Wolf Spencer

by Joe Prentis

Wolf Spencer is the first book in the Renegade series, a Western novel set in Colorado, Territory in the 1870s. These books are old-fashioned Western fiction in the tradition of John Jakes.

ebook

First published February 5, 2012

About the author

I cannot remember a time when I was not reading. Books have always been an important part of my life, and I continue to be fascinated by the many wonderful things I discover each time I sit down in my favorite chair and open a book. When I was growing up, we moved frequently, living in cities, as well as in small towns, and on a working farm in a rural area. The sharp contrast of each of these places caused me to love and appreciate the busy and varied experience cities had to offer, but also the quiet life of being close to nature in the countryside. I was impressed early on by the vast differences between the geographic areas of the country, and the part ethnic background, social differences, and education played in the lives of people. Books about history, science, romance, mystery and suspense, have always presented an irresistible attraction to me. Writing is my way of introducing others to the things I have observed and experienced. I mostly read and write suspense novels, but cannot resist the temptation of Historical Fiction, or anything that deals with nature. I have just finished a suspense novel called ‘Innocent’ which will be out before the end of September, 2009. I am currently working on ‘The Relic,’ the second book in a series about the religious and political problems in the Middle East. I am doing research on a novel about the Colonial era.

Reviews

[Hemant Jadhav · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover and title of the book, ‘Wolf Spencer,’ conjures up images of a ‘hell on wheels’ quintessential hero of western dime novels, who rides into town and a couple of hundred pages later, rides into the sunset, leaving the town wreathed in gun smoke and most of the population, pushing up the daisies in Boot hill.

This would be the established line which most western novelists usually follow, in fact the opening sentences of the book itself promises just that;

‘If Wolf Spencer saw the gallows as he rode into town, there was no indication in his manner except for the almost imperceptible turning of his eyes under the shade of his flat-brimmed hat.’

Now that should have got the ball rolling quite nicely for most novels of this genre, but Joe Prentis forks a trail of his own, into a more authentic scenario which captures the essence of the real frontier which springs up into stark relief, helped by the accuracy of the facts and attention to details pertinent to the period.

Such as.....one of the characters is bushwhacked from four hundred yards and the slug drills through the hapless fella, from front to back.
As it most certainly would have, since the effective range of the Sharps’ .50 caliber rifle (primarily a buffalo gun which also doubled as a sniper rifle) was five hundred yards.

Also, there is a description of the Stamp Mill at the Gold Mine and reason for changing the Mill, which also is in keeping with the technology of the times.

Then there are the other small things, such as the way the grass is trampled down ‘backwards’ in a pattern unique to each horse’s gait… the book is replete with many more such nuggets of information, which reveal that Joe has really creaked a lot of saddle leather in his quest to write an authentic period western.

But mere accuracy of facts does not guarantee holding the reader’s interest, this is where Joe’s strides lengthen.

Joe has weaved in a multitude cast of complex characters, which are so very skillfully handled; that none of them lose their relevance to the storyline nor dampen the pace.

Very gradually he brings the story to a boil, revealing the complexities in each character, till suddenly you find yourself at the end…. though there is a lingering promise of a continuation of the story in the next book of the series.

I enjoyed Joe’s style of writing and eagerly look forward to reading more of Wolf Spencer’s sojourn at Rimrock.

[Theresa Needham fehse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Free book for honest review. juliesbookreview.blogspot.com

The opening of this book reads like a Clint Eastwood / Sergio Leone spaghetti western.
Credit goes to Joe Prentis for a cinematic vision and being able to write in a style that
captures the details of the Old West. If you like reading Westerns this first book of
Prentis’ Renegade series will keep your interest. It has the makings of establishing a
new genre. Call it the Western as Mystery.
Wolf Spencer is a man with a past. Who he is and why are part of the mystery.Why did
he leave the town that opens memorably with, ”If Wolf Spancer saw the gallows as he
rode into town, there was no indication...under the shade of his flat­brimmed hat”? Why
did he come back? Does he love Shannon? Does Shannon love him? What happened
between them? Who are the bad guys? Who are the good guys? It’s the kids’ game of
Cowboys and Indians all over again with a twist ­ not all the Indians are bad guys.
Many questions arise and many answers are given. But many answers are not given.
You have to read the whole Renegade series to get all the answers I guess.
4 Stars
William