Book Review: Silence Rides Alone by Charles Millsted

This novel was provided to me for free for an honest review.

ISBN: 978-1533388223

Link to authors Facebook page: Charles Milsted

Genre: Western

Print Length: 138 pages

Plot synopsis: J.T. Silence is out to avenge the murder of his family. The final piece in the jigsaw is Silas Brady, currently in the employ, as a gunslinger, by a wealthy rancher, Frank Decker. The killing of Jewish settlers on their way to settle their claim and violent threats against two women ranchers, old friends of Silence, add up to more than a coincidence. When Silence discovers plans by Decker to acquire their land to sell it to a railroad company he knows he has to see both Decker and Brady dead.

Cover: Great atmospheric cover that makes the genre clear.

The plot is a classic western of honest folk struggling against the odds and also against villains that are trying to take their livelihoods away from them. The narration is easy and flowing and so sweeps you along with the trials and tribulations of the main characters, although there were a couple of places where I thought the action was a little curtailed and more could have been done with it. The characters (in particular the women) are well rounded and believable. The dialogue is well integrated into the story line and is also used to develop the character of the main players, again, in particular the women. The settings are well described and do not interrupt the narrative and I could get a genuine sense and feel of where the action was taking place. There are a few minor typos in the book, but not enough to detract from the enjoyment of reading the novel.

I would recommend this novel as a very enjoyable read.

What do others think?

There were no reviews of this novel on Amazon.com or Goodreads.com and a single 5 star review on Amazon.co.uk.