In this companion book to Vengeance Road, Erin Bowman brings us back to the lawless West. By now, the railroad is cutting through the wilderness and replacing many of the coach lines. Reece Murphy is an unwilling member of the Rose Riders that terrorize the countryside, robbing trains, destroying holdings, and murdering settlers along the way. Luther Rose keeps Reece hostage as the only one who can identify his brother’s killer, but Reece longs for freedom.
Charlotte Vaughn longs for her own kind of freedom--freedom from an oppressive uncle and the chance to be a woman journalist. When she and Reece cross paths, they both manipulate each other for their own ends. However, as their stories become more entwined, they realize they might need each other to merely survive.
Told from alternating perspectives, Retribution Rails is a fast-paced Western with colorful characters. Although they are not always on the same side, readers will cheer for both Reece and Charlotte as they struggle with their past and try to improve their future. This is a great adventure story with surprising depth and character development--a perfect combination of entertainment and life lessons.
Recommended ages--13 and up