Wanted [Large Print]

This is a potent and punchy novel, well and evocatively written ,that is a tad on the downbeat side but all the more memorable for that reason. The protagonist is Dale Winston .a bounty hunter ,who is looking to bring down the curtain on his successful and lucrative career with two last job -a one dangerous and the other more straightforward .After these are done and dusted he plans to settle to a life of domesticity with Samantha ,his sweetheart. One job seems routine -the arrest of the 19 year old Elmo who posing as a clergyman ,albeit one whose libido is more in evidence than is his piety,who is wanted on a charge of kidnapping the wife of the major of a nearby town .Elmo is a likeable rogue and his "victim"was by no means unwilling to escape her boring life with the vacuous windbag of a major.The other case is a whole other matter-John Barlow is a stone killer,cold and ruthlesss with a mean streak a mile wide .Bested by Winston he escapes on the vev of his scheduled hanging and kidnaps Samantha as a bargaining tool to the disgust of the clingiong "moll"who worships him ,the pathetic and desperately sad Delaney .Winston is lured to the derelict and abandoned former mining town of Tumbleweed and aided by Elmo,Dale begins a deadly cat and mouse gane with Barlow .It is bloody and violent but not lip smackingly gloating and the book is treasurehouse of mlean ,pared and sinewy prose placed at the service of a powerful gripping tale it should be widely read and not just by readers of the Western genre as this is fine storytelling period

Another hit for Mr. Howard. WANTED takes you into the mind of a man. The story brings out emotions, for that man, which you never would have dreamed of. You will understand his love for a woman who thought she would never find love. A friendship with a man who, at first glance, you would think could never have a man as a friend. And the hatred of another man who actually deserves more hatred than even Duel Winston can heap upon him.Duel Winston is a man on a mission. He has a woman he wants to marry, and spend the rest of his life with, but cannot do it until he cashes in on two more bounties. Up until now, nothing mattered to Duel, except the next hard case, but things have changed. He cannot get the face of the woman, he left behind a year ago, out of his mind, much less his heart. In the past searching for hard cases, and collecting the bounty for them, had been a drive, something he had to do. It was as much a part of him as eating and sleeping. But this time it is just a job. A way to an end. A way to be with Sam. After catching and turning over John Barlow, and another wanted man, St. Elmo, Duel will have enough money to set himself and Sam up on a ranch somewhere. And there will be no more hard cases to chase down.John Barlow is driven to kill Duel himself. But then again, Barlow loves to kill. Anyone, and everyone that has gotten in his way has died. And Duel has gotten in his way, more than once.Mr. Howard has written a wonderful story full of emotions. You will love St. Elmo and absolutely root for him. He may be bad, but you can't help but love him. You will absolutely hate Barlow, and as the story continues that hatred will grow. You will understand Sam, and even understand why she does what she does to live. Her love for Duel is all consuming. However so is her fear of him leaving her again. All bets are off with this one. Lance Howard has hit a homerun. WANTED is absolutely fantastic, and only leaves you wanting more. I recommend this book to everyone. If you like westerns you will love this one. If you don't like westerns you still will love this one. So you can't miss. And neither has Lance Howard. Another bulls eye.

Gripping tale of a manhunter against a vicious outlaw. Well-fleshed out characters and plenty of action. Another great western, but so much more!