Buchanan's Revenge

Buchanan #5

by Jonas Ward

Tom Buchanan, a man with a reputation for being tough and slow to anger, searches through Texas for the three outlaws who shot his best friend in the back

Genres: Westerns

227 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

A pseudonym used by William Ard. House name from 1960 to 1986.

In 1956, hardboiled writer William Ard turned his pen westward and introduced one of the genre’s most enduring characters: Thomas Buchanan, better known as just “Buchanan,” a drifter as likeable as he is deadly. The first novel in the series was called The Name’s Buchanan and appeared under the pseudonym “Jonas Ward.”

Only the first 6 books in the series were written by Ard, and the last, Buchanan on the Prod, was completed by Robert Silverberg.

After Ard's death in 1960 "Jonas Ward" became a house name. Brian Garfield did one and then William R. Cox took over the series and it continued until 1986.

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 5 in the Buchanan series, written by William Ard under the name Jonas Ward. I liked it a lot, probably my favorite of the Buchanan books I've read. The ending was a bit unpredictable, which I enjoyed.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Buchanan found himself in the freight business, something he had no interest in. His partner was Rig Bogan, a friend he'd known for a long time. Bogan was also the son of a sheriff and an ex-con. At daddy's urging, he'd looked the boy up in Texas and delivered a thousand dollars for daddy. Half was supposed to be his and that was how he'd ended up in the freight business. It was Buchanan's intention to turn the business over to Bogan.

That was before Bogan was shot to pieces by three men he'd beaten honestly in a poker game. They didn't see it that way.

Now Buchanan was after the three men, intending to kill them. The problem was they'd joined a larger gang, thirty strong, working a scam to get goods into Mexico and avoid the high tariff leveled by the local general.

Didn't matter to Buchanan. He was going to kill the three men who'd murdered his friend.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

The western hero Tom Buchanan is once again drifting the western lands, all roots are temporary, and he has no desire to be involved in any violence. Yet, even a man with his peaceable nature can be forced to use violence, which is something that Buchanan is very good at. Both with a gun and with his fists. He uses both in this story, winning the fights he must engage in, walking away from those that he dismisses.
Buchanan is visiting an old friend that asks for his assistance. The friend’s son is about to be released from prison and needs a fresh start. Buchanan is given some money and asked to go meet his son and engage him in an honest trade. The son’s name is Bogan and he still idolizes Buchanan from having known him when he was growing up.
Buchanan takes him out into the wilderness to dry him out, clean him up and get him caring about his future again. They agree to form a partnership in a freight company, buying a large wagon and mule team to haul freight back and forth across the Mexican border. With little in the way of law and a lot in the way of greed, it is a lucrative business with a lot of corruption, payoffs and smuggling.
Since the bankers are unwilling to take a change on Brogan, Buchanan is forced to be his partner and stays back in the Texas town while Brogan takes a load of freight to Mexico. When Brogan does not return within the allotted timeframe, Buchanan sets out after him, only to discover he has been ambushed and murdered. This is the context of Buchanan’s revenge.
The three killers are part of a murderous outlaw gang led by a giant of a man. Although Buchanan makes it clear that his only dispute is with the three killers, he ends up pitted against the entire gang. The story moves along at a brisk and generally predictable pace. Buchanan gets in trouble, Buchanan gets out of trouble, Buchanan goes broke after a disagreement and then manages to come back without violating his core principles. He also shrugs off bullet wounds like they were a wooden sliver rather than metallic.
If you are like me and enjoy the Buchanan western novels by Ward, then you will love this book.

[John Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Buchanan has promised a friend he'll try to help reform the man's unruly son. It appears to be working - until the son is gunned down. Now Buchanan is after the three men responsible. Like all of this series, Buchanan is a peaceable man until pushed too far - and then he's unstoppable. A fun read.

[Bradley Schlieper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. Would make a good storyline in a western series.