High Country Justice

Caleb Marlowe #1

by Nik James

The first in a riveting new historical western series from author Nik James. It will take all this lone frontiersman's skills to save his only friend from murderous outlaws.

Caleb Marlowe carved out his own legend as frontier scout and lawman before arriving in the Colorado boomtown of Elkhorn. Famous for a lightning-quick draw and nerves of steel, he is mysterious, guarded, and unpredictable. Now, he wants to leave the past behind. But the past has a way of dogging a man...

When Doc Burnett, Caleb's only friend in town, goes missing, his daughter Sheila comes seeking Caleb's help. Newly arrived from the East, she hotly condemns the bloody frontier justice of the rifle and the six-gun. But this is outlaw country.

Murderous road agents have Doc trapped in their mountain hideaway. To free Doc, Marlowe tracks his kidnappers through wild, uncharted territory, battling animals and bushwhackers. But when Sheila is captured by the ruthless gunhawks with a score to settle, Marlowe will have to take them down one by one, until no outlaw remains standing.

Genres: Westerns

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 25, 2021

About the author

Nik James, Jan Coffey, and May McGoldrick are pen names for USA Today bestselling authors Nikoo Kafi and Jim McGoldrick. Together, they have crafted over fifty fast-paced, conflict-filled historical, contemporary, and Western novels, and two works of nonfiction.

Nikoo’s education and training was in engineering. She worked in robotics and submarine shipbuilding. Before earning a PhD in sixteenth-century Scottish and English literature, Jim pursued a hundred and one jobs, including a decade in submarine construction.

Storytellers at heart, Nikoo and Jim were always searching for careers that gave them time for both family and writing. Then, after thirteen years of marriage, they recognized each other’s creative strengths. Nikoo is all about characters and feeling. Jim is about action and sense of place. Their first attempt in writing fiction together produced their award-winning novel, The Thistle and the Rose. Since then, their stories have touched the hearts and minds of millions of readers all over the world. Their work has been translated into over a dozen languages and counting.

Nikoo and Jim are four-time Rita Finalists and the winners of numerous awards for their writing, including the Daphne DeMaurier Award for Excellence, the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewers’ Choice Award, three NJRW Golden Leaf Awards, two Holt Medallions, and the Connecticut Press Club Award for Best Fiction.

The authors make their home in California.

Here is a complete catalogue of May McGoldrick, Nik James and Jan Coffey’s work, in chronological order.
Each book stands on its own.

MAY McGOLDRICK

Macpherson Clan Series
The Thistle and the Rose
A Midsummer Wedding (novella)
Angel of Skye
Heart of Gold
Beauty of the Mist

The Intended
Flame
Tess and the Highlander
The Dreamer (Highland Treasure)
The Enchantress (Highland Treasure)
The Firebrand (Highland Treasure)

Much Ado About Highlanders (Scottish Relic)
Taming the Highlander (Scottish Relic)
Tempest in the Highlands (Scottish Relic)

Arsenic and Old Armor
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Pennington Family Series
The Promise
The Rebel
Borrowed Dreams
Captured Dreams
Dreams of Destiny
Romancing the Scot
It Happened in the Highlands
Sweet Home Highland Christmas (novella)
Sleepless in Scotland
Dearest Millie (novella)
How to Ditch a Duke (novella)
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Royal Highlander Series
Highland Crown
Highland Jewel
Highland Sword
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A Prince in the Pantry (novella)
Ghost of the Thames
---

Made in Heaven
Thanksgiving in Connecticut (novella)


NIK JAMES
The Winter Road (novella)
High Country Justice
Bullets and Silver
Silver Trail Christmas

JAN COFFEY
Trust Me Once
Twice Burned
Triple Threat
Fourth Victim
Five in a Row
Silent Waters
Cross Wired
The Janus Effect
The Puppet Master
Blind Eye
Road Kill
Mercy (novella)
Tropical Kiss
Aquarian
When the Mirror Cracks

NONFICTION

Marriage of Minds: Collaborative Fiction Writing
Step Write Up: Writing Exercises for 21st Century

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Sign up for the May McGoldrick, Nik James, Jan Coffey Newsletter
https://www.maymcgoldrick.com/contact-us
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Visit their author websites
www.MayMcGoldrick.com
www.NikJamesAuthor.com
www.JanCoffey.com

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received a digital arc form netgalley for an honest review]

High Country Justice is the first book in a new historical western series from author Nik James. I don't read as much adult fiction as I use to, but the synopsis completely sold me on this one. A former lawman searches the Colorado frontier in order to find his friend Doc and help Doc's daughter..Yes Please! I also may be slightly obsessed with the old west lately and devouring spaghetti westerns and every cowboy movie Clinton Eastwood has been in. High Country Justice delivered exactly what the synopsis' said it would and left me satisfied.

"In the game of life, fate was bound to throw the unknowable at you. Often when you least expected it. Often when you could least afford it."

The Story is told between the point of views of Caleb Marlowe, Doc Burnett, and Sheila Burnett. All three characters are well-developed and add a different view point to the overall story line. Doc is smart and caring, Sheila is brave and headstrong, and Caleb is just the ultimate cowboy in my book. Caleb straddles the line with his own morals and views on right and wrong. Caleb is the main character of the story even though the other two have point of views, but Caleb he is the main focus as he traverses the wild terrain. Along his journey he encounters rattlesnakes, a vicious cougar, outlaws, gunfights, and ambushes. There is more than plenty of excitement and tense situations along the way.

"Frontier justice. It was rough [...] but sometimes life had a way of working things out."

I'll definitely be on the look-out for future historical westerns by Nik James because of the way the Colorado frontier came to life beautifully with vivid descriptions and the wonderful characters. Plus there are certain characters I would more than love to see form a relationship.😉

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think what is intriguing about this western is the relationship between a young woman fresh out of the cities in the east and the rough edged cowboy who is trying to build up a ranch in an Old West Colorado. They lock horns immediately. The changes and transformations in them and between them are what fascinated me the most and I wish the author had spent more time there. 4 stars.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nik James' High Country Justice is the action-packed story of Caleb Marlowe. Every now and then, I find myself wanting to read a western full of adventure. This book fits that bill! Caleb Marlowe is the ultimate hero; he's mysterious, private, and guarded, and as all heroes do, he comes to the aid of those in need. I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to more books by this husband and wife team.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, classic Western read with all the drama and action expected from the genre. There was a small bit of what I felt was forced romance, but it didn't really get any in depth focus so I didn't mind too much.

(This sounds really weird but if Caleb Marlowe was real I would definitely want to psychoanalyze him. His thought process and actions are so interesting to me)

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

High Country Justice by Nik James
A Caleb Marlowe Novel #1

Caleb Marlowe was hard to say goodbye to as I finished the last page of this book. I have not read a good Western for awhile and this one really hit the spot. It took me back to the days I would borrow books from my father that were written by Zane Grey, Louis Lamour, Max Brand and other authors that he had collected and treasured enough to keep on his shelves. This book has the feel of those old time favorites and took me back in time…in more ways than one.

What I liked:
* That I was grabbed immediately in the first page of reading.
* Caleb Marlowe: intriguing man with a backstory I can’t wait to hear more about. Capable, lethal, deadly, strong, moral, good friend, animal lover, in tune with nature, interesting – there is a lot more to him than we learned in this first book of the series.
* Doc Burnett: physician, war veteran, moved west for a reason, father, widow, brave, wise, a good man.
* Sheila Burnett: Doc’s daughter suddenly home from the East and there for a reason. She grew as the story progressed and in so doing she became a character I would like to see more of.
* Imala: a widow that I would like to hear more about, and hope shows up in the future.
* The blacksmith and his son – good people that took in a young man in need – wondering if all three will show up in future books.
* The action scenes
* That there were an interesting assortment of characters
* The code of the Gunslinger…
* The way justice was meted out.
* The potential I feel there is for more books in this series.
* Knowing that at least two more books are scheduled for release in the future.
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* The bad men that I was meant not to like
* Having to say goodbye to the characters.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC - This is my honest review.

5 Stars

[Rebecca W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Nikoo and Jim are masters at crafting unique, vibrant characters. Branching out into the Western genre doesn't change that. Elkhorn, Colorado, is a growing town teeming with life and enough trouble to keep Caleb Marlowe on his toes.

This was the first Western that I recall reading, so I wasn't sure what to expect. A wide variety of unique characters, a boomtown with growing pains, the untamed wilderness, and more action and shootouts than you can shake a stick at was the answer. It's almost a wonder that Caleb didn't run out of ammunition with how many rounds are fired off.

Like other McGoldrick books, the magnificent characters make the book shine. Even minor characters have distinct histories that shape their lives, and strong, female characters like Imala and Sheila hold their own on the frontier. Caleb has seen both sides of the law, and while jaded, is still willing to stick his neck out for others.

The action moves from one location to another quickly, but there are still glimpses of the vast world Caleb inhabits. Everything feels alive, from the shattered peace of a ranch to the bustle of town streets. It's easy to lose yourself in the details of the Colorado wilderness or the action of numerous shootouts.

At the end of the day, it's the characters that bring this story home. The first Caleb Marlowe book is a solid series starter, and I look forward to reading the other books to come.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love me a good western! I look forward to the next book.

[Virginia McGee Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having decided I was in the mood for an old-fashioned Western, I requested an advance reading copy of High Country Justice by Nik James (to be published on May 25) on the Net Galley site. The authors are a husband and wife team named Nikoo and Jim McGoldrick, hence the pseudonym. The first chapter, with four dead bad guys and a pretty girl arriving on the scene, let me know that the book would fit the genre.

The hero, Caleb Marlowe, brings personal baggage along with a reputation as a quick-drawing gunman to the town of Elkhorn, Colorado where he plans to settle on a ranch outside the demands of civilization. But then his friend Doc Burnett goes missing just before his daughter Sheila Burnett arrives in town fleeing a marriage engagement her maternal grandfather finagles and insists upon.

The local judge deputizes a reluctant Caleb to track down a band of stagecoach robbers. The robber gang has a strange story and a moral code of its own. Warding against a corrupt sheriff and his followers, searching for the missing doctor, rescuing his kidnapped gutsy New York daughter Sheila, and finding the secret behind the motivation for the stagecoach robbers keeps Caleb busy. Wild animals, gunslingers, and rough terrain keep him in danger.

Tension and gunfights keep the book in the classic western style in this first book of a coming series. Vivid description of the setting as Caleb chases the villains adds to the narrative and pulls the reader into the beauty of the territory as well as its danger. If you are in the mood for an old-fashioned Western, this is a pleasant diversion. When the shooting starts and continues, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good western and that’s what this was…a really good western. It had all the elements. A dangerous small town filled with down and out of luck silver miners whose mines were played out. A shifty-eyed sheriff and trouble in “them thar hills”.

This is very easy reading, and the words seem to flow like water. Reading a Nik James book is like watching a movie. Their description of the country as well as their crafting of characters made everything as clear as watching it. Never once did I mix up names of characters. They gave them all distinct personalities. I think that’s why I made the comment about watching a show. I felt like I could see the characters, the good ones as well as the bad ones. This western had plenty of both.

An excellent read. High Country Justice is Book 1 of a series titled the “Caleb Marlowe series”.

It looks to me as if there are 2 more books in the series and, I intend to read them all.

[Nicole Neiswanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous action-packed, emotional tale of a man named Caleb who wants to live his life in peace but due to his talents and past he can't seem to avoid being pulled into the action. On a quest to save his friend's life, Caleb is a hero who prefers to work in the quiet. Sheila is a fish out of the water straight from New York City who doesn't let a little thing like outlaws stop her. This book delivers on so many levels. Highly recommend.

[Bruce Sembar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book. Easy read. As with most westerns, not a difficult plot to follow. Really good guys and really bad guys. Although there were a couple of characters that could elicit some sympathy. Looks like this is the first in a series of books to follow the main hero.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caleb Marlowe was hard to say goodbye to as I finished the last page of this book. I have not read a good Western for awhile and this one really hit the spot. This book has the feel of those old time favorites and took me back in time.
I look forward to the next book.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I’m not much of a fiction reader, but I felt this book had the perfect combination of compelling story and likable characters.

[Donna Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I swear I could feel the dust, guns and dead bodies all around me while reading this Western clean read.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been hooked on westerns....good westerns....since my uncles gave me William Johnstone books to read when I was young(er). Nik James has captured the "good" in good westerns. He writes them as they should be written. We meet Caleb Marlowe as he rides into Elkhorn, Colorado. He's not riding to any one place, just riding away from a past that should be left behind. He will be drawn into a batlle when his friends are attacked. The story draws you into a Colorado that is far from civilized and you'll meet many characters, good and bad and sometimes the good ones are as bad as they need to be. Horse, guns, blood and lots of sporadic violence but that's what you'd expect from a western. I have never figured out why more people don't read westerns. They are really missing out on some good books.

[A Busscher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your typical western action packed story line. Lone ranger is the only one who can save the day; can shoot with both hands, has a large enough cattle farm, can scour the colorado mtns solo and find the needle in a haystack. I really like the tid bits about fighting off a cougar, shooting a gunslinger 1 sec then chopping off the head of the 6ft rattlesnake 1 sec later. Easy fast reading with a hint of romance and justice prevails at the end.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was fine, and there were some unexpected twists. The dialect in the dialog felt messy and forced. It was like they felt they needed to throw in a "reckon" and "ain't" where the character had been speaking pretty eloquently prior. It was jarring at times.

[Barbara White · Rating 5 out of 5]

High Country Justice reminded me of the western television shows of my youth. I loved it. We all need heroes in our lives. Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for my copy. I highly recommend High Country Justice.

[Lori Piscicelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not usually a western book reader. That being said, this was a pretty good novel. A quick & satisfying read, I definitely wanted to see how it ends. Apparently, this is a series & I would be interested in reading other novels about Caleb Marlowe.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read Westerns, but picked this one up after reading a review in the Denver Post. I'm a sucker for Colorado history. I enjoyed the story and the well-developed characters. A great read! I'll look for the next book in the series for sure.

[Sherry Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy reading western books with lots of action, adventure, surprises. You will love High Country Justice. The characters are wonderful and story was a page turner from the beginning to end!!!! Very good!!!!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story

Action and adventure. Just what you need. Caleb Marlowe is a tough guy with a heart, with hints of a troubled past and deep secrets. He takes on a band of bandits, frees a lady in distress and kills a cougar. What more do you need?

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old west justice in the truest form, guns ablazing…

[Ray Ratliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading with alot of unexpected turns.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series. It varies from my typical books. I will continue with the series.

[Hank · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't find the characters compelling.

[Krys · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me want to be a loner cowboy hero.

[Mariko Tsubaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in a reading slump and decided to try something new. As this is my first western and I cannot compare this author with some of the genre greats. I can tell you I enjoyed this book very much. It was fast paced and entertaining with just a touch of romance.
I am looking forward to reading the continuing adventures of Caleb Marlowe and his absent partner Henry.