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James Pruett Mystery #1
Blood Land
Crime's an ugly constant in the big city. L.A. Chicago. New York. But when a savage murder brutalizes a small town and neighbor turns on neighbor, a tough-as-nails cop is essential to restoring order. Blood Land is a gritty, emotional saga set in the Wyoming badlands with both greed and vengeance at its core.
When billions of dollars in natural gas rights hang in the balance and the town's top law officer's wife is slain by her own blood, a reluctant hero is forced to battle his own demons and ultimately choose between justice, revenge, and duty.
In the tradition of Dennis Lehane, Tony Hillerman and James Lee Burke, Guthrie's sparse, haunting storytelling compliments his talent for creating richly-drawn, unflinching law officers with human frailties and a sense of justice.
When billions of dollars in natural gas rights hang in the balance and the town's top law officer's wife is slain by her own blood, a reluctant hero is forced to battle his own demons and ultimately choose between justice, revenge, and duty.
In the tradition of Dennis Lehane, Tony Hillerman and James Lee Burke, Guthrie's sparse, haunting storytelling compliments his talent for creating richly-drawn, unflinching law officers with human frailties and a sense of justice.
223 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2012
672 people are currently reading
1782 people want to read
About the author
R.S. Guthrie
15 books319 followersR. S. Guthrie has been writing fiction for several years.
Black Beast
is the first in the series of Detective Bobby Mac Thriller books featuring Denver detective Bobby Mac.
L O S T is the second book in the popular Paranormal Mystery-Detective series; the third book, Reckoning, is now out that closes out the Detective Bobby Mac Thriller trilogy (though it is not the final Detective Bobby Mac book).
Guthrie finished his Mystery/Thriller novel set in Wyoming that has been beset by Big Oil, the millions of dollars that come with them, and the murder of a lawman's wife entitled Blood Land . The story takes place in a fictional town in his home state of Wyoming and was published in 2012. A pre-release excerpt was featured in the June 2011 issue of New West magazine. Money Land, second in the Sheriff James Pruett series, continued the saga of the Wyoming lawman and was published in late 2012; Honor Land, next in the series is scheduled for release is Summer of 2013.
The author currently lives in Colorado with his beautiful wife, Amy, three Australian Shepherds, and a Chihuahua who thinks she is a forty-pound Aussie. It is a widely known fact that the canines rule the Guthrie household.
L O S T is the second book in the popular Paranormal Mystery-Detective series; the third book, Reckoning, is now out that closes out the Detective Bobby Mac Thriller trilogy (though it is not the final Detective Bobby Mac book).
Guthrie finished his Mystery/Thriller novel set in Wyoming that has been beset by Big Oil, the millions of dollars that come with them, and the murder of a lawman's wife entitled Blood Land . The story takes place in a fictional town in his home state of Wyoming and was published in 2012. A pre-release excerpt was featured in the June 2011 issue of New West magazine. Money Land, second in the Sheriff James Pruett series, continued the saga of the Wyoming lawman and was published in late 2012; Honor Land, next in the series is scheduled for release is Summer of 2013.
The author currently lives in Colorado with his beautiful wife, Amy, three Australian Shepherds, and a Chihuahua who thinks she is a forty-pound Aussie. It is a widely known fact that the canines rule the Guthrie household.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
November 25, 2017
One murder will rock a small town to its very foundations when deeply rooted lies and unlimited greed prove that crimes of the most vicious nature don’t only happen in the big cities. One tough-as-nails sheriff will face more than the demons in his town as his past rears its ugly head and his estranged daughter comes back into his life.
Imagine having to hunt down the killer of your own wife. Imagine it being her own blood who murdered her. Sheriff James Pruett will have to decide between justice, vengeance and his duty to the law as he uncovers the skeletons in the closets of the town he once thought of as peaceful and quiet.
BLOOD LAND by R. S. Guthrie reads like a modern day Wild West tale, raw, unruly and untamed. Characters that jump off the pages with a sense of personality, small town minds and small town ways take front seat in a gritty tale of life and death.
A great read for intrigue fans who enjoy helping to uncover the dirty little secrets that lay beneath the surface.
Series: James Pruett Mystery - Book 1
Publisher: Wind River Press, Inc. (July 6, 2012)
Publication Date: July 6, 2012
Genre: Mystery
Print Length: 231 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Imagine having to hunt down the killer of your own wife. Imagine it being her own blood who murdered her. Sheriff James Pruett will have to decide between justice, vengeance and his duty to the law as he uncovers the skeletons in the closets of the town he once thought of as peaceful and quiet.
BLOOD LAND by R. S. Guthrie reads like a modern day Wild West tale, raw, unruly and untamed. Characters that jump off the pages with a sense of personality, small town minds and small town ways take front seat in a gritty tale of life and death.
A great read for intrigue fans who enjoy helping to uncover the dirty little secrets that lay beneath the surface.
Series: James Pruett Mystery - Book 1
Publisher: Wind River Press, Inc. (July 6, 2012)
Publication Date: July 6, 2012
Genre: Mystery
Print Length: 231 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
September 11, 2012
Please note: Reposting review to remove title reference, as the author is changing the title of this book. Author is also making this the beginning of a series, so will look forward to the next book in this series of thrillers.
Book Info: Genre: Dark Western Crime fiction Reading Level: Adult
Disclosure: The author was kind enough to send me a copy because I couldn’t afford it and wanted to read it. The least I can do in response is to provide an honest review.
Synopsis: In the taming of the West, the prairies, they bled. There was war between the white man and the Native American, the outlaw against the honorable, the harsh elements against anything that crawled or thirsted — yet as scurrilous and unforgiving as bloodletting always is, much still represented a kind of progress toward the future. Not always fair; not always judicious; not always kind.
But it is 2012, and though we call ourselves more civilized, little has changed. The greedy still steal the land, the rich still get richer, murder still happens. This book is set in the prime of the twenty-first century Wyoming gas boom, when some landowners become rich and others get nothing but ruined roads; fortunes are made or lost on what some would call a toss of the legal dice.
When a terrible murder rocks a small town — when Sheriff James Pruett himself loses his beloved – the prairies, they WILL bleed again. How many will die this time, in honor and in vain?
My Thoughts: I just finished reading the first two books in the Clan MacAulay series by this author, and find them to be solid and readable. Guthrie has called this book his magnum opus and I was curious to see what he had written here.
The tone of this book is beautifully written – it really captures the feel of a ranching community, and the sort of taciturn, internal men who live in such a place, like Sheriff Pruett, come through so realistically. I grew up on a ranch, and in a small, agricultural community – although in Montana, not Wyoming – and it felt very familiar to me, reading this book.
One thing that Guthrie did with this book was to keep as many secrets as possible from the reader for as long as possible. Some of the secrets were things that the townsfolk would’ve known, but not really talked about (one extreme shocker was about Pruett himself and came up at 69 percent). Others were the sorts of things that folks probably wouldn’t know and also wouldn’t talk about. While there aren’t a lot of secrets in a small town, where everyone knows everyone else and gossip is known to fly like the wind, there will always things that simply aren’t talked about – maybe the insiders know about them, maybe they don’t, but they definitely will not talk about them with newcomers or outsiders. Since this little town is currently in the middle of an oil boom, there are a lot of outsiders from whom to keep secrets, and I think this is the sort of atmosphere that Guthrie was trying to create with this book. And, if I may say so, I felt he did it brilliantly. Again, based upon the small town in which I grew up – which is very similar to the one Guthrie creates in this book – the whole thing felt very authentic and familiar.
There are a lot of ways in which this book is very, very dark, yet there is hope blooming deep down inside by the end. It’s kind of like spring up in Montana where I grew up – there is still snow all around, but if you know where to look, back in the hills where the sun warms the ground a bit more than other places, you can find the crocuses pushing up through the snow.
I liked it. I really did. There were times during the course of the book where I didn’t, but that was a knee-jerk, emotional response to some difficult subject matter. I decided to sleep on this review before finishing it up and posting it, and during my nap I processed it a bit more, and I, at the end of it all, definitely liked it. If this sounds like the sort of book you would like, don’t hesitate to pick it up.
Book Info: Genre: Dark Western Crime fiction Reading Level: Adult
Disclosure: The author was kind enough to send me a copy because I couldn’t afford it and wanted to read it. The least I can do in response is to provide an honest review.
Synopsis: In the taming of the West, the prairies, they bled. There was war between the white man and the Native American, the outlaw against the honorable, the harsh elements against anything that crawled or thirsted — yet as scurrilous and unforgiving as bloodletting always is, much still represented a kind of progress toward the future. Not always fair; not always judicious; not always kind.
But it is 2012, and though we call ourselves more civilized, little has changed. The greedy still steal the land, the rich still get richer, murder still happens. This book is set in the prime of the twenty-first century Wyoming gas boom, when some landowners become rich and others get nothing but ruined roads; fortunes are made or lost on what some would call a toss of the legal dice.
When a terrible murder rocks a small town — when Sheriff James Pruett himself loses his beloved – the prairies, they WILL bleed again. How many will die this time, in honor and in vain?
My Thoughts: I just finished reading the first two books in the Clan MacAulay series by this author, and find them to be solid and readable. Guthrie has called this book his magnum opus and I was curious to see what he had written here.
The tone of this book is beautifully written – it really captures the feel of a ranching community, and the sort of taciturn, internal men who live in such a place, like Sheriff Pruett, come through so realistically. I grew up on a ranch, and in a small, agricultural community – although in Montana, not Wyoming – and it felt very familiar to me, reading this book.
One thing that Guthrie did with this book was to keep as many secrets as possible from the reader for as long as possible. Some of the secrets were things that the townsfolk would’ve known, but not really talked about (one extreme shocker was about Pruett himself and came up at 69 percent). Others were the sorts of things that folks probably wouldn’t know and also wouldn’t talk about. While there aren’t a lot of secrets in a small town, where everyone knows everyone else and gossip is known to fly like the wind, there will always things that simply aren’t talked about – maybe the insiders know about them, maybe they don’t, but they definitely will not talk about them with newcomers or outsiders. Since this little town is currently in the middle of an oil boom, there are a lot of outsiders from whom to keep secrets, and I think this is the sort of atmosphere that Guthrie was trying to create with this book. And, if I may say so, I felt he did it brilliantly. Again, based upon the small town in which I grew up – which is very similar to the one Guthrie creates in this book – the whole thing felt very authentic and familiar.
There are a lot of ways in which this book is very, very dark, yet there is hope blooming deep down inside by the end. It’s kind of like spring up in Montana where I grew up – there is still snow all around, but if you know where to look, back in the hills where the sun warms the ground a bit more than other places, you can find the crocuses pushing up through the snow.
I liked it. I really did. There were times during the course of the book where I didn’t, but that was a knee-jerk, emotional response to some difficult subject matter. I decided to sleep on this review before finishing it up and posting it, and during my nap I processed it a bit more, and I, at the end of it all, definitely liked it. If this sounds like the sort of book you would like, don’t hesitate to pick it up.
September 13, 2012
Blood Land is that rarest of beasts, a novel that works at a number of levels. The characters are richly drawn, the plot compelling, the atmosphere palpable, the writing remarkable for its depth and lucidity, as well as the maturity of the choices the author makes - the restraint and the plain old good taste. There is a marvelous economy to the prose and yet it has tremendous impact. I kept thinking as I read that this is how it should be done. As an author myself, I am hyper-critical of grammar and editing issues, and I'm happy to say Blood Land has none of the usual that afflict a regrettably large number of indie novels. I was asked today for some recommended reading by a fan, and I recommended Blood Land without hesitation. That pretty much says it all. Deserving of more than five stars, this is a remarkable book in an ocean of mediocrity. I sincerely hope it gets the attention it deserves. We should be hearing a lot more from Mr. Guthrie, who is an obvious talent with a prodigious gift.
November 19, 2020
It's a small town .. not normally a place someone would associate with murder.
When the wife of the Sheriff of this Wyoming town is shot down in cold blood, he knows he can grieve later. The town is ready to implode ... his wife was killed by her brother. Because this particular family is well known, neighbors turn against neighbor, friends against friend.
Land and money is the root of all evil with gas rights worth billions of dollars is at risk. The sheriff is walking a fine line and must choose between justice, revenge, and duty.
Well written, this brings to mind of the old west .... the plot is enticing, the action is practically non-stop once it gets going. Sheriff Pruett is a well-drawn character. He has issues stemming from the service, still suffers PTSD, doesn't seem to really like himself, and he questions his own decisions. He's interesting to watch.
Many thanks to the author / ind river Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this hard boiled murder mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
When the wife of the Sheriff of this Wyoming town is shot down in cold blood, he knows he can grieve later. The town is ready to implode ... his wife was killed by her brother. Because this particular family is well known, neighbors turn against neighbor, friends against friend.
Land and money is the root of all evil with gas rights worth billions of dollars is at risk. The sheriff is walking a fine line and must choose between justice, revenge, and duty.
Well written, this brings to mind of the old west .... the plot is enticing, the action is practically non-stop once it gets going. Sheriff Pruett is a well-drawn character. He has issues stemming from the service, still suffers PTSD, doesn't seem to really like himself, and he questions his own decisions. He's interesting to watch.
Many thanks to the author / ind river Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this hard boiled murder mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 13, 2012
Blood Land is much more than an amazing and richly crafted story it is an extremely picturesque, thoughtful and moving experience. R. S. Guthrie has masterfully woven together a story of intrigue, family, redemption, greed and murder in the small ranching town of Wind River, Wyoming.
Sheriff James Pruitt is called to a shooting only to discover that his wife Bethy has been murdered at her parent’s family home. Being told that the shooter is his wife’s brother Ty McIntyre, he tracks him down at a local seedy bar where he contemplates revenge. Pruitt struggles to gain his composure and he arrests Ty for the murder. Ty confesses that he is the killer but things are not as straight forward as they seem and Pruitt is determined to investigate and uncover the truth and face his own demons as well.
Pruitt is a character that makes you feel as though you really know him and can feel the emotional upheaval that he struggles with. He is a character that you have great empathy for as you learn about his service in Vietnam, his marriage to Bethy, his relationship with his daughter, his battle with alcoholism and his internal struggles with himself. The portrayal of this character is written with great emotion and realism and exposes the inner turmoil that he faces.
Ty McIntyre is a character that will also capture your attention as you see him as the people of the town view him which seems to be in stark contrast to the real person inside. We are privy to the inner struggles of his family as we learn that the land and greed are more important than family. All the characters in this story will pull you in as they each bring their own unique and sometimes disturbing perspective. The dialogue is written with such great depth, urgency and compassion that I felt as if I was living in the town watching the story unfold.
Guthrie paints a stunning picture of the beauty of the Wyoming landscape along with the struggles of the people and sometimes deadly consequences encountered for the land they cherish.
Blood Land is a richly composed and beautifully written book that I highly recommend to all readers. This book is truly an experience that should not be missed!
Sheriff James Pruitt is called to a shooting only to discover that his wife Bethy has been murdered at her parent’s family home. Being told that the shooter is his wife’s brother Ty McIntyre, he tracks him down at a local seedy bar where he contemplates revenge. Pruitt struggles to gain his composure and he arrests Ty for the murder. Ty confesses that he is the killer but things are not as straight forward as they seem and Pruitt is determined to investigate and uncover the truth and face his own demons as well.
Pruitt is a character that makes you feel as though you really know him and can feel the emotional upheaval that he struggles with. He is a character that you have great empathy for as you learn about his service in Vietnam, his marriage to Bethy, his relationship with his daughter, his battle with alcoholism and his internal struggles with himself. The portrayal of this character is written with great emotion and realism and exposes the inner turmoil that he faces.
Ty McIntyre is a character that will also capture your attention as you see him as the people of the town view him which seems to be in stark contrast to the real person inside. We are privy to the inner struggles of his family as we learn that the land and greed are more important than family. All the characters in this story will pull you in as they each bring their own unique and sometimes disturbing perspective. The dialogue is written with such great depth, urgency and compassion that I felt as if I was living in the town watching the story unfold.
Guthrie paints a stunning picture of the beauty of the Wyoming landscape along with the struggles of the people and sometimes deadly consequences encountered for the land they cherish.
Blood Land is a richly composed and beautifully written book that I highly recommend to all readers. This book is truly an experience that should not be missed!
December 17, 2013
Fine writing, decent plot, likeable characters. Well, except for the McIntyres, who 'were racist and old school mean.' And there were a whole passel of them, too. They figure predominantly in the storyline which also features Sheriff James Pruett. His peaceful Wyoming town is turning into a killing zone, with mineral rights at the root of the problem. I had no problem putting this aside in order to read a couple of other actual books, still trying to warm up to electronic pages. This is my problem, not due to the writing.
September 11, 2012
I have been really looking forward to reading this book for a long time now. When I was sent a professional ARC copy of this book by the author, I was most happy. I was asked to give my most honest review of the book, so here I go. After having read R.S. Guthrie's two other books, I thought that he couldn't write a better book, since those two books were amazing. I was wrong. This book is a masterpiece. Really. Trust my words. I have read lots of books along my life, so I know when a book is a winner. And this book IS a winner. This book has been a delightful surprise, since it is different to the rest of books already published by this author. A thriller like no other, based on a small town in Wyoming. It is a book that will keep you turning the pages till you reach the end. I read it in one seating, I simply couldn't stop reading. I needed to know what was going to happen next, and then next, and then there was something else that hooked me even more. That's when you can say that a book is a GOOD book.
Sheriff Pruett thinks that he cannot live in a quieter and more peaceful town in Wyoming, but a terrible event will prove him that life is not that easy. Trying to solve a murder case while fighting his inner demons at the same time, Sheriff Pruett will uncover a tangle of secrets and terrible things from the past, things that will shake his whole world. Odd relationships, family problems, greed, land issues, and murder will revolve around Sheriff Pruett's world, making everything dangerous around him and the people related to him.
A very clever plot, it will keep you pinned to your chair till you finish reading, thanks to the different plot points being revealed at very well chosen times along the narration of the events, and thanks to the totally unexpected twists in the story. There are enough twists as to make you gasp, shudder, and exclaim "really?", or all at the same time. Get immersed in this amazing story and let it lead you in an incredible travel through the darkest secrets of the West, where things like greed, racism, and family fights can lead to darker stuff.
While reading this book, you can feel that the author really loved writing it. You can feel it. You can feel how he caressed and cradled every single word before putting them to lay down on the pages. Really, this book is too good as to be properly reviewed by me. So I am not going to tell more about why this book is a masterpiece, because it IS a MASTERPIECE. Just get your copy and check by yourself. You won't be disappointed. I can assure you that you have a winner in this book.
Sheriff Pruett thinks that he cannot live in a quieter and more peaceful town in Wyoming, but a terrible event will prove him that life is not that easy. Trying to solve a murder case while fighting his inner demons at the same time, Sheriff Pruett will uncover a tangle of secrets and terrible things from the past, things that will shake his whole world. Odd relationships, family problems, greed, land issues, and murder will revolve around Sheriff Pruett's world, making everything dangerous around him and the people related to him.
A very clever plot, it will keep you pinned to your chair till you finish reading, thanks to the different plot points being revealed at very well chosen times along the narration of the events, and thanks to the totally unexpected twists in the story. There are enough twists as to make you gasp, shudder, and exclaim "really?", or all at the same time. Get immersed in this amazing story and let it lead you in an incredible travel through the darkest secrets of the West, where things like greed, racism, and family fights can lead to darker stuff.
While reading this book, you can feel that the author really loved writing it. You can feel it. You can feel how he caressed and cradled every single word before putting them to lay down on the pages. Really, this book is too good as to be properly reviewed by me. So I am not going to tell more about why this book is a masterpiece, because it IS a MASTERPIECE. Just get your copy and check by yourself. You won't be disappointed. I can assure you that you have a winner in this book.
September 12, 2012
I couldn't wait to read the latest book by R.S. Guthrie, having devoured his previous books. One thing that is unique to Guthrie's fiction is that the story is partly the place itself, the geography and the topography of it -- the canyons, the wind, the mountains, the forests. Blood Land is no exception. The town of Wind River, where these events unfold, is every bit as important an element in the story as Sheriff Pruett himself. And not only because people's daily work and their lives are dominated by the lay of the land, and by the work they have to do to tame it. But also because this mystery revolves around a last will and testament, and the astronomical value of the rights of the black gold and the natural gas that lie untapped just beneath the surface, like the blood flowing in people's veins.
Pruett is drawn as likeable as an old divorced alcoholic chief law enforcement officer can be drawn. You come down on his side, right from the beginning. Mistakes made, his wife left. His daughter abandoned him. Alone, he presides over the town of Wind River for years and years, till the evil finds him. And the evil is both public and personal, and only Pruett can get to the bottom of it.
Blood Land has a courtroom battle at the center of it, but also a family feud involving ranchers and the all-powerful BLM (Bureau of Land Management). Think of blood feuds. It's a little like Grisham's A Time to Kill meeting Stephen King at his best: explosive, understated, elegiac.
A highlight of this book is the scintillating dialogue. Pruett describing the man who has been jailed for murder and has pleaded guilty as well: "And for all his ranting and surliness, Ty is a rough package but I'd say he's not too far past half bad." All the way through, people talk to each other in this rough-hewn poetic cadence, like William Faulkner.
Blood Land is a fast one-day read, but deserves to be consumed slowly and appreciated. It made me reflect about how we live on the land, and how people are, and the evil that people are capable of. With this book R.S. Guthrie has penned a starkly beautiful tale of greed, revenge and redemption.
Pruett is drawn as likeable as an old divorced alcoholic chief law enforcement officer can be drawn. You come down on his side, right from the beginning. Mistakes made, his wife left. His daughter abandoned him. Alone, he presides over the town of Wind River for years and years, till the evil finds him. And the evil is both public and personal, and only Pruett can get to the bottom of it.
Blood Land has a courtroom battle at the center of it, but also a family feud involving ranchers and the all-powerful BLM (Bureau of Land Management). Think of blood feuds. It's a little like Grisham's A Time to Kill meeting Stephen King at his best: explosive, understated, elegiac.
A highlight of this book is the scintillating dialogue. Pruett describing the man who has been jailed for murder and has pleaded guilty as well: "And for all his ranting and surliness, Ty is a rough package but I'd say he's not too far past half bad." All the way through, people talk to each other in this rough-hewn poetic cadence, like William Faulkner.
Blood Land is a fast one-day read, but deserves to be consumed slowly and appreciated. It made me reflect about how we live on the land, and how people are, and the evil that people are capable of. With this book R.S. Guthrie has penned a starkly beautiful tale of greed, revenge and redemption.
December 21, 2015
Published: 06/07/2012
Author: R.S. Guthrie
Recommended for: fans of crime novels
Edition: Kindle
I found this on the Kindle Store for free and so I thought that I would give it a try.I really did enjoy reading this book,it was expertly written with great description and a storyline that kept your attention throughtout the whole book. I think people who enjoy crime novels will absolutely love this book like I did, and you will probably have a new favourite author!.
This book contains a very compelling storyline, the characters are very well detailed and add a good depth to the book. There is some quite dark places in this book and dark subject matters that perhaps might make you want to put the book down but if you continue on with it you will keep enjoying the book. Through the writing style of the author you can feel just how much he enjoyed writing this book how much he got into it which just makes it that much more amazing. I will definately be reading more books by R.S Guthrie. If this is a book you have been thinking about reading I fully recommend starting reading it now and you will see for yourself how truly amazing it is.
Author: R.S. Guthrie
Recommended for: fans of crime novels
Edition: Kindle
I found this on the Kindle Store for free and so I thought that I would give it a try.I really did enjoy reading this book,it was expertly written with great description and a storyline that kept your attention throughtout the whole book. I think people who enjoy crime novels will absolutely love this book like I did, and you will probably have a new favourite author!.
This book contains a very compelling storyline, the characters are very well detailed and add a good depth to the book. There is some quite dark places in this book and dark subject matters that perhaps might make you want to put the book down but if you continue on with it you will keep enjoying the book. Through the writing style of the author you can feel just how much he enjoyed writing this book how much he got into it which just makes it that much more amazing. I will definately be reading more books by R.S Guthrie. If this is a book you have been thinking about reading I fully recommend starting reading it now and you will see for yourself how truly amazing it is.
September 11, 2012
I was so looking forward to the release of this novel! I could not wait to buy it and have it downloaded onto my kindle. I was not disappointed at all. Once again the talent of R.S. Guthrie shines through in this fabulous novel. Sheriff Pruett is devastated at the murder of his beloved wife and takes us on an incredible journey of betrayal and corruption. This is a modern day western; one that will have you eagerly turning the next page to see what is going to happen next. Beautifully written, a story of greed and power. I could almost visualize the characters in this story; This story is full of twists and turns, heart breaking in places. This is an action packed roller coaster of a ride that you won't want to end. R.S. Guthrie is among some of the best I have read. I highly recommend this..
October 24, 2012
Lot's of introspection in the first half of the story which didn't help the pacing. Picked up later on, but I couldn't stop comparing it to the last season of Justified. Overall, a good, quick read.
July 16, 2012
All is well in a sleepy Wyoming town until Sheriff James Pruett gets a call that will change his life forever. His beloved wife has been murdered - apparently at the hand of her brother - and so begins a sequence of events that will blow you away.
Just when you think you know who did what, another revelation throws everything back into the mixing pot and you're left wondering just who is responsible for the series of murders plaguing the town.
R. S. Guthrie has produced a stunning work, with character development unlike anything I've read before. We get an insight into the strengths and frailties of his characters, Sheriff Pruett in particular, and the dialog is so realistic you can hear the words being spoken as you read them. I could picture every scene, every location, as if I were watching a movie.
I'd been waiting for this book for some time, having loved Guthrie's previous works, and I wasn't disappointed. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
Just when you think you know who did what, another revelation throws everything back into the mixing pot and you're left wondering just who is responsible for the series of murders plaguing the town.
R. S. Guthrie has produced a stunning work, with character development unlike anything I've read before. We get an insight into the strengths and frailties of his characters, Sheriff Pruett in particular, and the dialog is so realistic you can hear the words being spoken as you read them. I could picture every scene, every location, as if I were watching a movie.
I'd been waiting for this book for some time, having loved Guthrie's previous works, and I wasn't disappointed. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
September 13, 2012
The writing talent of R. S. Guthrie explodes in Blood Land. Sheriff Pruett watched as the lifeblood of his wife drained into the Wyoming dirt; her brother charged with the murder. R. S. Guthrie leads us through a maze of family betrayal, government corruption and inner demons. Each turn of the page brings a new twist and will leave you guessing what is going to happen next. I would never be able to tell you one thing I liked most about the book, I loved it all. From jaw-dropping action to sweet and tender scenes, from the descriptive beauty of the land to the ugliness of a person’s greed. The ending brings it all home and gives you the answers you were not expecting. Only R. S. Guthrie could pull this off.
July 13, 2012
Title: Dark Prairies
Author: RS Guthrie
Format: Kindle Edition
Size: 459 kb – 202 pages
Interest: Action/Crime Drama
Rating 0-100: 94 (5 Stars)
In the taming of the West, the prairies, they bled. There was war between the white man and the Native American, the outlaw against the honorable, the harsh elements against anything that crawled or thirsted—yet as scurrilous and unforgiving as bloodletting always is, much still represented a kind of progress toward the future. Not always fair; not always judicious; not always kind.
But it is 2012, and though we call ourselves more civilized, little has changed. The greedy still steal the land, the rich still get richer, murder still happens. Dark Prairies is set in the prime of the twenty-first century Wyoming gas boom, when some landowners become rich and others get nothing but ruined roads; fortunes are made or lost on what some would call a toss of the legal dice.
When a terrible murder rocks a small town—when Sheriff James Pruett himself loses his beloved—the prairies, they WILL bleed again. How many will die this time, in honor and in vain?
In this, his third novel, R.S. Guthrie has delivered his magnum opus. Dark Prairies carves into the raw, twenty-first century West at both its worst and its finest hours and does so in the depths of an ocean of both loyalty and greed.
___________________________________________________
Oil may be big in Texas, but in Wyoming gas is the golden fortune. If you remember the famous feuds between J.R. and Bobby Ewing from Dallas then you will no doubt recognize the greed and ruthless nature of the McIntyre clan. When an inheritance of land is split unevenly between family members it’s only a matter of time before the first chess piece is moved. Sheriff Pruett’s wife is soon caught in the crossfire, and the lawman finds his sense of duty and honor are put on the line as he tries to hold his vengeance in check. His wife’s killer, her own brother, is arrested and locked up to await trial. With revenge on his mind, and alcohol on his breath for the first time in more than a dozen years of sobriety, Sheriff Pruett starts to slide down a hole that threatens to encompass his very soul.
This is the third book by Rob Guthrie that I’ve reviewed and it’s a charm. Before I give you the good and bad of Dark Prairies, in what I hope will be an unbiased review, let me state for the record that I’m a huge fan of Guthrie. As an author in training and still struggling with my own magnum opus, I respect what he as accomplished as a writer. More importantly, I respect the man. Rob Guthrie encourages and supports those trying to learn the craft of telling a good story. His blog, Rob On Writing, helped introduce me to the indie author community, and for that I will be forever grateful. Now, let’s get to the good stuff.
The Good
Obviously it’s a good book or I wouldn’t bother reviewing it. One of the things I loved the most about this book is the easy, western style dialog. It helped bring these characters to life faster than I would have thought possible. Typically I need to read a chapter or two before getting into the story, and that wasn’t the case with this novel. Here’s an example…
“Sheriff,” Ty finally said.
“Yep,” Pruett answered, his finger steady on the trigger guard. “That rifle loaded, Ty?”
“Wouldn’t be much of a rifle if it weren’t.”
“You know where Roland is, Ty?”
Ty pointed toward the back door.
“Took a powder,” he said. “Weren’t much jaw in him. Not like usual.”
“Ty, I’m taking you in. Just two ways that happens.”
The dialog also helps set the scenes. The locations are vivid enough to pull you in and put you right in the middle of the action, which there is plenty of by the way. The death of Sheriff Pruett’s wife was just the beginning. A fortune is on the line, and even a lawman can be tempted if the price is high enough.
The book promises action and it delivers; not a pizza kind of delivery either. No, this was much more in line with having a Tomahawk Cruise Missile sail through your front door and explode in your favorite reading chair.
There are quite a few things in this book that you never see coming. The unexpected twists will keep you guessing long after you think the villains are identified. Guthrie walks a fine line here, and pulls it off with few exceptions.
The Bad
Some of the unexpected twists are so unexpected it’s like playing poker with an unknown. Just when you think you’ve figured it all out, the game changes. I’m not saying this is totally bad, but it makes for an interesting game.
Without giving away significant parts of the plot, let me say that there are a couple of character situations that were unexpected. During much of the read I felt in the novel, and in a couple of parts I felt like I was reading one. Again, that’s not too bad if it’s a good story; which it is.
Conclusion
The goal of a review is to express an opinion in the hope that others may find the information useful. Would I recommend this book? Yes, without question or reservation. The characters are memorable, and the action will keep you turning the pages. I freely admit to getting less than two hours sleep the other night, and during a workweek I might add. Overall, it’s a great read and I think you will enjoy it.
–Rush
Author: RS Guthrie
Format: Kindle Edition
Size: 459 kb – 202 pages
Interest: Action/Crime Drama
Rating 0-100: 94 (5 Stars)
In the taming of the West, the prairies, they bled. There was war between the white man and the Native American, the outlaw against the honorable, the harsh elements against anything that crawled or thirsted—yet as scurrilous and unforgiving as bloodletting always is, much still represented a kind of progress toward the future. Not always fair; not always judicious; not always kind.
But it is 2012, and though we call ourselves more civilized, little has changed. The greedy still steal the land, the rich still get richer, murder still happens. Dark Prairies is set in the prime of the twenty-first century Wyoming gas boom, when some landowners become rich and others get nothing but ruined roads; fortunes are made or lost on what some would call a toss of the legal dice.
When a terrible murder rocks a small town—when Sheriff James Pruett himself loses his beloved—the prairies, they WILL bleed again. How many will die this time, in honor and in vain?
In this, his third novel, R.S. Guthrie has delivered his magnum opus. Dark Prairies carves into the raw, twenty-first century West at both its worst and its finest hours and does so in the depths of an ocean of both loyalty and greed.
___________________________________________________
Oil may be big in Texas, but in Wyoming gas is the golden fortune. If you remember the famous feuds between J.R. and Bobby Ewing from Dallas then you will no doubt recognize the greed and ruthless nature of the McIntyre clan. When an inheritance of land is split unevenly between family members it’s only a matter of time before the first chess piece is moved. Sheriff Pruett’s wife is soon caught in the crossfire, and the lawman finds his sense of duty and honor are put on the line as he tries to hold his vengeance in check. His wife’s killer, her own brother, is arrested and locked up to await trial. With revenge on his mind, and alcohol on his breath for the first time in more than a dozen years of sobriety, Sheriff Pruett starts to slide down a hole that threatens to encompass his very soul.
This is the third book by Rob Guthrie that I’ve reviewed and it’s a charm. Before I give you the good and bad of Dark Prairies, in what I hope will be an unbiased review, let me state for the record that I’m a huge fan of Guthrie. As an author in training and still struggling with my own magnum opus, I respect what he as accomplished as a writer. More importantly, I respect the man. Rob Guthrie encourages and supports those trying to learn the craft of telling a good story. His blog, Rob On Writing, helped introduce me to the indie author community, and for that I will be forever grateful. Now, let’s get to the good stuff.
The Good
Obviously it’s a good book or I wouldn’t bother reviewing it. One of the things I loved the most about this book is the easy, western style dialog. It helped bring these characters to life faster than I would have thought possible. Typically I need to read a chapter or two before getting into the story, and that wasn’t the case with this novel. Here’s an example…
“Sheriff,” Ty finally said.
“Yep,” Pruett answered, his finger steady on the trigger guard. “That rifle loaded, Ty?”
“Wouldn’t be much of a rifle if it weren’t.”
“You know where Roland is, Ty?”
Ty pointed toward the back door.
“Took a powder,” he said. “Weren’t much jaw in him. Not like usual.”
“Ty, I’m taking you in. Just two ways that happens.”
The dialog also helps set the scenes. The locations are vivid enough to pull you in and put you right in the middle of the action, which there is plenty of by the way. The death of Sheriff Pruett’s wife was just the beginning. A fortune is on the line, and even a lawman can be tempted if the price is high enough.
The book promises action and it delivers; not a pizza kind of delivery either. No, this was much more in line with having a Tomahawk Cruise Missile sail through your front door and explode in your favorite reading chair.
There are quite a few things in this book that you never see coming. The unexpected twists will keep you guessing long after you think the villains are identified. Guthrie walks a fine line here, and pulls it off with few exceptions.
The Bad
Some of the unexpected twists are so unexpected it’s like playing poker with an unknown. Just when you think you’ve figured it all out, the game changes. I’m not saying this is totally bad, but it makes for an interesting game.
Without giving away significant parts of the plot, let me say that there are a couple of character situations that were unexpected. During much of the read I felt in the novel, and in a couple of parts I felt like I was reading one. Again, that’s not too bad if it’s a good story; which it is.
Conclusion
The goal of a review is to express an opinion in the hope that others may find the information useful. Would I recommend this book? Yes, without question or reservation. The characters are memorable, and the action will keep you turning the pages. I freely admit to getting less than two hours sleep the other night, and during a workweek I might add. Overall, it’s a great read and I think you will enjoy it.
–Rush
August 15, 2012
A true magnum opus
Dark Prairies, Guthrie’s third novel is a departure from the pattern he established in Black Beast and Lost. They’re horror/supernatural tales crossed with cop mystery-thrillers. Dark Prairies is a mystery about a cop, but the only category that it’s fair to put this into would have to be “literary fiction.”
Guthrie calls this book his “magnum opus,” and his care and passion for the story are evident.
As always, he has brought all his considerable writing ability and professionalism to make a true master work.
Plot summary:
Dark Prairies begins when small-town sheriff James Pruett finds out his wife has been murdered, shot outside her father’s ranch house. He quickly finds the murderer, his brother-in-law, in the town bar, and arrests him with no argument.
That’s the beginning of an unusual mystery story: the question is not “whodunnit,” but why Ty McIntyre killed his sister, Pruett’s wife, Bethy. Pruett, the chief policeman in the tiny Wyoming town of Wind River, is the one who has to lead the investigation into his own wife’s death. The conflicts of interest are tangled among legal, social and family ties, and the tension between Pruett and his in-laws is obvious from the start. Pruett also struggles with the natural urge for summary revenge. This is one of the best passages in the book.
The story shifts to Pruett’s estranged daughter, Wendy, in university. She begins a love affair with JW Hanson, professor of law and history, partly motivated by her wish to have him defend her Uncle Ty.
As Pruett investigates the case, we learn much about the history of Wyoming and the often murderous struggles over land, including the Johnson County War (brought to the screen in Young Guns). We also go into Pruett’s past as a Vietnam vet, a sheriff, an alcoholic and a flawed but passionate husband.
What I liked:
I have to admire Guthrie’s professionalism. He has slaved over the creation process, and rewriting. The editing is flawless, too. I cannot remember finding any typos or other errors, except for a missing period at the end of one chapter. Doubleday does no better than that.
Shelagh Rogers often says that some authors make the setting almost a character in a novel, and that’s certainly true in Dark Prairies. Readers can really see Wyoming’s mountains and prairies; we really get a feeling for the profound way that ranchers and others are linked to the soil.
Characterization always has been one of Guthrie’s main strengths. In Dark Prairies, we really get to know Pruett deeply. All his other characters are real — we can recognize people like Ty and his father, like Wendy and Hanson. Simultaneously repulsive and fascinating, Ty is probably the most complex and memorable character in the book.
The only weak characterization in the story is Wendy. How is it that she is motivated to defend the accused killer of her own mother. I know she doesn’t believe he really did it, even though he admits he did; but the book would have been strengthened if Guthrie had depicted Wendy’s emotional struggle a little more.
The only other drawback came in the long passages where Pruett beats himself up for his failures: his alcoholism, his affair and the consequent estrangement from his daughter.
Pruett’s struggle against alcohol is deftly handled and completely believable. Pruett doesn’t miraculously free himself of the bottle after some crisis like in a cheap TV movie. He fights temptation, loses many battles and makes a lot of mistakes. But it just struck me after about the third passage about Pruett’s slide back into a bottle, “I get it.”
Don’t take it hard, Rob — I promised myself and my readers that I would always give an honest review, and this is the only criticism I can make of this book.
Dark Prairies is a master’s great work. Don’t miss it.
5*
Dark Prairies, Guthrie’s third novel is a departure from the pattern he established in Black Beast and Lost. They’re horror/supernatural tales crossed with cop mystery-thrillers. Dark Prairies is a mystery about a cop, but the only category that it’s fair to put this into would have to be “literary fiction.”
Guthrie calls this book his “magnum opus,” and his care and passion for the story are evident.
As always, he has brought all his considerable writing ability and professionalism to make a true master work.
Plot summary:
Dark Prairies begins when small-town sheriff James Pruett finds out his wife has been murdered, shot outside her father’s ranch house. He quickly finds the murderer, his brother-in-law, in the town bar, and arrests him with no argument.
That’s the beginning of an unusual mystery story: the question is not “whodunnit,” but why Ty McIntyre killed his sister, Pruett’s wife, Bethy. Pruett, the chief policeman in the tiny Wyoming town of Wind River, is the one who has to lead the investigation into his own wife’s death. The conflicts of interest are tangled among legal, social and family ties, and the tension between Pruett and his in-laws is obvious from the start. Pruett also struggles with the natural urge for summary revenge. This is one of the best passages in the book.
The story shifts to Pruett’s estranged daughter, Wendy, in university. She begins a love affair with JW Hanson, professor of law and history, partly motivated by her wish to have him defend her Uncle Ty.
As Pruett investigates the case, we learn much about the history of Wyoming and the often murderous struggles over land, including the Johnson County War (brought to the screen in Young Guns). We also go into Pruett’s past as a Vietnam vet, a sheriff, an alcoholic and a flawed but passionate husband.
What I liked:
I have to admire Guthrie’s professionalism. He has slaved over the creation process, and rewriting. The editing is flawless, too. I cannot remember finding any typos or other errors, except for a missing period at the end of one chapter. Doubleday does no better than that.
Shelagh Rogers often says that some authors make the setting almost a character in a novel, and that’s certainly true in Dark Prairies. Readers can really see Wyoming’s mountains and prairies; we really get a feeling for the profound way that ranchers and others are linked to the soil.
Characterization always has been one of Guthrie’s main strengths. In Dark Prairies, we really get to know Pruett deeply. All his other characters are real — we can recognize people like Ty and his father, like Wendy and Hanson. Simultaneously repulsive and fascinating, Ty is probably the most complex and memorable character in the book.
The only weak characterization in the story is Wendy. How is it that she is motivated to defend the accused killer of her own mother. I know she doesn’t believe he really did it, even though he admits he did; but the book would have been strengthened if Guthrie had depicted Wendy’s emotional struggle a little more.
The only other drawback came in the long passages where Pruett beats himself up for his failures: his alcoholism, his affair and the consequent estrangement from his daughter.
Pruett’s struggle against alcohol is deftly handled and completely believable. Pruett doesn’t miraculously free himself of the bottle after some crisis like in a cheap TV movie. He fights temptation, loses many battles and makes a lot of mistakes. But it just struck me after about the third passage about Pruett’s slide back into a bottle, “I get it.”
Don’t take it hard, Rob — I promised myself and my readers that I would always give an honest review, and this is the only criticism I can make of this book.
Dark Prairies is a master’s great work. Don’t miss it.
5*
July 17, 2012
Disclosure: I was delighted to receive an advance copy of DARK PRAIRIES in exchange for an honest review.
R.S. Guthrie delivers a powerful tale of the harsh realities of mineral rights in America. It's a complicated topic with no easy answers. Guthrie delves into the technicalities with ease, using a cast of compelling characters who hold tight to the story's secrets. Without intending to, I read DARK PRAIRIES over a weekend. I honestly didn't have the time to sit and read, but found that I couldn't put the book down.
I've read Guthrie's first novel, BLACK BEAST, and truly enjoyed it, but his writing reaches a new level in DARK PRAIRIES. His descriptions of place and people are at times poetic, and his storytelling is both brutal and explosive. Sheriff Pruett faces the most challenging call-out of his life when he responds to a murder scene to find his adored wife the victim. As Pruett unravels the mystery of his wife's death, his investigation sparks more violence as a family feud deepens and Wyoming's Bureau of Land Management reveals its role in manipulating ownership of the oil and gas reserves that lie beneath the land's surface.
If you enjoy thrillers, westerns, or mysteries, you'll be drawn to DARK PRAIRIES. I can't wait to see what R.S. Guthrie comes up with next. Highly recommended.
R.S. Guthrie delivers a powerful tale of the harsh realities of mineral rights in America. It's a complicated topic with no easy answers. Guthrie delves into the technicalities with ease, using a cast of compelling characters who hold tight to the story's secrets. Without intending to, I read DARK PRAIRIES over a weekend. I honestly didn't have the time to sit and read, but found that I couldn't put the book down.
I've read Guthrie's first novel, BLACK BEAST, and truly enjoyed it, but his writing reaches a new level in DARK PRAIRIES. His descriptions of place and people are at times poetic, and his storytelling is both brutal and explosive. Sheriff Pruett faces the most challenging call-out of his life when he responds to a murder scene to find his adored wife the victim. As Pruett unravels the mystery of his wife's death, his investigation sparks more violence as a family feud deepens and Wyoming's Bureau of Land Management reveals its role in manipulating ownership of the oil and gas reserves that lie beneath the land's surface.
If you enjoy thrillers, westerns, or mysteries, you'll be drawn to DARK PRAIRIES. I can't wait to see what R.S. Guthrie comes up with next. Highly recommended.
April 14, 2013
This is the first book by R.S. Guthrie that I've read. It seems he has a vocal fan base who rave about this book, and there are many good things to say about the book, but there are also some aspects of the story that gave me pause.
Set in a small town in Wyoming where James Pruett, a black Iraqi war vet is the sheriff, Guthrie brings the location to life, both in terms of the physical characteristics of the land and the culture of its people. His protagonist is faced with circumstances that no person, much less an officer of the law, should be confronted with and his portrayal of Pruett's battle with his inner demons is convincing if a bit overdone. The highlight of Pruett's struggle (and of the book itself in my opinion) is the chapter where the sheriff plans to murder the man who he believes killed his wife.
Where this story came up short for me was the lack of any preparation or foreshadowing for who the bad guys are until virtually the very end. Even then, this reader had a hard time accepting this plot twist and the means by which Pruett is rescued and triumphs.
That said, for readers who like "modern" thrillers--i.e., those with heavy doses of psychological turmoil, family conflict and pain inflicting people, you won't go wrong if you venture into Blood Land.
Set in a small town in Wyoming where James Pruett, a black Iraqi war vet is the sheriff, Guthrie brings the location to life, both in terms of the physical characteristics of the land and the culture of its people. His protagonist is faced with circumstances that no person, much less an officer of the law, should be confronted with and his portrayal of Pruett's battle with his inner demons is convincing if a bit overdone. The highlight of Pruett's struggle (and of the book itself in my opinion) is the chapter where the sheriff plans to murder the man who he believes killed his wife.
Where this story came up short for me was the lack of any preparation or foreshadowing for who the bad guys are until virtually the very end. Even then, this reader had a hard time accepting this plot twist and the means by which Pruett is rescued and triumphs.
That said, for readers who like "modern" thrillers--i.e., those with heavy doses of psychological turmoil, family conflict and pain inflicting people, you won't go wrong if you venture into Blood Land.
August 6, 2012
I loved this book from start to finish and was disappointed when it reached a shattering conclusion.
RS Guthrie is an incredibly skilled writer and his prose reminded me very much of James Lee Burke in the way he describes the scenery and the feelings of his flawed characters, yet he has his own style that I can only describe as pure Guthrie.
The story begins with a killing that seems pretty straight forward from the outset, but as the tale unravels, like the rope used by the ranch hands Guthrie so lovingly portrays, the plot literally thickens. Sheriff Pruett a man we have instant empathy with finds himself unable to grieve as his small community comes apart at the seam.
What I would call a rip roaring thriller set in the modern day equivalent of the old west.
Guthrie is quickly gaining an enviable reputation as a master of his craft and I for one will seek out more of his works. If you like a story that keeps you guessing until the end, brimming with three dimensional characters, then this is this is the book for you.
I cannot offer a higher recommendation.
RS Guthrie is an incredibly skilled writer and his prose reminded me very much of James Lee Burke in the way he describes the scenery and the feelings of his flawed characters, yet he has his own style that I can only describe as pure Guthrie.
The story begins with a killing that seems pretty straight forward from the outset, but as the tale unravels, like the rope used by the ranch hands Guthrie so lovingly portrays, the plot literally thickens. Sheriff Pruett a man we have instant empathy with finds himself unable to grieve as his small community comes apart at the seam.
What I would call a rip roaring thriller set in the modern day equivalent of the old west.
Guthrie is quickly gaining an enviable reputation as a master of his craft and I for one will seek out more of his works. If you like a story that keeps you guessing until the end, brimming with three dimensional characters, then this is this is the book for you.
I cannot offer a higher recommendation.
January 27, 2016
This was a free Kindle book. It is a murder mystery - and boy do we have a lot of murders! The sheriff's wife is the first victim and it is obvious that her brother killed her. Or did he? Her daughter seeks out an attorney, who is now a professor, to defend him. And then it all breaks loose.
The premise seemed to be a pretty good one, at least at first. Who is benefiting from the mineral rights to the land, and who is defrauding who to gain control? As the investigation continues, one victim after another is murdered, always just as that person becomes suspected of involvement in some way.
By the end, I was no longer so interested. It was just too much. If the author had had a little more control, this might have been quite a good book. Some of the characters were quite well developed. The plot started out well, but just got totally bogged down and the ending almost seemed forced.
Not that great.
The premise seemed to be a pretty good one, at least at first. Who is benefiting from the mineral rights to the land, and who is defrauding who to gain control? As the investigation continues, one victim after another is murdered, always just as that person becomes suspected of involvement in some way.
By the end, I was no longer so interested. It was just too much. If the author had had a little more control, this might have been quite a good book. Some of the characters were quite well developed. The plot started out well, but just got totally bogged down and the ending almost seemed forced.
Not that great.
July 2, 2017
James Pruett is a complex character, and this book follows hi story as he battles with his demons and deals with a great personal tragedy. The writing brings to life the ethos and characters of a small Wyoming ranching town. The blood in the title refers to a long term ranching family that gives new meaning to the term "dysfunctional." The story is exciting every step of the way, and the environment of the present and flashbacks to Pruett's service provide images and understanding of the forces at play and the decisions to be made. The suspense is extreme as information slowly brings unsettling knowledge to Pruett that exposes a broader and broader conspiracy of evil. One of the most important features of Sheriff Pruett is not unveiled until 2/3 of the was through the story, and that knowledge makes the dangers all the more real. The book is written brilliantly, creating images as it advances the action.
September 10, 2013
This book was a pleasure to read. Mr. Gutherie is an excellent writer. His story has layers of complexity that repeatedly surprised (and horrified) me. And it kept my interest till the end.
I am a woman, but I identified so closely with the MC, James Pruett, that I was saddened and disappointed when he stepped off the wagon after 12 years of sobriety. I sympathize with what alcoholics go through, but I have never been able to truly empathize. Mr. Gutherie described it well several times, keeping it before the reader, maintaining the fact of constant hunger. But sadly, I still can’t feel what they go through. Maybe I’m lucky.
The author’s writing is fresh and thoughtful. He avoids the clichés so often found in novels of this genre. (Indeed, all genres have their very own set of clichés.)
I strongly recommend Blood Land (in spite of the title). I give it 4 ½ stars.
I am a woman, but I identified so closely with the MC, James Pruett, that I was saddened and disappointed when he stepped off the wagon after 12 years of sobriety. I sympathize with what alcoholics go through, but I have never been able to truly empathize. Mr. Gutherie described it well several times, keeping it before the reader, maintaining the fact of constant hunger. But sadly, I still can’t feel what they go through. Maybe I’m lucky.
The author’s writing is fresh and thoughtful. He avoids the clichés so often found in novels of this genre. (Indeed, all genres have their very own set of clichés.)
I strongly recommend Blood Land (in spite of the title). I give it 4 ½ stars.
May 14, 2014
Guthrie writes some great imagery of both the external world and characters’ emotions. But he spent a bit too much time probing his main character’s feelings about his own alcoholism.
This was a violent book with lots of deaths but Guthrie didn’t bathe us in gore, committing his murders off-stage. At the climax, he went even further, letting the reader assume the bad guys were dead.
Guthrie kept me guessing throughout a good portion of the book as to who was behind the killings, making one character after another appear guilty, but I pegged the ringleader the moment he appeared.
I rated this book as 3 stars but 2.5 would have been more accurate as it fell between 'It was okay' and 'I liked it' with a slight edge to liking it.
Guthrie wont go on my ‘Must Read’ list but he’s earned a spot on my ‘To Read’ one.
This was a violent book with lots of deaths but Guthrie didn’t bathe us in gore, committing his murders off-stage. At the climax, he went even further, letting the reader assume the bad guys were dead.
Guthrie kept me guessing throughout a good portion of the book as to who was behind the killings, making one character after another appear guilty, but I pegged the ringleader the moment he appeared.
I rated this book as 3 stars but 2.5 would have been more accurate as it fell between 'It was okay' and 'I liked it' with a slight edge to liking it.
Guthrie wont go on my ‘Must Read’ list but he’s earned a spot on my ‘To Read’ one.
January 17, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book. It was not real literary or complex like a Dennis Lehane novel, for example. So that's why I gave it only 3 stars. There could have been more explanation as to why the perps did what they did. I didn't quite get what their intent for the future was or what they hoped to gain--I guess it was personal gain not related to their jobs. I can't say too much about this little deficit without giving away the ending.
I enjoyed the way the author's characters see things--the language used in little witticisms or anecdotes. It was fresh and new to me and entertaining. I'm too lazy to go back thru my kindle to find one as an example, sorry to say. I may read more of Guthrie's books in the future when I need a break from other, heavier reading.
I enjoyed the way the author's characters see things--the language used in little witticisms or anecdotes. It was fresh and new to me and entertaining. I'm too lazy to go back thru my kindle to find one as an example, sorry to say. I may read more of Guthrie's books in the future when I need a break from other, heavier reading.
January 20, 2015
Missed the Mark
This could have been a really good book, but it took too long to get to the meat of the story. If I hadn't read other reviews, I would have tossed it aside early on. Introducing the characters one at a time became a real drag , and numerous side trips into the past simply slowed down the story. Revealing that Sheriff Pruett was black 3/4 of the way through was a cheap trick and the authors 's use of "big" words detracted from the story. Awkward phrasing took me out of the story, having to re read them several times before I got the meaning. Just as the story got interesting, the author took us out of the action, telling the reader what happened rather than showing it. Editing in places was lacking, but I have to say that the author did well with POV.
This could have been a really good book, but it took too long to get to the meat of the story. If I hadn't read other reviews, I would have tossed it aside early on. Introducing the characters one at a time became a real drag , and numerous side trips into the past simply slowed down the story. Revealing that Sheriff Pruett was black 3/4 of the way through was a cheap trick and the authors 's use of "big" words detracted from the story. Awkward phrasing took me out of the story, having to re read them several times before I got the meaning. Just as the story got interesting, the author took us out of the action, telling the reader what happened rather than showing it. Editing in places was lacking, but I have to say that the author did well with POV.
July 30, 2012
I cannot say about this book much more of what other reviewers have already said.
I enjoyed it a lot, it kept me turning pages and made me loose some hours of sleep to know what would have happened at the end.
I read almost everything R. S. Guthrie has written and I can say his writing style has greatly improved from his first novel Black Beast: A Clan of MacAulay Novel.
The plot is more solid and the prose is much better, you can feel the hard work he has done and the grat effort he put in this work!
I really hope you'll enjoy this book as much as I did.
I enjoyed it a lot, it kept me turning pages and made me loose some hours of sleep to know what would have happened at the end.
I read almost everything R. S. Guthrie has written and I can say his writing style has greatly improved from his first novel Black Beast: A Clan of MacAulay Novel.
The plot is more solid and the prose is much better, you can feel the hard work he has done and the grat effort he put in this work!
I really hope you'll enjoy this book as much as I did.
October 22, 2012
I really enjoyed the book. I had one little problem with it. The author uses song lyrics at the beginning of each chapter. One chapter he uses the song Bitch by Meredith Brooks but he assigns it to Alanis Morrisette. How are these E-Books edited? I found that the book lost some integrity after that.
November 14, 2017
it was okay. Somewhat seemed to mirror the Longmire series on Netflix. Lot of killing for a small town.
January 20, 2024
Blood Land\ Dark Prairies is a gritty, emotional saga set in the contemporary Wyoming badlands with both greed and vengeance at its core.
When billions of dollars in 21st century natural gas rights hang in the balance, and the town's top law officer's wife is slain by her own brother, a reluctant hero is forced to battle his own demons and ultimately choose between justice, revenge, and duty. Guthrie's sparse, haunting storytelling compliments his talent for creating richly-drawn, unflinching law officers with human frailties, a code of honor, and a profound sense of justice.
When billions of dollars in 21st century natural gas rights hang in the balance, and the town's top law officer's wife is slain by her own brother, a reluctant hero is forced to battle his own demons and ultimately choose between justice, revenge, and duty. Guthrie's sparse, haunting storytelling compliments his talent for creating richly-drawn, unflinching law officers with human frailties, a code of honor, and a profound sense of justice.
December 7, 2020
Sheriff Pruett
I decided to read this book for two reasons: (1) I was raised in Wyoming and (2) I enjoyed very much the books of CJ Box and Craig Johnson about Wyoming law enforcement. I was disappointed in the beginning of the book, as I was trying to figure out where it was going. About 65% through, I got hooked and it was very good from then on. The ending was expected, yet well done. I will definitely read the next book. 4.5 out of 5 rating.
I decided to read this book for two reasons: (1) I was raised in Wyoming and (2) I enjoyed very much the books of CJ Box and Craig Johnson about Wyoming law enforcement. I was disappointed in the beginning of the book, as I was trying to figure out where it was going. About 65% through, I got hooked and it was very good from then on. The ending was expected, yet well done. I will definitely read the next book. 4.5 out of 5 rating.
December 18, 2020
Whew, what a read!
I love the West as it has been my home for all but a few years of my life. I am hard on books that try to be about the West and fail. This is not one of them. Mr. Guthrie is a new author for me and he does the Western voice and setting and characters well. That he also does a fine mystery well is a double bonus. I look forward to an enduring reading relationship with Mr. Guthrie’s Sheriff Pruitt.
I love the West as it has been my home for all but a few years of my life. I am hard on books that try to be about the West and fail. This is not one of them. Mr. Guthrie is a new author for me and he does the Western voice and setting and characters well. That he also does a fine mystery well is a double bonus. I look forward to an enduring reading relationship with Mr. Guthrie’s Sheriff Pruitt.
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