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Vendetta
Struggling to atone for his participation in the Civil War, Father Pete Madsen has devoted his life to the church, but his faith is sorely tested when his best friend in murdered by the depraved Tom Rattigan and the murdered man's daughter sets out to seek revenge. Original.
- GenresWesterns
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 8, 2002
About the author
Ed Gorman
463 books124 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 25, 2023
This is a masterpiece. It puts on display all of Gorman's powerful narrative techniques and quintessential character portraits. Juicy, entertaining entanglements, tragedy looming...a lot of soul. This book made me a fan of Ed Gordon.
October 16, 2014
I typically don’t read Westerns, but Ed Gorman was able to weave a really enjoyable tale.
Vendetta, set in the Old West, stars Father Pete, whose best friend is released from jail. Upon his release, he is killed trying to get revenge on Tom Radigan, the man who was responsible for him being in prison. Now the man’s daughter, Joan Greaves, is taking over where her father left off. This is an intricately weaved story with many different subplots. The action leads up to a bank robbery with the various parties involved.
This is the first novel I’ve read by Ed Gorman, so I had no frame of reference to start with. I was pleasantly surprised at the skill that Gorman was able to use in creating a tight plot with strong characters. The story is filled with intrigue, and had me hooked in to the end. Even if you are not into Westerns, this is a novel worth reading.
Carl Alves – author of Blood Street
Vendetta, set in the Old West, stars Father Pete, whose best friend is released from jail. Upon his release, he is killed trying to get revenge on Tom Radigan, the man who was responsible for him being in prison. Now the man’s daughter, Joan Greaves, is taking over where her father left off. This is an intricately weaved story with many different subplots. The action leads up to a bank robbery with the various parties involved.
This is the first novel I’ve read by Ed Gorman, so I had no frame of reference to start with. I was pleasantly surprised at the skill that Gorman was able to use in creating a tight plot with strong characters. The story is filled with intrigue, and had me hooked in to the end. Even if you are not into Westerns, this is a novel worth reading.
Carl Alves – author of Blood Street
August 5, 2013
Good western as Catholic priest, a former soldier, gunfighter and hellraiser, tries to stop young woman from murdering the man who murdered her father. The story is different and has an ironic ending. Recommended!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews