Warriors, avalanches, merciless fights, and now…a Painted Skull. Willow Valley, July 1831 – Zach Connors and his family are finally safe and among friends, where he can let his wounded leg heal. All of the Trappers and Mountain Men anxiously await the supply train from Saint Louis.
It had been a perilous spring and summer for Zach, his family and friends. Known as Grizzly Killer throughout the wilderness they had fought a battle against Gros Ventre warriors and nearly lost a close friend in an avalanche. Here at Rendezvous, he can feel safe amongst several hundred trappers and friendly Indians. Getting here had meant another fight, this time with the always dangerous Blackfeet. But what Zach didn’t know is the worst danger of all awaited them at home – a Painted Skull.
Named Best Mountain Man Series by True West Magazine, author Lane R Warenski delivers book seven in the action-packed saga!
Lane R Warenski lives in a log home in Duchesne County, Utah, where he has an unrestricted view of the highest peaks in the mighty Uinta Mountains. Warenski was raised being proud of his pioneer heritage and with a deep love and respect of the outdoors. Ever since childhood, following his father, Lane R Warenski has hunted, fished, and camped the mountains of the West. Whether it was the daily journals of William Ashley and Jedediah Smith or the fictional stories written by the great storytellers like Louis L’Amour and Terry C. Johnston, throughout his life, Warenski loves reading the history of the first explorers that came west, most of whom never dreamed they were opening this wild and rugged land to the pioneers and settlers that followed.
This is book seven in the Grizzly Killer Series. This is my first reading of the series, and I unfortunately started with book seven. I wish I had started with book one.
The story takes place in 1831. Zack Connors, known as Grizzly Killer, and his family along with fellow trappers and mountain men gather in Willow Valley awaiting the supply train from Saint Louis. Warenski provides a lot of descriptions and information about the daily life of the mountain men in this historical western. There is some action, but mostly the story is about the daily life on the frontier. There is some retelling of action stories from Connor’s adventures from other books in the series. I found them interesting as this was my first reading of a book in the series; otherwise, if I had been following the series, I would have been unhappy with all the backstories. I am willing to try another book in the series. I understand they all are bestsellers on Amazon. I believe Warenski is an independent publisher.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is nine hours and five minutes. Louis B. Jack does a good job narrating the story. Jack is an actor and voice-over artist. This is my first experience with both the author and narrator.
Lane Warenski – Grizzly Killer Bk 7 – The Painted Skull – Reviewed 7-7-21 – Read 7/5/21
Returning Home, horses stolen, finding the painted skull, what does it mean for Grizzly Killer?
The Indians gave Zach Conners the name Grizzly Killer. His name and the necklace are widely known across the mountains and even further east. If they don’t know him personally, they surely know him when they spot the necklace, he always wears the necklace around his neck.
As we have previously learned, an extremely large silver-tipped grizzly bear killed Zach Conner’s father. He spent his first winter alone with just he and his two best friends, Jimbo, the giant dog that had been abandoned, and his mule, Ol’ Red. Later he found Running Wolf with a broken leg, and the Snake Indians trying extremely hard to kill him. Since then, the pair have been like brothers in every way except by blood. His family has expanded to include Running Wolf, his wife Raven Wing, their son Grey Wolf, Zach’s wives Sunflower, and Shining Star, and his daughter, Morning Star, mostly called Star from his second wife Shining Star, the twins, Little Moon and Jack. The family grows, when they returned home to Black’s Fork, Buffalo Heart, his wife Meadow Lark, and Red Hawk joined the family and go with them.
Having spent the winter in the Shoshone Village of Charging Bull, they are returning home. Zach figured they should rest up a couple of days on the banks of the Seeds-de-kee before continuing home. While they were there Luna, Jimbo, and the pups found a small herd of buffalo and the fresh meat sounded mighty good. Afterward, they needed to smoke the meat as it would not last in the heat before they arrived home. The women informed Zach that it would be at least another day before it would be dry enough to pack. However, the next morning Buffalo Heart ran into camp, yelling, “The horses are gone!”
Join Grizzly Killer, family, and friends as they race to recover the horses, and what happens when Zach finds a painted skull…
What did I like? Previously I had read the first book, “The Making of a Mountain Man,” and certainly enjoyed it. Later I received book eight, “White Snake,” book nine, “The Trading Post,” book ten, “Spirit Talkers,” book eleven, “Spirits In the Wind,” and for some reason I missed book twelve, but not long ago I finished book thirteen, “Sacred Ground.” Well, I have been telling myself that I wanted to catch up on the series and decided that this weekend I would do it. As everyone knows I am part Native American, I have a special love for them, no matter which tribe. I grew up with the Jemez Indians in New Mexico and have a unique bond with them. This series touches my heart in many ways, not only from the fact that a white man has been accepted within the network of the tribes but because of the values that he passes on to them. They saved him in the past, but he continues to save as many as he can, in the unique way that only Grizzly Killer can do, with friendship and love.
What will you like? I mean come on! What is there not to like in this series, we have family, friends, excitement, animals, kidnapping, horse stealing, grizzly bears, wolves, pups, Jimbo, Ol’ Red, Thunder, cougars, medicine men, shamans, avalanche, hot springs, gold, orphaned cub bears, trappers, murderers, Rendezvous antics, Indian attacks, warriors, children, so what more could you want? Oh, I forgot, a painted skull with a curse on it!!! We learned in the last book that the Shoshone Shaman, Blue Fox had started training Raven Wing when she was just a small girl as a medicine woman. But before he left for the next life, he pronounced to the whole village that Raven Wing was the most powerful Shaman he had ever seen. Can she defeat the power of a spell from another Shaman? I am on to the last book that I missed in this series, book twelve, “Hell on the Horizon.”
Another outstanding rendition of realistic old western adventures that certainly touches the heartstrings of any true reader of old American folklore expeditions. This is one of the more in-depth you what adventures should entail, leaving very little to the reader's imagination!
Five stars, without a doubt! A very scintillating story with never ending descriptive episodes from beginning to end. An outstanding selection of characters that portrays compassion and camaraderie among the good guys,and enough suspenseful speculations involving the bad ones. Too, the storylines, as always, are certainly creative and definitely entertaining episodes throughout the entire series. Grizzly Killer, his family and friends, waste no time in getting into the mood of overcoming their many obstacles, and their heartwarming adventures masterfully executed creates a never ending detailed description of ongoing excursions. The camaraderie between the good guys is unsurpassed in ongoing survival of the fittest, as each one of them appears to be in tune with the others. Definitely recommend this compassionately outstanding descriptive story to all of you reader's, regardless of your desired reading preference, especially if you love descriptive episodes of old western at its best. This entire series is five star masterpieces that brings compassion, romance and never ending detailed excitement from the very first paragraph to the final word! Read if! You gotta love it!
I was born and raised in the Adirondacks Mountains in what truly is upstate NY. As a young boy in late 50s into the 60s if you lived out of town in what we considered to be then the wilderness you had to find your own ways to get entertainment. After the chores were done of course. Well it was then and still is this old man's my favorite thing to read. Yes I did read the last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper. As I have gotten to be in my mind 60s I have not been able to get around as I did when I was younger no not from age but injuries and illness. So to be able to sit with a good book it and has to be what I enjoy most. I To when I was young had To rely on hunting fishing and yes To make money trapping as well. So 15th we stories do come To life with just some imagination attached to what you read. If only kids today would try to do the same. Our world would be what 28th the was or at least this country. To be able to become one of the characters in those books is what bring them to life. Our minds can become wonderful places to live in lol. We just have to careful we remember our way home. So to Mr. Lane R. Warenski sir I thank you for another Grizzly Killer edition the painted skull. The only thing I do ask is in these series editions we. Would at the credit acknowledgement we get some time frame for the next edition. Again thank you Roy Stevens
I’ve now read the whole “Grizzly Killer” series and enjoyed each one immensely. My imagination takes me so far away while reading these books that it’s sometimes hard to make my way back to reality.
I’ve also read “Trail Of The Vanished”. I’ve stood high up in the Rockies a lot of times and wished with all my heart I could have been there a hundred, even two hundred years ago, when there was no smog, no towers, no power lines, no traffic, no congestion. After reading the story of two brothers who were sent back in time, I’ve changed my mind! Nope, don’t wanna do that anymore!
No matter which one you choose, all these novels by Lane R. Warenski are great!
Good and enjoyable stories, but; The further I get into this series of books the more grammatical, spelling, and other errors I’m seeing. I realize that these mistakes don’t change the stories, but I feel like it makes them more difficult to enjoy because the flow of the writing is interrupted. The first book (and to a degree the second) had very few errors, so I know it can be done, but subsequent books seem to get worse and worse the further I get. I’ll still read them, because I enjoy these types of books, but please work on eliminating the errors! Thanks
What an amazing adventure that I have been through. 5 stars on all your books and the reason why I couldn't put it is it isn't my account, so I waited for the very last one of your series. I'm really hoping you writing another book to add to this series, because you had me laughing, crying and on the edge of my seat in these books that I was so amazed that I felt like I was there. Thank you for sharing your amazing adventure through writing Cherie A Harlow
If you like mountain men and native American Indians you will like the Grizzly Killer series. This book really challenged the healer and shaman Raven Wing. More of her powers come out and she connects more with her hudband"s spirit helper, Luna, the white wolf. Of course there are the dangers of bears and enemy tribes. New loves, babies as Grizzly Killer's "tribe" grows. I really like this series. I hope you enjoy it also.
This author sure knows how to captivate readers with old western adventures, including the wars between Native American tribes in northern Utah, a place where I now live in then known as Willow Valley. This story has great characters, action, and suspense which entertain readers. It's hard to put this busy book down ... even as dinner waits for you! I'm addicted to Lane Warenski's well researched historical stories.
I have really enjoyed reading the Grizzly Killer series. The Painted Skull did not disappoint. Life as a mountain man had happy times and some very dangerous and sad times. It took a special man to live through it all and still remain true to himself. I will not review with spoilers because it does take away from the book if you know beforehand what will happen. Read it for yourself, you will not be disappointed.
Grizzly killers, Shamon. It’s very powerful, but is she powerful enough for the Cheyenne’s new Shamon I guess we’ll find out in the next book these are so good I’m just going for one after the other and I’ll be sad when they’re gone this author is wonderful the books are gripping and they just won’t let you put the book down. I register my chores every day so I can get back to my book. I just love This series I can’t wait to get to the next book
I have read every one of the Grizzly Killer books and I am looking forward to the next one. They are historically accurate and give the reader a very good depiction of the lives of the Mountain Men and the Native Americans. I highly recommend this series and this author!
Another excellent book by Lane Warenski. I have read and enjoyed most of the Grizzly Killer series. This one has more details about the daily life of the native Americans and early trappers than most of the others. I enjoyed reading this book very much. I was furnished this book free in return for a honest review.
This author always takes right back to the time period and immerses you into the story as a partner of Zach Connors wanting to see what he sees and experience the situations and personal meetings and thoughts of the main characters brilliant read as always can’t wait for the next instalment
This is a great series that I hope doesn't end with "The Painted Skull" the story line and characters are very believable that will keep you reading for hours. The only criticism I have is that it appears that the editing was rushed as there are many typos. However the reading was still great.
This was a good , read and the action and adventure are fast and furious,mixed in with moments of indirect education of the early interaction between the settlers and natives.
Though I have read the other books of this series, this one started very slow. It really didn't get going until the last few chapters. Then it stopped. Leaving me wanting the next book!
I really do enjoy Lanes historical fiction. I have read all that I can find and have loved every single one.Thanks sir, for the wonderful magick that you work.
This is another winner for author, Lane R. Warenski. This is filled with excitement, adventure and devotion to family you’ve chosen to be yours. I can’t wait to start on the eighth in this great series.
Grizzly Killer seems to have a perfect life with his friends in their high mountain home. If they could just there and not go for buffalo and other supplies. Their medicine could be tested.
I've enjoyed the Grizzly Killer series so far. But this one wasn't quite as good as the first six. Not a lot of action one fight with Indians early in the book but after that not a lot. Hoping next book will be better.
Lane R. Warenski is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I have enjoyed reading several of his other westerns and Grizzly Killer: The Painted Skull is as good as it gets.
Again, Mr Warenski has painted with words an extremely enjoyable book of the mountain man. I have been following Grizzly Killer, his family, and friends through another year of life in the rockies. I highly recommend this and the others in the series of Grizzly Killer and hope each new book continues to be as gripping and fun to read.
I didn't think each book would keep getting better in this series, I'm happy to say I was wrong! Loved the garden and the fried squash almost as much the whole book!
A great action packed story about trappers and life in the Rockies.
The author has written a story of life and the dangers that existed for the trappers and Indians that lived in the Rocky Mountains. Full of adventure and excitement.
This series keeps getting me more and more drawn in to Native American lore. It is evident that he has done some research into his subject matter to make it excellent.