Book of the Week: Western "Death Ground" by Edward Gorman

 As a fan of western novels, I think I've read one other book by Edward Gorman so I picked up this one published in 1988. "Death Ground"  is an "Evans Novel of the West." - I enjoyed the book, and the characters, although he really got descriptive (and even gory) in some areas!

There are twists in the book, that feature a bad guy, who has a soft heart, two brothers, one of whom is "not right in the head" to the point of cruelty, and the other brother who is subserviant to the cruel one... and then the lead character, who is a bounty hunter who has to deal with all of them!

5 of 5 stars (not counting the gore, which was a bit squirmy!)

ABOUT THE BOOK: Death Ground is a Western novel by Edward Gorman, the second in his Leo Guild series. The plot follows bounty hunter Leo Guild as he investigates a murder that leads him to a fearful town controlled by the outlaw Kriker. The book is known for its gritty, non-traditional Western themes, focusing on corruption and guilt rather than simple heroism. 

Plot summary

• The setup: 

  Leo Guild, an aging bounty hunter, is hired as a bodyguard for a man named Merle Rig on his birthday. 
• The crime: 

  While Guild is visiting a brothel, Rig and his assistant, Kenny Tolliver, are murdered. 
• The investigation: 

  Guild investigates the murders, discovering a conspiracy that leads him into a dangerous, fear-controlled town run by the outlaw Kriker.