Reviews for DEATH RIDER
Action-packed and filled with suspense, Death Rider by D.J. Stephens is a sure winner for historical western fans.
Brodie Jones sees his future and all his dreams dashed when an Apache war party descimates the Santiago hacienda and massacres the entire family, including Brodie's wife to be, Maria. With nothing left to live for and hell bent on revenge, the mountain man tracks the Apache warriors from Taos to Mexico and back again. After killing most of the war party, Brodie continues to track the remaining eight Apache warriors, only to find them ambushed and killed by scalp hunters. Now adrift and without a mission, Brodie wonders what he should do next. When a strange event finds him in the position of protecting the Apaches, Brodie's life is changed forever.
This is the first historical western I had read in a long time and the first novel by D.J. Stephens I had picked up. For all his toughness, Brodie is a sympathetic character whose entire life is turned upside down by the brutal murder of the Santiago family. Stephens explores through recurrent nightmares and dreams the depth of Brodie's pain and suffering. But Brodie isn't a man to be messed with. He savagely murders those responsible for the deaths of the Santiago family. Stephens' attention to detail brings this story to life and reminds the reader of the dangerous times in which Brodie lived.
The cover art is beautifully done. The rider on his horse looking out over the terrain as the storm clouds roll in is both striking and symbolic.
I eagerly look forward to reading more from D.J. Stephens.
Cheryl - The Book Connection
He does it again.
Another wonderful novel by D.J. Stephens. As usual a story line full of action and suspense that grabs your attention and holds you captive.
His character Brodie Jones has had his hopes and dreams taken away from him. The Apaches took away the love of his life and as well as her family. To Brodie, there is no reason to live other than to seek revenge on those that took his Maria. His days and night are filled with nothing but thoughts of his Maria and the life they had planned together.
Brodie is a no holds barred man that believes in standing up for himself. His anger and rage drives him, and he won't let anyone or anything stop him from getting his revenge.
Go with him on his journey as he makes things right and to make them suffer the consequences of taking those dreams away.
D. J. Stephens has an extraordinary story-teller capability. I love the strenght of his characters, and the way you become one with them as he brings them to life in everyone of his novels.
Death Rider is a great addition to any western library.
As with all D.J. Stephens novels, once you pick it up, you can't put it down.
Georgia Ziller - Editor/Reviewer
Death Rider, by D. J. Stephens
A captivating story from the very first page. In a wild-west setting, the character Brodie Jones, sets out on a quest of revenge for the mutilation deaths of his beloved bride-to-be and her family at the hands of Apache Indians. Suspense, from chapter-to-chapter, keeps the reader wanting to know more. The author paints a vivid picture of pursuit and the stealth utilized in finding and executing the savages. When the job is finished, the character feels an emptiness that is filled in an unlikely turn of events with the saving of a young Indian girl’s life.
I enjoyed this book. To say that it is fast moving, power-packed and a page-turner would be too trite. If you like western novels, you’ll enjoy this book.
Abe F. March - Author "To Beirut and Back" (Germany)
