Softback. Black title and armed figure image.

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A BRAND-NEW CLASSIC WESTERN SERIES FROM BEST-SELLING AUTHOR B.N. RUNDELL.

Every time he squeezed the trigger, somebody died. He thought it was just the way of the war, but after taking a couple bullets and being mustered out, it continued. When he stood over the ashes of his family’s farm and stared at their graves, the same bile rose in his throat, and he knew somebody was going to have to pay… and pay with their blood. This was to be the beginning of a blood hunt that would take Reuben Grundy across four states, pit him against renegade outlaws posing as the Home Guard for the north, the Bushwhackers of Captain Quantrill and the men in butternut and grey, as well as the mighty Pawnee of the plains. His father had taught young Reuben to never look for others to do what needs to be done, even if it means putting his life on the line. And Reuben would do just that, with his training as one of Berdan’s Sharpshooters at the outset of the war between the states, and his own time beside his father in the woods, Reuben was destined to become one of the most feared hunters of the plains. Whether it was for man or beast, when his sights settled on the target, death was sure to follow.

Review: Revenge! Sure it is a common trope in westerns, but it is one that gets my attention each and every time. “You done my family wrong, now you gotta die!” “You shot my dog, now you gotta die!” “You killed my woman, now you gotta die!”, and the list goes on and on, and I live each and every one.

I came across B. N. Rundell’s The Trail To Redemption: The Plainsmen Western Series Book One a few months ago. It finally weaned its way to the top of my pile. I picked it up and tore through it like a twister!

Reuben Grundy is a soldier in the Union forces during the American Civil War. His time in the army is just about done when he is wounded along with his brother. Before his brother dies, he promises to protect their parents and the rest of the family. When Reuben gets him he finds his parent murdered and their farm burnt to the ground. He finds his sister and husband alive and they tell him that it was “The Home Guard” who did this. Men who are taking advantage of homesteaders, killing them then taking everything of value. The lowest of the low. Reuben goes on the trail of revenge to make these men pay. Reuben discovers that there is more than one home guard. It is a terrible job, but he is fighting for what is right. He will not stop until his God-given job is done.

As a revenge tale goes, this one is close to the top of the list for my favorite. You have a troubled hero who has had a belly full of killing in the war. He understands that he may have to kill again to stop these men from committing evil acts in the name of the home guard. He also understands that revenge may have to take a back seat to doing what is right. The writing is solid, and the story flows quickly. Reuben Grundy is a hero that I enjoyed following. I look further to his next adventures.

The one gripe I have is that the story gets a bit repetitive. Early on Reuben gets his vengeance, but as he travels west with a mother and son, he hears word of another home guard attacking innocent farmers and goes back on the trail. It keeps the story going, but there could have been other things to get the hero embroiled in aside from more vengeance.

Author: B.N. Rundell – Born into a ranching/rodeo family, Bob is the youngest of seven boys. After careers in business, insurance, and 30 years as a Baptist pastor, Bob retired to pursue his dream of writing. In his first year he wrote two #1 bestsellers (Star Dancer and To Keep a Promise) and continues to add to the Buckskin Chronicles series with all the books reaching the top 10 in bestsellers rank! His exciting stories are set in the mid 19th century as historical westerns and are true to history in every detail. He continues to add to the series and now also is branching out to stand alone westerns based on real characters with exciting action and extraordinary plots and supporting characters.