Carson Stone has had a rough life. He's a wanted man, a former thief, but what he really wants in life is to build his own ranch house and live a peaceful life. To help him earn his stake for a piece of land, he heads west to claim the bounty on a claim-jumper.

Carson gets an old pal, Colby Tate, to join him on this honest escapade and along the way, they help a family defend themselves from some dishonest claim-jumpers. Carson discovers a list on one of the now-dead criminals - that list is a series of names of good, honest, upstanding citizens who are being targeted for death because of a part they played in the capture of a criminal gang. Carson knows he can't just leave this good people to die at the hands of criminals, so he'll do whatever it takes to protect them ... even putting on a badge.

There's also a man buying up property around the town, at a very low price so that he can turn around and sell that land to the railroad for a healthy profit. That man has the current sheriff do a little arm-twisting to make sure they sell. When Carson discovers this, he turns to one of the only people he thinks he can trust - a local woman who serves on the town council.

There's really a lot to like about this book. It's a pretty standard or classic western with clear 'good guys' and clear 'bad guys'. But our good isn't any angel. He's been on the wrong side of the law, but in many ways this makes him more likeable - we believe he wants to turn his life around and be a better man. And of course we see this in action throughout.

The women in the book suggest that Carson might find romance in future books, but this book doesn't see him acting out of fondness or affection for anyone - just the moral 'rightness' of his actions. Until the end, that is ... "I gunned down a woman for you ... now you've got to marry me."

I've been reading westerns off and on for 40+ years and I've wished that there were more modern writers writing in this classic genre. The last few years have definitely seen an increase in the genre (thanks to the e-reader perhaps?) - primarily through this publisher - and this is one of the more accessible, enjoyable westerns I've read in awhile.

Looking for a good book? Dead Man's Trail by Nate Morgan is the first book in a new series with criminal-turned-sheriff Carson Stone standing up for what's right.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I read westerns. Every time I say that, I draw comments. I'm quite sure those readers who say they don't like westerns have never read a good western story or followed a series that takes you through some interesting periods in history. Nate Morgan has captured the "flavor" of a good western. Clear lines are drawn between the good guys and the bad guys. The good guys may not have been good their whole lives, but they have decided to become honest, hard working citizens. This introduces us to Carson Stone.

Carson is a reformed criminal who is just trying to keep his head above water and stay out of trouble. When his journey takes me into troubles path, his decisions will lead him to take up the sheriff's star and protect a town from a group of outlaws for hire.

This is the first book in a new series. It definitely holds it's own against some of the other westerns I've read. As the characters in this series mature, Nate has so many great stories built in.

Bill Cartwright wanted power he had money he had success but power eluded him so he decided to hire every killer he could fine that could or would stop him from having the power he wish for. unfortunately for Bill Carson Stone and Colby Tate befriended a man name laughing otter Who would set them on the trail of not just one Killer but a bunch and one of them is Kate the woman who shot Carson in the past. Although she tried to disguise herself do you tend not to forget someone who tried to kill you. It will be a long road and a deadly one but it all makes for such a great Western. I have never read a Nate Morgan western before but I will definitely be reading more from him in the future. I totally enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I received this book from NetGalley and the Kensington books but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Dead Man’s Trail
I grew up on westerns both written and on screen and though I read a lot of fantasy, thrillers, horror and other stuff I still like to go back to a good western but really good ones (new) are getting harder and harder to find all the time. This one is a decent start to a new series, plot and storyline was believable( though saddening for the unnecessary slaughtering due to the trickery), pacing was good, characters were relatable. One issue I had and don’t really know why it jarred me so bad but when I grab a hilt, it’s my knife; on gun it’s the butt,or grip… anyway most people probably won’t think anything of it but every time the hilt of gun was mentioned it broke my flow 🤪. Got this ARC through Netgalley and this is my views on the book. I thought was good start and would give next a read for sure although if title of next one deserves title of “The Death List” more than this one it must be a real doozy!

Dead Man’s Trail by Nate Morgan was an excellent western. I grew up going to western movies and as I was reading this book, my mind was seeing it played out. Sam Elliot would be the main character Carson. Only one drawback, I have to wait until spring of ‘23 to read another book by Nate Morgan. An unknown author to me but he is one to watch for.

All words and opinions are my own. I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

In Nate Morgan's Dead Man's Trail (Pinnacle Books 2022), Carson Stone and Colby Tate have become reluctant bounty hunters. They were owl hoots together until Carson realized bounty hunting would make better money. He pulled Tate in to help him on a few jobs and the two found they were a good team. Stone becomes involved in one job where he hopes to make enough to stake himself in a ranch and ends up defending a woman and her family from claim jumpers. One of the attackers he kills is carrying a kill list of all the people involved in bringing justice to a ruthless gang that has since broken out of prison. There are bounties on many of the escaped prisoners, but what motivates Carson is that the people on this list don't deserve to die.  To protect them, he must do what he never wanted to do: Pin on a lawman's star.

This is a good western paced just right with a nice mix of motivations. Recommended for those who like seeing good prevail with a happy ending.

An intriguing Western novel, that beings together two friends who happen to be bounty hunters. One of them is a Harvard educated man and the other is more of a plain old cowboy/rancher. Their adventures include befriending the Bannock Native Americans and trying to keep them out of trouble with the Army and with a nefarious Idaho territory millionaire who thinks that he knows where the railroad is going to go and is about buying up through fair and foul means the right-of-way where the rails are going to go.

Everything has been going to plan until some unexpected murders trigger the bounty men to become curious. A sneaky sheriff, henchmen/women figure into the story to determine who is going to be the next to die as the right-of-ways are being assembled.

An illegal imprisonment, a deal made with the devil, and some good people who are, rightfully, fearful of the powerful millionaire are all part of Dead Man's Trail by Nate Morgan. It is a very good read and a quick one as the reader will want to know how the story turns out. A saloon girl and farmer/rancher's granddaughter figure in the story -- will one of the bounty hunters settle down or remain on the trail of adventure.--gonna have to read this delightful book to find out.