Once a Marshal

Rating:
Summary: Once a Marshal
Review: "Once a Marshal" is the first in a series of Westerns by Peter Brandvold. Jody Harmon calls on Ben Stillman, a retired marshal, to investigate the murder of his father Bill, a friend of Stillman's, in Clantick in the Montana territory. When Ben arrives he finds that a rich Englishman, Donovan Hobbs, is rustling cattle from small ranches and killing the ranchers. Ben feels that perhaps one of Hobbs' gunmen may be responsible for Bill Harmon's death. Ben also meets Fay, his one true love. The only problem is that Fay is married to Donovan Hobbs. This was my first Peter Brandvold novel, and I think it is one of the finest Westerns I've ever read. There is plenty of suspense and I couldn't put this book down until I finished it. I look forward to reading the rest of the Ben Stillman Westerns. Peter Brandvold is an excellent writer!

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Summary: "A savage place...As e'er beneath a waning moon..."
Review: Any Western novel that uses a quote from Samuel Taylor Coleridge at the beginning is worth a look. One of the challenges of writing good Western fiction is making the familiar elements seem fresh and exciting. In addition, avoiding the bland plot formulas of TV and many paperback Western stories is necessary. Peter Brandvold's story of aging lawman Ben Stillman, although a variation of the "riding the vengeance trail" stories, meets these expectations. His characters appear true to life. Ben Stillman is hardly an indestructible superhero. He bruises and bleeds, as anyone. He also tenaciously stays on the killers' trail. The villains are more one-dimensional in their lust, greed, and violence. Donovan Hobbs diminishes to a caricature. Weed Cole is a good portrait of a real Western badman. There is violence and sex in this story. Branvold avoids the gratuitous of both as they emanate from logical plot and character development. This is a '90s Western. The women are tough and independent, but also lusty and desirable. Fay Hobbs holds the reader's attention, and does more than wait around for rescue. The setting up north on the Hi-Line is a welcome change from Arizona sagebrush and dusty Texas spreads. The plot takes a little time to get moving. Beyond this minor quibble, it gathers steam as a locomotive in motion that roars to a thunderous destination. This book is a promising first novel that captures the flavor of the old West without the standard "mixture as before" pitfalls. The epilogue demonstrates this nicely. Good, lightweight reading. ;-)

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Summary: ONCE A MARSHALL BUT ALWAYS A LAWMAN!!!!!
Review: Ben Stillman may be retired but he will always think like a lawman. Joey Harmon, son of Ben's old friend, came looking for him after his father was killed. He is sure he was killed by Donavan Hobbs but wants Ben to find out for sure. Ben cannot refuse and takes on the job. His ex-sweetheart show up in the form of Fay Hobbs, wife of Donavan. Ben is like the rest of us, he makes mistakes, is shot, beaten up and can bleed. His main enemy is Donovan Hobbs and his number one hired gun Weed Cole. Weed????? Through thick and thin Ben tries to work things out. Crystal Johnson, girl friend of Jody Harmon is a good character. Tough as nails, shoots like a man. Leon McMannigle comes into play as a good sidekick to Ben. I hope he is in additional books. A very good western. Lots of action. You can relate to Ben as he is no super hero---just a plain one. If you like a book that is fast moving with a good story you will like this one.

Rating:
Summary: ONCE A MARSHALL BUT ALWAYS A LAWMAN!!!!!
Review: Ben Stillman may be retired but he will always think like a lawman. Joey Harmon, son of Ben's old friend, came looking for him after his father was killed. He is sure he was killed by Donavan Hobbs but wants Ben to find out for sure. Ben cannot refuse and takes on the job. His ex-sweetheart show up in the form of Fay Hobbs, wife of Donavan. Ben is like the rest of us, he makes mistakes, is shot, beaten up and can bleed. His main enemy is Donovan Hobbs and his number one hired gun Weed Cole. Weed????? Through thick and thin Ben tries to work things out. Crystal Johnson, girl friend of Jody Harmon is a good character. Tough as nails, shoots like a man. Leon McMannigle comes into play as a good sidekick to Ben. I hope he is in additional books. A very good western. Lots of action. You can relate to Ben as he is no super hero---just a plain one. If you like a book that is fast moving with a good story you will like this one.

Rating:
Summary: This Story Draws You in and Keeps You Coming Back For More
Review: I am not a Western Story reader, in fact this was my first book in the genre. (I ordered the book as a curiosity after hearing about it from someone who knows Brandvold.)

What an entertaining surprise! Brandvold's opener got my blood pumping and drew me into the lives of his characters almost instantly. His highly descriptive writing brought me so close to the settings and the people that I could actually smell the whiskey and feel the passion.

Thank you Mr.Brandvold for a very satisfying read and a wonderful introduction to Westerns.

Rating:
Summary: Move over, McMurtry
Review: I've always loved westerns... movies, that is. This is the first one I have ever read. But I wager I'll read 10 more Brandvolds-- and more as they come along. I read it because I went to grad school with this young man. Young? How the hell old is he now? How the hell old am I? Actually, I feel about 10 years younger than before reading this book.... Excitement peels away the years. A well-wrought yarn, complex but tightly written. Powerful descriptive details and original metaphor. Characters you know so well you want to hold them, marry them, sit down to dinner with them... and others ya just want to choke the life out of. I'll probably never read another western --except one by Peter Brandvold. And you can believe I'm just itching for the cameras to start rolling.

Rating:
Summary: Move over, McMurtry
Review: I've always loved westerns... movies, that is. This is the first one I have ever read. But I wager I'll read 10 more Brandvolds-- and more as they come along. I read it because I went to grad school with this young man. Young? How the hell old is he now? How the hell old am I? Actually, I feel about 10 years younger than before reading this book.... Excitement peels away the years. A well-wrought yarn, complex but tightly written. Powerful descriptive details and original metaphor. Characters you know so well you want to hold them, marry them, sit down to dinner with them... and others ya just want to choke the life out of. I'll probably never read another western --except one by Peter Brandvold. And you can believe I'm just itching for the cameras to start rolling.

Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: This book offers excitement on every page. When you begin reading this book it seems like you cannot put it down;it is true you can't put it down. Peter Brandvold is an extrodinary western novilist and I hope he keeps on writing.

This review comes straight from my heart because he is my fiance's uncle.

love ya pete

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book!!!
Review: When you read this book you get so involved that you lose track of time. It is a western, a love story, actually two love stories, and a mystery all in one. I hope that Brandvold will again bring us more of Ben Stillman, the book's hero. The book is very descriptive, giving you the feeling that you are right there watching the characters as they go through the good and bad things that happen to them thoughout the story. I recommend "Once a Marshall" to all western readers.