brutal justice this young man, Jess Williams, hands out. This is absolutely a different brand of western novels and if you like action, you'll love this one! --Adam Hammons, a reader from Michigan

What a rollicking tale of raw revenge and shoot-"em-up action. The idea of this young man in 1876 getting his hands on a gun and holster designed for fast-draw competition from the future threw me off a little. Once I got past that, it made for a great story packed with more action than the last ten westerns I've read. This one has got to be a hit! --A cowboy action competitor from the big state of Texas.

The book started a little slow to build the essence of the mindset of the main character, Jess Williams. Only 14 years old when his family is brutally murdered; You can actually feel and sense the character change in the beginning of the book and from then on, the book is one tale of deadly justice handed out by a character molded by a life-changing event. Once you pick this book up, you can't put it down! --Cindy, an avid western reader from New Mexico.

From the Publisher

"The Reckoning is just the first in the series of Jess Williams western novels. Book two, 'Brother's Keeper,' will be out in 2004 and book three, 'Sins of The Father,' should be available in late 2004 or early 2005. The Author plans on at least ten novels based on the exciting new character, Jess Williams.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 399 KB
• Print Length: 304 pages
• Publisher: R & T Enterprise Inc.; First Edition edition (July 10, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005C5Z31Y
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,559 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jess Williams, tough talk, bent on revenge, and quick draw! March 20, 2004

By William R. Wild

Format:Paperback

I'm not usually a big western reader, but the Reckoning changed that! My favorite part of the book is the tough talk between the Gunslingers when it is time to "throw down!"

I can't wait to find out if Jess's brother is "friend or foe" in "My Brother's Keeper".

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Decent Western September 6, 2012

By harrinpt

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I didn't expect a work of literary greatness when I got this book, and I have to say that I got what I expected. Definitely readable, but not anything spectacular. It was pretty gritty for a western, but there wasn't a whole lot of drama or suspense. The main character becomes lightening fast with his guns by the age of 16, and then kills the men responsible for the murder of his family. He accomplishes that task with no trouble whatsoever....and the way it is written, you didn't even think he was going to have any trouble. All in all, a decent book that could have been better.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Its Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! January 9, 2004

By Eric Lockhart

Format:Paperback

"The Reckoning" is amazingly written. A gut wrenching story of a young boy's Revenge for the death of his father, Rape and murder of his mother and sister. Armed with his fathers colt peacemaker and a mysterious gun and holster, Jess Williams becomes the fastest and most accurate draw in the west. I highly recomend this great book.

More About the Author

Robert J. Thomas began working as a meter reader at the City of Westland, Michigan, in September of 1970. He continued working there for 20 years, literally holding every position possible from being the dog warden to cleaning sanitary sewers. He was heavily involved in the union for the Department of Public Service. He started out as a Union Stewart and worked his way up to being President of A.F.S.C.M.E. Local 1602. The experience he learned in that position led him to run for the offfice of mayor, which he won, and then sucessfully went on to win two reelections to the office of mayor, making him, still today, the longest serving mayor in Westland's history. The same tenacity he used to win the mayor's seat, is the same tenacity he uses in his writing career.

While he was Mayor he wrote his first book titled, "How to Run for Local Office," which has now sold over 25,000 copies worldwide. He has since went on to write the second edition of "How to Run for Local Office." He has written and published a total of sixteen books so far.

His proudest achievment is the western series of Jess Williams Novels. He has written and published on Kindle, twelve books in the series of Jess Williams westerns. the latest book is titled Wanted, which went online on Christmas day in 2012. He plans on continuing the series and hopes to put out at least ten more in 2013.

Amazon Kindle has been a life saver for Robert. Without the possibility of Kindle, Robert's publishing career would have went the way of so many other smaller publishers; Bankrupt. Kindle has allowed him to continue with the Jess Williams series of western books and all his efforts will be focused on that series alone for the next few years.

He now lives in Mississippi, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico with his beautiful wife Jill. At his work table, he has a beautiful view of the ocean while he continues to write more Jess Williams adventures for reader to enjoy!