In the Ralph Compton series "Killing Season", "The Border Empire", "The Dawn of Fury", "The Autumn of the Gun", and "Six Gun and Double Eagles", Mr Compton presents 5 gripping tales of the Southern United States and Mexico.
Each novel adds more to the legend of the Stone Family and it's unyielding path of revenge.
Crossing guns with real life gunmen (The James Gang, Mr Hardin, Billy the Kid, Wild Bill Hickock and Ben Thompson) Nathan Stone makes friends as quickly as enemies.
His son Wes, a carbon copy of his notorious father, adopts the vengeance trail (in The Border Empire) to avenge his fathers death at the command of Cord Sandlin. Cursed with his fathers speed and talent for survival, he brings the killers of Nathan Stone to justice, leaving few alive in his path.
Each chapter, written in Mr Compton's brisk, taut descriptive style brings the reader along and encourages him to read the next page.
The supporting cast of characters is as rich as the period the stories take place in (1860-1890).
El Lobo, Wes Stone's Mejicano compadre, once tried to kill him and now rides along the deadly path of vengeance both follow.
Silver, the government agent, who fought with Nathan Stone, and now his son against the forces of villainy. Ready to send help at a moments notice, he signs his telegrams "21".
Captain Jennings, the quadriplegic army officer, whose accident was avenged by Nathan Stone.
Empty, the faithful canine companion, whose instincts for survival and strategy often saved Wes and Nathan's hides.
And the many women that crossed the death trail that the Stone family left.
In their quest for revenge, Nathan, then Wes, followed a trail fraught with danger. Never ones for abandoning honour at all costs, the father and son left both a reputation for honour and gunplay unequaled in the real west.
The sheer scope of Mr Compton's work in this series is impressive. Many chapters have been (in the past), or could be turned into full novels in their own right.
Mr Compton lives in Gallatin, Tennessee and also writes the Sundown Rider series. All of his western novels have been published by Penguin Putnam. His work has been favourably compared to Louis L'Amour by both the Quannah Tribune and the Huntsville Times.
After reading his work, I agree. Each book is a page turner, and worth the effort.
I look forward to the next installment in the series.
For more information on Ralph Compton, check out http://www.penguinputnam.com under Ralph Compton.
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