Praise for Two-Time Spur Award winner Brett Cogburn:
“The description and detail are so vivid, the reader must resist the inclination to…check for bullet wounds.” —True West Magazine
“Readers who enjoy tall tales built around real history—and aren’t turned off by the sight of a bit of blood—will enjoy this read.” —Booklist
“Fans of frontier arcana will revel in Cogburn’s readable prose and lively characters.” —Publishers Weekly on Rooster
“Cogburn relishes his genre, and he’s as good a writer as his heroes are horsemen. Unlike many westerns, whose plot straight-lines from beginning to end, This Side of Hell takes us on generous detours into the backstories of the characters, good and bad, without getting redemptionist about it. The abundance of eccentric origin tales and Cogburn’s skillful evocation of setting give western lovers a lot more to chomp on than those poor horsies ever get.” —Historical Novels Review on This Side of Hell
“[Cogburn’s] richly described narrative style offers enough background to Jones’ life and past to allow readers to jump into the series and enjoy the unfolding action. Inspired by the notoriety and danger of real-life mining towns, Cogburn’s historical details are sandwiched between cinematic fights and dialogue that evokes classic Westerns. The familiar ambiance of the Western is kept fresh in Cogburn’s sure hands.” —Historical Novels Review on Gunpowder Express
“Brett Cogburn gets it right, and not just when it comes to cowboys. This well-written novel offers up a cast of complex characters in complicated relationships far removed from the simplistic caricatures so common in traditional Westerns.” —Roundup Magazine on Panhandle
“[Cogburn] has blended family lore and good research to produce an entertaining portrait.” —The Dallas Morning News on Rooster
“[Cogburn] amazes and astounds us with the true-life story of his great-grandfather, a mountain man and moonshiner whose blood feud with a deputy U.S. marshal led to Cogburn being arrested for murder. There’s also a rather sweet romantic story line—Can an outlaw find true love in the Wild West?—and plenty of history about the time in which Cogburn lived. Written in a fast-paced, novelistic style (the author’s first western novel is coming out in November), the book is sure to appeal to fans of Wild West history and to readers who would like to believe that True Grit has real-life connections.” —Booklist on Rooster
“A Gritty Read. Cogburn’s research helps lend the novel an authentic feel that even those not familiar with the period’s history can appreciate…While Panhandle delivers its share of action, it is primarily character-driven…it is the supporting characters who make the story crackle. From the roguish Billy Champion to the lovely Barbara, who has claim on both Tennessee’s and Billy’s affections—everyone contributes their share to Cogburn’s illustration of the human condition.” —The Oklahoma Gazette on Panhandle
“Cogburn has created a wonderful set of characters…[his] prose is extremely readable, and he mixes plot twists, action and plenty of humour perfectly, making this a very enjoyable read.” —Western Fiction Review on Widowmaker Jones
QUICK VIEW
