ARC Review: A Town Called Vengeance by Kevin Wolf

A Town Called Vengeance
Author: Kevin Wolf
Series: Brokeheart
Publication: North Star Editions (May 1, 2018)

Description: Faded words on yellowed newsprint tell stories of an Apache war party led by a she-wolf. For the frontier newspaperman, Kepler, the accounts beckon him to finish the battles he fought in the Colorado mountains. Kepler’s quest brings stagecoach attacks, waterless days in the Arizona desert and an unholy alliance with a creature of darkness. In a barroom in a town called Vengeance Kepler faces down the gunman that even Doc Holiday feared. Renegades and gunrunners stand in his way. And his sacrifice may cost the woman he loves. Will his crusade for justice turn to a fight for revenge? In a battle fought with silver bullets and fire, will Kepler’s courage be enough?

My Thoughts: This is the second book in a series that began with BROKEHEART. In this story, Kepler has come with June to Vengeance, Arizona Territory, following rumors of a pack of werewolves. He wants revenge on Landry, the female leader of the pack, because of events that happened in BROKEHEART. Kepler is a gifted newspaperman. He finds that, in addition to the werewolf threat, the town is also being threatened by roving Apache warbands.

When he humiliates an outlaw named Little Jed, Little Jed retaliates by firing a shotgun through Kepler's bedroom window almost killing him and June but Little Jed is in turn killed by a wolf who just happens to be Landry, the wolf Kepler is after. Little Jed's death puts his father Jedidiah Bethea on Kepler's path bent on revenge.

Kepler decides to take June and head for Tombstone with a Pinkerton agent named Orville Powers who is taking a number of women with him. What he doesn't expect is for all of his enemies to band together and set Kepler up for a chase across the Arizona desert to rescue June.

I enjoyed this blending of the tradition Western with werewolves. What confused me a little was Landry's relationship with Kepler. He clearly wanted her dead but she helps him over and over again through the course of this book. I enjoyed Kepler but wished I knew a little more about his backstory. I guess BROKEHEART will have to go on my reading list.

Favorite Quote:

Night and dark fell away, and I saw her plainly. Landry gathered her skirts, knelt, and grazed the bloodstained dirt with her fingers. Her purple-tinged eyes found me, and she touched a fingertip to her tongue.

"Kepler." My name floated on the moonlight, and like the wisp of smoke that carried Little Jed's killer away, she was gone.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.