Two Contemporary Western Mystery Novels about Vigilante Justice

     Vigilante justice is often associated with the Old West, a lawless time when people were likely to take justice into their own hands.  In these two very different tales of the "new Old West," criminals take it upon themselves to mete out justice as they see fit. 

Two different sheriffs..one male and one female... tackle two very different crimes.  In The Executioner's Hood, Sheriff Jeff McQuede must solve the mystery of who murdered Judge Grayson and left a black executioner's hood over his face.  

In Stone of Vengeance, Sheriff Kate Jepp discovers a stone placed beneath the head of a victim, a known "calling card" of Tom Horn, a man accused of killing many in the Old West. 

In each case, the hood and the stone symbolize some aspect of justice and betrayal. 

THE EXECUTIONER'S HOOD

Who killed Judge Grayson?

When Sheriff Jeff McQuede finds Durmont's highly respected judge, Phil Grayson, bludgeoned to death in his study, a black executioner's hood shoved over his head, he faces his toughest case yet.

The judge has many enemies, including Darin Keefe, sentenced by Grayson and just released from prison. McQuede soon finds out that Keefe's case is linked to a city scandal that may involve Grayson. Seven years ago the judge's best friend, John Harwood, was believed to have taken a bribe from Keefe Construction and to have committed suicide rather than face conviction.

Had Keefe, taking the fall, left prison intent on revenge?
Or is the the judge's murder the result of a robbery gone wrong? Grayson died surrounded by his fabulous Old West outlaw collection, including a death mask, a famous Peacemaker, and other rare artifacts. The intruder could have been after some unknown item of great value.

Is the judge's murder a simple burglary gone wrong or a case of modern-day vigilante justice? 

Click on link to order The Executioner's Hood.

STONE OF VENGEANCE

Wealthy cattle baron Charles Kingsley is fatally shot in his home, a flat granite stone placed beneath his head. On the wall above his body among Western memorabilia, Kate Jepp notices an original invitation to Tom Horn's hanging. This notorious gunslinger, who tracked and shot cattle rustlers in the late 1800's, also left behind a stone as a symbol of vengeance. Alerted by this link to Wyoming's bloody past, Kate looks for would-be seekers of revenge. Kingsley's new bride has displaced his niece, Mary Ellen, as his heir, and he has been engaged in a fierce battle with Sam Swen, whose foreman, Ty Garrison, may be a modern-day hired gun. Each step Kate takes places her in the path of deadly vengeance.

Click on link to order STONE OF VENGEANCE