In an era where every able bodied person carried a gun for protection and other purposes, maintaining the law was an almost impossible job unless your name was Wolf. I'm a western junkie, reading pretty much any that come my way. Max O'Hara has added a spin to the classic western by introducing us to Wolf Stockton and making him an investigator, an unusual job at the time. Most people thought "shoot first, ask questions later, and adminstered their own version of the law. But when an entire train crew disappears, the railroad sends Wolf to decide the who, what, where, when and why of the deed and fix it accordingly. I enjoyed the trip into the era and visiting with the characters along the way. 5 easy stars.

A nice clean action-packed western with extremely boring main character with quite common German name.

Excellent read! While I saw the story coming a mile away, it was absolutely riveting, and I love the "detective" viewpoint. Looking forward to more!

Hell’s Jaw Pass by Max O’Hara is suspenseful and full of action. It weaves aspects of action and adventure with a crime thriller inside a western and is the second book in the Wolf Stockburn, Railroad Detective series. This novel is set in Wyoming in the 1800’s.

Wolf Stockburn is a Wells Fargo detective who generally fights crime that happens on the Northern Pacific Railroad, but he isn’t just any detective. He’s known as the Grey Wolf and is respected and feared, depending on which side of the law one is on. He is extraordinary in that he started as a Pony Express rider in Native American territory and learned how to shoot from a gunfighter. He also seems to have a sixth sense when trouble is near. In this case a crew building a railroad spur is murdered with no survivors. So Wolf is sent to investigate and find the killers.

Wolf is a well-formed character and doesn’t tolerate criminals; especially those that kill in cold blood. Just his name can send some men running and others reaching for their guns. His sense of humor is not always appreciated by others, but it’s there for the reader to see and enjoy. His resolve, focus, and deadly aim are clearly showcased in this novel.

The action starts out strong. Then suspense is built during the initial investigation part of the story line, but it was so full of energy that it kept me turning to pages to find out what was going to happen next. I was fully invested in Wolf’s process of examining the crime scene and his scrutiny of the various people involved. Why would someone want to stop the spur and prevent the hauling of gold from the Hell’s Jaw Pass mine?

The author brought a strong sense of time and place to the events in the book. I could easily visualize the train, the town, the people, and the landscape. The action somehow managed to seem plausible for the times even though it was definitely extreme. Bullets fly fast and furious. But with a town full of corruption, intimidation, killers, bullies, and miners, will Wolf manage to stay alive without backup? Themes include train robberies, ranch wars, murder, trust, self-recrimination, corruption, the treatment of women, and much more.

Overall, this book was an action-filled crime thriller in a western setting with some family drama added that didn’t detract from the story, but added depth. I highly recommend this novel to those that like westerns or historical fiction crime thrillers.

Kensington Books – Pinnacle and Max O’Hara provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for July 27, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

I have identified with this time period for years.. I enjoy learning about the people who were brave enough to strike out on their own to claim land in a very inhospitable territory. Many were good people who wanted a fresh start. There were others who migrated west to leave their reputations behind them. There were the outlaws who followed and wanted something for nothing or worked for people who wanted something for nothing. Then there were people who tried to uphold what little law there was. People like Wolf Stockburn.

While many books about the wild west and the push of the railroads to obtain land for the tracks downplay the violent episodes, Hell's Jaw Pass does not. People die. People are assaulted. This seems to be much more realistic than other books of this time period.

The writing makes you feel like you're there with Wolf Stockburn when he guns down scoundrels as they try to take over the inbound train. You can almost smell the fear, the gun powder, and the blood. Then there were the young women who were drawn to the gun fighter and their none to subtle efforts to attract his ardor.

I have not read Max O'Hara before this book and I liked it enough to get the first book of the series.. It reminds me of the trials and tribulations our ancestors faced as our young country pushed our borders west. A satisfying read.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the advanced copy. The review is my own.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

Second in series, Wolf Stockburn continues his adventures investigating murders involving a railroad crew.

An okay read and I look forward to the next book. I would have liked to learn a bit more about Wolf's past.

3☆