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Cole Bonner #2
Massacre at Crow Creek Crossing
A shocking tale of violence and vengeance in the hills of Wyoming.
From Spur Award-winning author Charles G. West . . .
FIRST COMES BLOOD
Cole Bonner will never forget what happened to his family at Crow Creek Crossing. His wife, her parents, and their three young children—brutally slaughtered by outlaws. The horror of the massacre drove him into the wilderness. Drove him nearly mad. And drove him to seek an equally brutal revenge . . .
THEN COMES CARNAGE
Now, against his better judgment, Bonner is returning to the place that almost destroyed him. While hunting in the mountains, he discovers that a man has been murdered and a woman abducted. He manages to track the killers and free her. But to bring the widow to safety, he will have to face his own demons. Return to his old homestead. And relive the violence—and the vengeance—of another massacre at Crow Creek Crossing . . .
“Rarely has an author painted the great American West in strokes so bold, vivid, and true.”
—Ralph Compton
From Spur Award-winning author Charles G. West . . .
FIRST COMES BLOOD
Cole Bonner will never forget what happened to his family at Crow Creek Crossing. His wife, her parents, and their three young children—brutally slaughtered by outlaws. The horror of the massacre drove him into the wilderness. Drove him nearly mad. And drove him to seek an equally brutal revenge . . .
THEN COMES CARNAGE
Now, against his better judgment, Bonner is returning to the place that almost destroyed him. While hunting in the mountains, he discovers that a man has been murdered and a woman abducted. He manages to track the killers and free her. But to bring the widow to safety, he will have to face his own demons. Return to his old homestead. And relive the violence—and the vengeance—of another massacre at Crow Creek Crossing . . .
“Rarely has an author painted the great American West in strokes so bold, vivid, and true.”
—Ralph Compton
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2019
101 people are currently reading
802 people want to read
About the author
Charles G. West
71 books75 followersCharles G. West first arrived on the western literary scene in March, 1998 with his first novel, Stone Hand, published by Penguin under their Signet imprint. The book was the first of a three-book series, featuring Jason Coles, master tracker. The public response to those first three books called for more western fiction by West, and as of January 2014, Signet has published forty-five.
Inspired in his youth by great adventure authors like A.B. Guthrie and Vardis Fisher, West has always sought to be true to the men and women who braved the dangers of the savage frontier that was ultimately forged to become the American west. Novels by Charles G. West are classified as historical/westerns due to his diligent research in his subject matter, choosing to weave his fiction into the fabric of the actual places and events, being true to the times as well as the people. As a result, his protagonists are usually not heroes, but are often called upon to perform heroic deeds.
Insisting that his protagonists must be instilled with a sense of fairness in addition to courage. West readily admits that many of the characters in his books are patterned after his two sons, both of whom are graduates of the University of Montana, one still lives in Kalispell, Montana - and is the source of much of the author's detail on the ways of the mountain man. Both sons share West's love for the Big Sky Country.
Presently, the author resides in Ocala, Florida with his wife, Ronda, whose name is found on the dedication page of every West novel.
Inspired in his youth by great adventure authors like A.B. Guthrie and Vardis Fisher, West has always sought to be true to the men and women who braved the dangers of the savage frontier that was ultimately forged to become the American west. Novels by Charles G. West are classified as historical/westerns due to his diligent research in his subject matter, choosing to weave his fiction into the fabric of the actual places and events, being true to the times as well as the people. As a result, his protagonists are usually not heroes, but are often called upon to perform heroic deeds.
Insisting that his protagonists must be instilled with a sense of fairness in addition to courage. West readily admits that many of the characters in his books are patterned after his two sons, both of whom are graduates of the University of Montana, one still lives in Kalispell, Montana - and is the source of much of the author's detail on the ways of the mountain man. Both sons share West's love for the Big Sky Country.
Presently, the author resides in Ocala, Florida with his wife, Ronda, whose name is found on the dedication page of every West novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 11, 2019
In Charles West's Massacre at Crow Creek Crossing (Pinnacle 2019), Cole Bonner is a simple mountain man trying to escape a painful past by losing himself in the ethereal beauty of the Rockies. He is honest, hardworking, and pretty much does the right thing even when it’s hard to do. Which is how he ends up rescuing a woman who was killed by two outlaw brothers after they killed her husband. Bonner manages to kill one of the brothers but the other escapes. He teams up with a third brother and they make it their life’s goal to kill the man who killed their brother.
Mountain men are uniquely American. They’re rough people who lived a hard life in the mountains before the West was even close to settled, before any sort of organized law arrived. They are a part of history that’s gone but the type of people they were explains a lot about the maverick attitude of Americans. While I’m way too weak to do what they do I sure enjoy reading their stories.
--to be published on my blog, WordDreams 2/3/20
Mountain men are uniquely American. They’re rough people who lived a hard life in the mountains before the West was even close to settled, before any sort of organized law arrived. They are a part of history that’s gone but the type of people they were explains a lot about the maverick attitude of Americans. While I’m way too weak to do what they do I sure enjoy reading their stories.
--to be published on my blog, WordDreams 2/3/20
November 17, 2019
I'm a fan of westerns, whether open prairie or mountain majesty, the men and women who travelled and settled the western United States were all either running from something or running to something. In this story, our hero is both, he's running from his tragic past and running towards the rescue of innocents that remind him why he alone. Charles West has obviously done considerable research on the live and times, he keeps the stories realistic and vividly alive. I've read a few of his books and they are all consistently excellent examples of great western writing. I'm looking forward to the next installment in the life of Bonner.
February 17, 2020
This is the first book I've read by Charles G. West and he has just become one of my favorite authors. This book is action packed and exceptionally well paced. More John Ford than Clint Eastwood, Massacre at Crow Creek Crossing is a wonderfully simple, but highly entertaining Western that shouldn't be missed by any fan of the genre.
April 5, 2020
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
MASSACRE AT COW CREEK CROSSING by Charles G.West is a traditional western novel that includes the hero, his sidekick, & a damsel in distress, and although it follows a well worn path it is an enjoyable read with a lead character that is interesting and strong in his convictions, which suit him well for the challenge he faces throughout the story when going up against an outlaw gang with a feared leader, and since the assistance from his friend is limited, he is often on his own to provide protection for both the town and woman he’s committed to watch over.
Cole Bonner is the leading character in this novel, who along with his faithful sidekick Harley stumble upon a situation when they are out on a hunting trip to provide meat for a Crow tribe they are friends with who are in need of having an ample supply of food going into winter.
Returning with the venison for the tribe, they spot smoke near a river, and after separating from Harley Cole investigates the situation, only to find the remains of a wagon burned after an apparent ambush.
Finding a man dead from gunshot wounds, Cole determines that this was the work of white men based on the presence of shod hoof prints along with boot prints left behind.
Further investigation reveals a woman who’s being held captive, and unknowingly Cole finds himself up against a dangerous outlaw who is the brother of the man Cole bests to free the woman.
Several situations present themselves to both Cole and Carrie in the aftermath of their encounter that make it obvious that they are in danger as a result of the search for them by the gang.
Does Cole (and Harley) have what it takes to come out on top in spite of the greater number of men in the gang, and will Cole be able to learn what he needs to about Carrie’s past that makes her a target of the leader of the gang?
Action and storyline carry this one from start to finish making this a good choice for most western novel fans.
4 stars.
MASSACRE AT COW CREEK CROSSING by Charles G.West is a traditional western novel that includes the hero, his sidekick, & a damsel in distress, and although it follows a well worn path it is an enjoyable read with a lead character that is interesting and strong in his convictions, which suit him well for the challenge he faces throughout the story when going up against an outlaw gang with a feared leader, and since the assistance from his friend is limited, he is often on his own to provide protection for both the town and woman he’s committed to watch over.
Cole Bonner is the leading character in this novel, who along with his faithful sidekick Harley stumble upon a situation when they are out on a hunting trip to provide meat for a Crow tribe they are friends with who are in need of having an ample supply of food going into winter.
Returning with the venison for the tribe, they spot smoke near a river, and after separating from Harley Cole investigates the situation, only to find the remains of a wagon burned after an apparent ambush.
Finding a man dead from gunshot wounds, Cole determines that this was the work of white men based on the presence of shod hoof prints along with boot prints left behind.
Further investigation reveals a woman who’s being held captive, and unknowingly Cole finds himself up against a dangerous outlaw who is the brother of the man Cole bests to free the woman.
Several situations present themselves to both Cole and Carrie in the aftermath of their encounter that make it obvious that they are in danger as a result of the search for them by the gang.
Does Cole (and Harley) have what it takes to come out on top in spite of the greater number of men in the gang, and will Cole be able to learn what he needs to about Carrie’s past that makes her a target of the leader of the gang?
Action and storyline carry this one from start to finish making this a good choice for most western novel fans.
4 stars.
November 22, 2023
A mountain man protects a town from outlaws
Cole takes care of his old friend as they leave the high country to assist friends in the Crow tribe. They rescue a woman after outlaws killed her husband. Cole pursues the outlaws, following their trail of murder and mayhem. Cole ends up proposing, but to the one you expected.
Cole takes care of his old friend as they leave the high country to assist friends in the Crow tribe. They rescue a woman after outlaws killed her husband. Cole pursues the outlaws, following their trail of murder and mayhem. Cole ends up proposing, but to the one you expected.
February 6, 2020
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and Goodreads Giveaways for this free book. This was my very 1st Western that wasn't also a bodice-ripping romance novel. The initial slow pace of the book was a little difficult for me to get into but once the action really got underway I couldn't put it down!
November 22, 2019
This one has a well-written plot as well as interesting characters and quite a few of them are three-dimensional. It also shows that the author has done some research on the period, to make things more realistic.
The book has a lot of action, which makes it a fast and fun read.
The book has a lot of action, which makes it a fast and fun read.
November 23, 2019
love a good western,gets you attention right from the start,loved the chacters and storyline
November 10, 2020
Well, I thought I had discovered a wonderful writer that I would be excited about. After reading the John Hawk trilogy I was very, very impressed with what appeared to me to be a new voice. So, I pick this one up and discover that it is so much like the John Hawk westerns that I was left feeling dissatisfied.
Cole Bonner is so close to being John Hawk that he could be his literary identical twin. Both are mountain men types. Both prefer a rifle to a handgun. Both wear buckskins. Both are perfect gentlemen. Both will go out of their way to hunt bad guys simply because they don't have anything better to do. Both like the Indians.
The women in West's writing vacillate between being helpless damsels in distress, tough prostitutes, or tough women in tough places. They frequently jump back and forth between these roles.
The outlaws are carbon copies of those described in the Hawk trilogy. They are cowardly bullies, no-goods, and all have the same kind of attitudes. They all talk, act, and think the same.
That's not to say that this isn't a decent traditional western. I just don't get why the author changed the name. Basically, what we have here is a John Hawk western using a different name with very little difference. The action is good, the plotting is pretty much the same as the John Hawk stories,--
I won't go out of my way to locate these novels. They are just so much like the Hawk stories that the writing has become familiar and mundane.
Cole Bonner is so close to being John Hawk that he could be his literary identical twin. Both are mountain men types. Both prefer a rifle to a handgun. Both wear buckskins. Both are perfect gentlemen. Both will go out of their way to hunt bad guys simply because they don't have anything better to do. Both like the Indians.
The women in West's writing vacillate between being helpless damsels in distress, tough prostitutes, or tough women in tough places. They frequently jump back and forth between these roles.
The outlaws are carbon copies of those described in the Hawk trilogy. They are cowardly bullies, no-goods, and all have the same kind of attitudes. They all talk, act, and think the same.
That's not to say that this isn't a decent traditional western. I just don't get why the author changed the name. Basically, what we have here is a John Hawk western using a different name with very little difference. The action is good, the plotting is pretty much the same as the John Hawk stories,--
I won't go out of my way to locate these novels. They are just so much like the Hawk stories that the writing has become familiar and mundane.
October 7, 2022
This is the second book in the series of Cole Bonner. The local library didn’t have the first book, so I read decided to go ahead and read this one. It could pass for a standalone without much of a problem.
I don’t know where the author got the massacre as part of the title. There isn’t any massacre.
The story starts out where Cole and his friend Harley have lots of deer meat they are taking to an Indian village and come across and burning wagon and a dead man. From the clothes around the wagon, they figure there is a missing woman. Cole rescues her and takes her to Cheyenne, where the in-laws live. The story continues from there. Cole leaves to go after an outlaw and the outlaw hooks up with some friend, they come back and tree Cheyenne. Take it over the town and none of the town’s residents have the balls to do anything about it. Cole comes back, helps out and of course then the residents all grow a pair. Interesting enough story. I didn’t get tired of the story as I have with some of the others by this author. I have added this author to my list and hope the local library gets more of them.
I don’t know where the author got the massacre as part of the title. There isn’t any massacre.
The story starts out where Cole and his friend Harley have lots of deer meat they are taking to an Indian village and come across and burning wagon and a dead man. From the clothes around the wagon, they figure there is a missing woman. Cole rescues her and takes her to Cheyenne, where the in-laws live. The story continues from there. Cole leaves to go after an outlaw and the outlaw hooks up with some friend, they come back and tree Cheyenne. Take it over the town and none of the town’s residents have the balls to do anything about it. Cole comes back, helps out and of course then the residents all grow a pair. Interesting enough story. I didn’t get tired of the story as I have with some of the others by this author. I have added this author to my list and hope the local library gets more of them.
September 19, 2022
My first Charles G. West, novel, proved to be a great clean old fashioned western. I will have to backtrack and read the first.Cole Bonner western. The title of this book, the second installment in the series, MASSACRE at CROW CREEK CROSSING, uses flashbacks in the story to make reference to the first in the series, CROW CREEK CROSSING, with the tragic loss of Bonner's family. Confusing, in that the Massacre actually happened in the first book. That being said, this is a pleasant, authentic western Americana series.
July 28, 2021
Well….after I mentioned that Lonesome Dove was one of the best books I’ve ever read someone recommended a Charles West novel. Lots of “I reckons, yeps, keepins, lookins, etc.”. Felt a lot like a TV show with little narrative and stereotypical western dialog. Good escapism but not much in interesting character development or visual imagery. 2.5 stars.
November 29, 2020
Great Read
This is a book to get lost in. Very easy read, yet entertaining. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys western books. Much like reading Louie Lamour, although not as descriptive.
This is a book to get lost in. Very easy read, yet entertaining. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys western books. Much like reading Louie Lamour, although not as descriptive.
December 5, 2020
I have finished all three books and everyone was great. There is plenty of action, shooting and fighting with a little humor thrown in. Reading this book was like going to a Saturday afternoon double feature western movies. The news is, the good guy wins.
January 14, 2021
Author is definitely a western man!
Excellent book with many historical references. It will keep you on edge! I highly recommend this author's work. My fifth book, and time to review.
Excellent book with many historical references. It will keep you on edge! I highly recommend this author's work. My fifth book, and time to review.
April 9, 2025
Last line
I loved this book but the last line killed it for me. Beulah and Maggie walked.arm and arm back to the hotel. Come on man if that wasn't taken from the movie Rio Bravo IL buy you a watch!!
I loved this book but the last line killed it for me. Beulah and Maggie walked.arm and arm back to the hotel. Come on man if that wasn't taken from the movie Rio Bravo IL buy you a watch!!
November 11, 2019
A very well written western story and a good plot. Good characters. I really enjoyed reading this book. I won this book through good reads.
November 14, 2019
My first book to read by Charles G West, very good and well written story, I'll be sure to pick another...
November 21, 2019
Excellent book!!!
November 24, 2019
I really loved this book. It is a fantastic story of the American West. I could not put it down very easily. It kept my attention from beginning to end. I highly recommend it!
December 13, 2019
Massacre at Crow Creek Crossing is my first introduction to Charles G West's writing. I really liked it and hope to read more by then in the future.
Four and a half stars.
Four and a half stars.
February 25, 2020
Excellent book good author
August 14, 2020
DNF too many inconsistencies, kept kicking me out of the story.
September 13, 2020
Rcsva13
A very good read. I'm going to try to find more books by this author. I have read more books from this author and enjoyed every one
A very good read. I'm going to try to find more books by this author. I have read more books from this author and enjoyed every one
November 16, 2020
Cole Bonner
As always a great read from Charles West. He always leaves you wanting more. And there are plenty to read. Thank you for a awesome read.
As always a great read from Charles West. He always leaves you wanting more. And there are plenty to read. Thank you for a awesome read.
December 4, 2023
Very
Interesting and I enjoyed. Kept me wondering what was next. But that's what good books are about. Read and see
Interesting and I enjoyed. Kept me wondering what was next. But that's what good books are about. Read and see
January 30, 2024
Fate… what a great ending. Even though the reader knew Cole would kill everyone, woman power, wild west style.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2025
Great characters
Really enjoyed this book lots of action, kept you wanting to read into the night. Enjoys all the characters and how they evolved.
Really enjoyed this book lots of action, kept you wanting to read into the night. Enjoys all the characters and how they evolved.
December 23, 2025
Good clean western
4.5 stars. Enjoyed the book from beginning to end. Will look forward to reading other works by Charles G. West
4.5 stars. Enjoyed the book from beginning to end. Will look forward to reading other works by Charles G. West
September 14, 2023
Good read, enjoyed. Looking for more of he writes. I like his cowboy coverage but enjoy Indian stories better.
Enjoyed your writing.I can feel the branches as I push them aside. I can visualize looking down the barrel of my 33.
Enjoyed your writing.I can feel the branches as I push them aside. I can visualize looking down the barrel of my 33.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews