In this Western series debut,Fort Worth is the deadliest place on the Texas frontier. Good thing the new sheriff isn’t afraid to die—or kill. “Stay the hell out of Fort Worth.” Those were the last words uttered by the boomtown’s last sheriff. Rail-thin and half starved, desperate cowpuncher Jess Casey ignores the travel advice. Instead, Casey not only enters Fort Worth, he takes the dead man’s job. Now it’s up to him to keep the peace in a body-riddled slice of heaven known as Hell’s Half Acre—home of notorious outlaws like Kurt Koenig and his merciless gang. For Koenig, the only good lawman is a dead one, and he puts a pretty price on Casey’s head. For Casey, that means war. Against him are the frontier’s fastest draw and a host of murderous triggers. On his side are decades of rock-hard Texas living, a couple of ne’er-do-well deputies, and the good sense to do all his talking behind the barrel of a fast-blazing gun . . .
One of NPR's "Books We Love" New York Times Book Review's "The Best True Crime of 2022" "Rich in historical perspective and graced by novelistic touches, grips the reader from first to last.”—Wall Street Journal A suspense filled tale of murder on the American frontier—shedding new light on a family of serial killers in Kansas, whose horrifying crimes gripped the attention of a nation still reeling from war. In 1873 the people of Labette County, Kansas made a grisly discovery. Buried by a trailside cabin beneath an orchard of young apple trees were the remains of countless bodies. Below the cabin itself was a cellar stained with blood. The Benders, the family of four who once resided on the property were nowhere to be found. The discovery sent the local community and national newspapers into a frenzy that continued for decades, sparking an epic manhunt for the Benders. The idea that a family of seemingly respectable homesteaders—one among the thousands relocating farther west in search of land and opportunity after the Civil War—were capable of operating "a human slaughter pen" appalled and fascinated the nation. But who the Benders really were, why they committed such a vicious killing spree and whether justice ever caught up to them is a mystery that remains unsolved to this day. Set against the backdrop of postbellum America, Hell’s Half-Acre explores the environment capable of allowing such horrors to take place. Drawing on extensive original archival material, Susan Jonusas introduces us to a fascinating cast of characters, many of whom have been previously missing from the story. Among them are the families of the victims, the hapless detectives who lost the trail, and the fugitives that helped the murderers escape. Hell’s Half-Acre is a journey into the turbulent heart of nineteenth century America, a place where modernity stalks across the landscape, violently displacing existing populations and building new ones. It is a world where folklore can quickly become fact and an entire family of criminals can slip through a community’s fingers, only to reappear in the most unexpected of places.
Short-story writer and novelist Baer goes for the gory in this follow-up to "Kiss Me, Judas" and "Penny Dreadful." Phineas Poe stumbles his way to San Francisco in search of ex-lover Jude who is under the spell of a wealthy sociopath, who's helping her play out a revenge fantasy.
Welcome to the bloody end of bleeding Kansas… Based on true events, this unforgettable novel tells the story of the Bloody Benders, a family of grifters and thieves running an isolated feed store on the Kansas plains, boarding travelers along the Great Osage Trail. Beautiful Kate Bender was mysterious and well-versed in the dark arts; Ma and Pa were quiet and foreboding, speaking in guttural tones; and young John Bender was thought to be insane. On land soaked with the blood of conflict, the Benders made their home. And one by one, prairie travelers began to disappear… Rooted in history, this is a vivid tale of the Benders’ origins, and how they became some of the most horrific figures in early post-Civil War America. This gruesome Western thriller is perfect for lovers of Sweeney Todd, and fans of John Harwood and Sarah Raynes.
New Rome perches upon the shores of the Thamis River, and in its soot-stained depths a teeming mass of humanity lives under the iron fist of an Empire that never fell to Vandals or Christianity. In the shadows, assassins congregate and secret societies bloom—the Priory, dedicated to worship of the criminal Dead God, and the Hellions, thieves and murderers whose aim is mere freedom. Or so they say. Gemma Dove arrives in New Rome with a small independence and a burning desire: to gain revenge upon those who murdered her parents and drove her beloved aunt to a premature death. The city is a dangerous place, but Gemma has her own secret skills and isn't afraid to use them. She longs to complete her vengeance and return to her safe, beautiful estate across the Channel, but fate has other ideas. His name for now is Avery Black, but they call him the Rook. The young Hellion has sunk himself in vice and treachery, and he knows there's more to Miss Dove than meets the eye. He also knows she's playing a dangerous game, one which will end in her death—unless he takes a hand in matters. It might even be connected to his own vengeance against the Priory, but that's fast becoming a secondary consideration. Under soot-stained skies and flickering gaslamps, from the crowd of thieves and gin-soaked tenements to the glittering whirl of Society, plans, treachery, and counter-betrayal are afoot. Gemma and Avery can deal the Priory a stinging defeat, but that ancient organization has its own plans for Miss Dove, and the Rook might be her only defense… Praise for the author: "Lilith Saintcrow is a master at world building. And her imagination is endless. I can't wait to see what's next."—Cheryl B, Goodreads reviewer of Sons of Ymre: Erik "This writer cannot write a bad book. Her unique writing style literally has me tasting her words and slavering for more. This book better be a series—that's all I'm saying."—Craig Bethel, Amazon reviewer of Sons of Ymre: Erik. "Saintcrow writes stories that are almost always nonstop action from beginning to end. Her women are kick-ass strong, her men ruggedly handsome and dedicated to the women they serve. It isn't a bad combination at all."—CJ Reading of The Watcher Series. About the Author: Lilith Saintcrow lives in Vancouver, Washington, with her children, dogs, cat, a library for wayward texts, and assorted other strays.
USA Today bestselling author: A sheriff fights back when terror takes over his Texas town . . . Bestselling Western writers William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone introduce lawman Jess Casey, a rode-hard, stubborn Texas cowboy with a knack for laying down the law—with a very fast gun . . . One day to live. Seven days to die. Sheriff Jess Carey and his oddball band of sidekicks have pulled off the impossible, taming Hell's Half Acre, the most lawless town in Texas, infamous for murder, mayhem, prostitution, and every random act of bloodshed imaginable. Now the no-good politicians in Austin have decided it's cheaper to dump hordes of criminals on Jess Carey's town than to hang 'em. In one dreadful week it seems as if the gates of Hell have burst open. Freed outlaws, gunslingers, bandits, rapists, desperados, drifters, and miscreants are roaming Hell's Half Acre—and Jess and his deputies are running out of bullets fast. As the fighting rages, some ruthless, powerful men see their chance to kill Sheriff Jess Carey and take the town for their own . . .
"About: C.E. Pullen His father, was Charles Eugene (Gene) Pullen, Sr., a sculptor whose works are on display at Pebble Hill Plantation in Thomasville, Georgia and The Little White House in Warm Springs. His mother, Lula Moncrief Reichert, a gifted musician, played the piano, guitar, banjo, and mandolin. Inheriting the talents of both parents, each encouraged the development of C.E.'s abilities. Some of his early years were spent in a community on the Georgia-Florida state line, known as "Hell's Half Acre." As a teenager, he lost his right eye to a failed prank. The accident left him unable to complete high school or enter the service in World War II. C.E. joined the Civil Service instead and entered a tool and die-maker apprenticeship at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. Pullen never regarded himself as handicapped by the loss of his eye. In the 50s and 60s, he worked for Perkin Elmer Corporation. Named the company's number one Senior Model Maker, Pullen was the builder for projects in collaboration with MIT and NASA. Such specialized projects included a spectrometer launched in space for stellar analysis and prototypes for the lunar LASER retroreflectors used for measuring distance precisely. Apollo astronauts permanently positioned the equipment on the Moon's surface to refine the scientific measurement from earth to the surface to an accuracy of +/- 3 inches. His musical career began as a child regularly playing banjo on the radio. Pullen's musical abilities allowed him to perform with many of the Grand Ole Opry greats. He became friends with numerous professional musicians, and for some was their preferred choice when repairs were required on their instruments. Pullen designed and built his one-of-a-kind banjo. He was a featured Georgian in Oglethorpe's Dream, published by the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade, and Tourism in 2001. The Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame inducted C.E. Pullen in 2017"--Back cover
