By Duty Bound

Civilization and laws clash with one man's (Zachary King) freedom to live in the mountains. This first person story, #41 in the Wilderness series, is set around a green lieutenant (Pickforth) in the cavalry who is sent out to track down the murderers of a trading outpost. The scouting party is led by a pair of questionable backwoodsman. Thompson's gripping tale is a quick read; the interesting characters will keep you engaged. Indian encounters are both friendly and confrontational. The story continues with series #42. Wish you well Scott

WILDERNESS # 41 - BY DUTY BOUND By David Thompson (David Robbins) Genre: Western First of all a big thanks to Glenn for sending me the book all the way from the USA. Another great book in this fantastic series and quite different from the other books I've read in the series as it's written in a first person point of view, the person in question being Lt. Phillip Pickforth of the US army who is sent from Fort Leavenworth to investigate the events that occurred in book # 39 Firewater. The Lt. In the beginning of the book comes across as someone totally up his own backside (As we say in the UK!) and full of his own self-importance. But as he journeys to the site of the Trading post massacre he gradually changes and becomes a more likeable person only to blot his copybook again in the last chapter or two of the book!. Some great character's in the book once again including Lt. Pickforth, I particularly liked the old mountain man Hampton who was an absolutely riot and funny as hell. In fact what struck me about this entry in the series was how funny the narrative was most of the time, I had many `outloud' laughs reading it and thoroughly enjoyed the book. Once again the pace of the book is excellent and the story gripping from start to finish, bags of good action and I can't wait to read the next one to see how the story pans out. Highly recommended

A book that immediately gave me a surprise, in the fact that thebook is written in the first person. All the previous books in this series, and everything else I've read by this writer, have been in the third person.It's not the first time that a Wilderness book has been told from the view point of someone who's not a main character of the series. Here we follow the thoughts and actions of Lieutenant Phillip Pickforth as he attempts to find out the truth behind a massacre for which Zach King is blamed (see #39 in the series, Firewater).David Thompson writes a fast moving story that works well as told in the first person, we share success and blunders with the Lieutenant, for example the confrontation with his troops about deserters and his foolish actions with the buffalo. We share his excitement when meeting Indians and also his fear of them. We share his thoughts of love and see his transformation when rejected. We witness his struggle with the laws as he knows them and the laws of survival in the Wilderness. And his admiration and horror for Zach King when finding out just what he is capable of.David Thompson brings all the elements of the story to a satisfying conclusion and leaves me wanting more, much more, cos like all good series this storyline continues in the next book. Highly recommended!

If anyone ever thought the history of the mountain man on the last frontier was boring, they haven't read the WILDERNESS series. They are historically based stories about the King family, Nate, a mountain man, his Shoshone wife Winona and their two children Zachary and Evelyn. There is an emphasis on adventure, survival and the values that have made our country strong. The books are page turners from the very beginning to the end. Cliffhanger is the word that comes to mind when I think WILDERNESS books!BY DUTY BOUND is no exception. Each chapter begged me to read the next. It was written from the point of view of the young inexperienced officer, Lieutenant Pickforth. It was enlightening having a man who only knew the laws and regulations that governed civilization to find himself clashing with mountain men who lived by the laws of survival in the wilderness. This story centers around the investigation of the young Zachary King by the U.S. military and his involvement in the massacre and brutal slayings at a trading post on the frontier. He is the son of the famous Nate King, a dying breed of mountain men. One wrench in the fire is that the son is a half-breed, hated by whites by the reason of their birth.The clash begins. This story is the first in arc, that well may be the beginning of the end for the pristine wilderness and the natural laws that governed it. Can't wait for the next book in the series. Thanks to the author for an entertaining lesson in the history of our great country!