Rattler's Reckoning
(2026)(The first book in the Marshal Gideon Driscoll series)
A novel by Richard Barris and Paul L Thompson
Some men wear a badge. Others carry the weight of an entire town.
Crossroads was never an easy place to keep the peace, but Marshal Gideon Driscoll has spent enough years on the frontier to know that most trouble can be settled with patience, grit, and the steady presence of the law. That changes when a dying government land examiner arrives carrying evidence of a massive land fraud, leaving behind a frightened young son and a trail of murder that leads directly to one of the most powerful cattle barons in the territory. With innocent families caught in the middle and every road watched by armed riders, Driscoll finds himself standing between justice and a conspiracy willing to kill anyone who gets too close to the truth.
As forged deeds, stolen brands, and bloody intimidation spread across the range, Driscoll is forced into a relentless fight against enemies who command wealth, influence, and hired guns in equal measure. Together with telegraph operator Ellie Calder, loyal deputy Ledge Bickford, and the orphaned Jasper Quill, he must uncover the evidence before corruption swallows Crossroads whole and the frontier's fragile rule of law collapses beneath the weight of greed.
Every victory comes at a cost, every clue draws more deadly attention, and every showdown pushes Driscoll closer to men who believe the West belongs to whoever is ruthless enough to seize it. Outnumbered but unwilling to yield, he discovers that justice on the frontier is rarely won in a courtroom, but often earned at the end of a rifle barrel by those willing to risk everything for what is right.
Packed with gripping gunfights, authentic frontier atmosphere, memorable characters, and a mystery that builds from the opening pages to a deeply satisfying conclusion, Rattler's Reckoning is a classic Western adventure that delivers both action and heart. If you enjoy hard-bitten lawmen, sprawling cattle-country intrigue, and stories where honor is tested against overwhelming odds, you'll want to saddle up for Gideon Driscoll's first unforgettable adventure.
Genre: Western
Crossroads was never an easy place to keep the peace, but Marshal Gideon Driscoll has spent enough years on the frontier to know that most trouble can be settled with patience, grit, and the steady presence of the law. That changes when a dying government land examiner arrives carrying evidence of a massive land fraud, leaving behind a frightened young son and a trail of murder that leads directly to one of the most powerful cattle barons in the territory. With innocent families caught in the middle and every road watched by armed riders, Driscoll finds himself standing between justice and a conspiracy willing to kill anyone who gets too close to the truth.
As forged deeds, stolen brands, and bloody intimidation spread across the range, Driscoll is forced into a relentless fight against enemies who command wealth, influence, and hired guns in equal measure. Together with telegraph operator Ellie Calder, loyal deputy Ledge Bickford, and the orphaned Jasper Quill, he must uncover the evidence before corruption swallows Crossroads whole and the frontier's fragile rule of law collapses beneath the weight of greed.
Every victory comes at a cost, every clue draws more deadly attention, and every showdown pushes Driscoll closer to men who believe the West belongs to whoever is ruthless enough to seize it. Outnumbered but unwilling to yield, he discovers that justice on the frontier is rarely won in a courtroom, but often earned at the end of a rifle barrel by those willing to risk everything for what is right.
Packed with gripping gunfights, authentic frontier atmosphere, memorable characters, and a mystery that builds from the opening pages to a deeply satisfying conclusion, Rattler's Reckoning is a classic Western adventure that delivers both action and heart. If you enjoy hard-bitten lawmen, sprawling cattle-country intrigue, and stories where honor is tested against overwhelming odds, you'll want to saddle up for Gideon Driscoll's first unforgettable adventure.
Genre: Western
Used availability for Paul L Thompson's Rattler's Reckoning