Westerns hold a special place in my heart. I especially enjoy a good western series that is consistently of high quality. All the Terrance McCauley westerns I've read have been great, and this is no exception. Jeremiah Halstead is a great character, and the story is wall to wall action. I loved it!

If you're a western fan, in the theme of the old original Ralph Compten novels, you'll enjoy this. This was the first in the series I've ever read, so now I've got to go back to read, and order, the rest. THANK you!

Born to Hang by Terrence McCauley
Jeremiah Halstead #4

Born to hang or a cat with nine lives? Jermiah Halstead has been through the wringer in the first quarter century he has been on earth. This time he’s an innocent man on the run trying to survive as winter settles into the Montana countryside. Will Halstead make it to book five and if so, what will he have to do to stay alive?

What I liked:
* The opening discussion between Aaron Mackey and Billy Sunday as they discussed what to do about Jeremiah
* Joshua Sandborne: deputy marshal, friend of and partner to Jeremiah in the past, coming into his own, loves learning new words, quick, strong, savvy, stalwart, good friend, wise to the ways of men…and women
* Jermiah: star of the series, deputy marshall
* Moses Armand: livery stable owner, twin, respected citizen of Barren Pines, a good man to know
* That the story drew me in, made me feel part of it, and be glad I really was NOT there
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* Being able to hate the evil characters and wish they thwarted while liking and applauding the supporting characters that were their opposites
* Wondering if Joshua will have a spin-off series of his own and be hired in place of Jeremiah for a job with the railroad
* The conclusion and knowing that there is another book to look forward to

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how easy it is for someone to connive and do evil things – even kill - just to make money

Did I enjoy this book? Yes – Stayed up till 2am to finish it
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kesington-Pinnacle Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

The western genre is severely under appreciated, but Terrence McCauley is doing his part to change that fact. His Jeremiah Halstead series features a lawman who believes in justice and retribution, even though BORN TO HANG finds him on the run while working to prove his innocence. He can't go home or ask his friends for help, so must keep on the move while being hunted as criminal. This different spin on the good guys vs the bad guys story was a very good one. I've been reading westerns since my uncles got me hooked many years ago and I'm definitely hooked on the Jeremiah Halstead series.

I’ve always been a fan of Westerns. There is just something about the genre that appeals to me.
I’ve read every Western from Terrance McCauley and I can tell you that I’ve enjoyed all of them.
The last book in the series moved along at a slow pace for me. This book was definitely a step up in pacing.
Once the book got going, it didn’t let up.
Jeremiah Halstead is a man on the run.
With everyone gunning for him, he’ll need to prove his innocence.
Will he do it in time?
This book took off like a bullet from a gun.
I’m looking forward to what McCauley has in store for us next.

It was the late author Bill Crider, with his 'Outrage at Blanco' novel that made me love revenge stories so much and in away revenge stories for me will always be a tribute to him.

One of my favorite niches in the Western genre are the lawman ones, this one definitely checks off all the boxes, you would want with that theme and then some.

You can't help, but like Deputy U.S. Marshal Jeremiah Halstead, he's smart, tough, damaged, and good with his guns and when he gets on your trail, your in trouble.

'Born To Hang', is set in Montana, they've just become a State, has Jeremiah on the run, he's a wanted man, set up for a double murder, has a bounty on his head and hoping his bosses can get the warrant torn up. They help him, by giving him supplies, let him get a head start to escape into the mountains, hoping that winter doesn't kill him and delayed, till they need to release wanted posters.

Mix in a desperate Jeremiah, winter has found him low on supplies, he heads into a small town Barren Pines to resupply and wait out a blizzard. Add in his partner Deputy U.S. Marshal Jerry Sandborne, some twist and turns, suspense, a good verse evil, then down on their luck fur trappers looking to collect the bounty, mix in twin brothers, town residence, a dance hall girl, town Sheriff with his deputies, add a bitter criminal along with his band of mercenaries out for revenge and you end up with my favorite Western read of the year so far.

This is one a Western fan will want to read, so not going to give anything away and can't wait for the next one in this series. Thanks to both netgalley and Kensington publishing for the advance copy for my honest review and I also purchase a copy.

Jeremiah is still on the run for killing Zimmerman and he’s now known as The Butcher of Battle Creek. Something Mr. David Armond the shopkeeper in small town Montana nervously told him. Luckily for Jeremiah Halstead Mr. Moses Armond‘s twin brother who ran the livery was quite the opposite of his nervous sibling. He even offers Jeremiah who is now going by John Ramsey a room to stay in above the livery, something the outlaw is happy to accept. He just wants a place to stay until the weather lets up but it’s temporary stay in small town Montana gets hairy especially when Glenda the singer who is on the wrong side of young and beautiful and is the apple of the local deputies eye, offered him a deal he knows has manipulation and deceit all in it. Soon however familiar faces that aren’t out to get Jeremiah show up but it seems they’re not the only ones who are willing to battle the bad weather to try and get to Jeremiah. And his slow trot to get into small town Montana will not be as deadly as his train ride out. Jeremiah prove he’s innocent or does the battle continue and will Riker shoot him down before he could get his good name back? Oh I love Jeremiah Halsted and I love these books I cannot wait for the third installment it is always a bittersweet feeling when finishing a great western and that is the feeling I got when born to hang by Terrence McCallie ended. This is another five star read from the author and a book I know I will read again in the future like I do most great westerns. I want to think Kensington books and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

BORN TO HANG
TERRANCE McCAULEY



Jeremiah Halstead , Deputy United States Marshal, is the Jack Reacher of western cowboys!

Ride along with him as he travels through western blizzards trying to outrun bounty hunters and others who have their own reasons for trying to end his life. Wrongly accused of two murders, he has to out think and out maneuver his pursuers as he works to clear his name. Filled with action this book will hold your interest from beginning to end .

5Stars

I have received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

In Terrence McCauley's fourth Jeremiah Halstead Western,  Born to Hang (Pinnacle Books 2023), former Deputy Marshal Jeremiah Halstead, is now running from the law, trying to prove himself innocent of a crime he didn't commit. If he can't, he'll go back to prison, where he served time before becoming a Deputy Marshall, a place that almost killed him. Halstead sets out just trying to live long enough for his friends Mackey and Billie Sunday to prove his innocence, but when the Judge who has issued the warrant for his arrest tightens the noose around his neck by offering a $5000 reward for his capture--dead or alive--Halstead realizes he must become part of proving his innocence, not wait for others to do it. 

The last Jeremiah Halstead Western was a bit depressing. I wondered if I would keep reading the series. This one is as good as any, a great adventure following a justice-driven man who doesn't have 'quit' in his vocabulary. What he does better than anyone else is outthink and out maneuver anyone who sets their sights on him. Great read. I'm--once again--hooked.

Born to Hang by Terrence McCauley is the fourth book about Jeremiah Halstead, in this book he is actually not a deputy marshall. He is a wanted man and on the run. I found the third book a bit slow in the first half and thought for a while that I would stop reading this series but I changed my mind and boy am I glad I did. This adventure has everything that got me hooked in the first two books. It is one of the better westerns written nowadays and I have the feeling we will get a whole lot more from this great writer. Terrence has found his place in this beloved category of mine, I have always had a soft spot for westerns and some books out there is not very good. That is not a problem here, although rather dark they are well written and brings something new to the genre and you will not be disappointed with the gunfights or fistfights. He even has some romance in the stories, not that that is vital for me. I thank Kensington Books and Netgalley for making it available to me.

I had a really hard time putting this book down with the great connection, intriguing plot and tension as well as the action and suspense that this book offered. This western is filled with action you would not like to miss.

Follow US Deputy Marshal Jeremiah Halstead as he goes on the run after a corrupt judge issues a wanted posted for the "murder" of two supposed lawmen while Halstead was arresting a criminal. The people who know Jeremiah, know that he did nothing wrong and get him out of town before the arrest warrant can be served.

This makes him an outlaw and although the head US Marshal did not take away his badge, he is without portfolio as he heads into the mountains. Winter is coming and with supplies running low, Halstead must come down to a mining/trapping town called Barren Pines.

The wanted posters (dead or alive) have reached there and he has a few run-ins with some of the down on their luck men in the town who come hunting for him. All this is being fomented by his archenemy, Ed Zimmerman, Jeremiah makes some alliances but these come with risks as Zimmerman is also on the prowl and has his own plans.

The two men and their plans meet head-on and there is a lot of action going on in a town so small. The story is exciting and moves at a fast pace and keep a reader highly involved. If you like westerns with lots of action, you will like this one.

Terrence McCauley does it again in the Western genre, it had what I enjoy about previous works from the author. The Western aspect works so well and I always enjoy what I read. The characters felt like they belonged in this universe and it worked well overall. Always a pleasure to read and can't wait for more.