Leave My Ashes on Blackheart Mountain is a work of fiction in the western, adventure and action sub-genres, and was penned by author Dave Matthes. The opening novel to The Two Revolvers Saga, the work is written for adult audiences and does contain some scenes of violence appropriate to war and the conflict of the time period, plus the use of explicit language. In this intricately plotted and enjoyable western, we find ourselves following the exploits of Rancid Mahoney, who follows the orders of powerful prospector Gunther Ostrander. Between scouring the land for the fabled Blackheart Mountain and escorting a prisoner with a price on his head, Mahoney soon discovers that he stands on the precipice of a war, and will have to choose a side to fight on.

Author Dave Matthes has crafted a western that perfectly captures the traditional atmosphere of the genre, but is also suitably complex and involved for the modern reader to enjoy in greater depth. One of the things which I really enjoyed was the web of intricacies and the many different parties with their own agendas, all of which clash around Mahoney’s life and cause him no end of strife as the plot thickens. The dialogue too was a particular high point for me, as it reminds one always of the western setting, the rough characters, and the depth and diversity of the characters which are presented. Overall, I would certainly recommend Leave My Ashes on Blackheart Mountain for fans of the western genre looking for an accomplished work.

Leave My Ashes on Blackheart Mountain is the first book in the Two Revolvers Saga by Dave Matthes. It follows Rancid Mahoney who is tasked to locate Blackheart Mountain. His boss, Gunther Ostrander, has never given up on his quest to find the “Blackvein,” a drink that quickly heals the body and that might contain the secret to immortality. After many failed missions in the past, Mahoney is on a mission again, but this one has many surprises and challenges. The first problem is the prisoner that he must escort and who turns out to be wanted by a gang seeking justice. The gang wants the head of the prisoner. Meanwhile, the Tuskatawa Tribe wants to take back the land they believe to be rightfully theirs. Can Mahoney navigate through the conflicts and succeed in his mission this time?

Dave Matthes’ Leave My Ashes on Blackheart Mountain is a captivating story with great characters. Mahoney is someone that I liked and the author has done a great job in giving flesh to this character. His boss is a man obsessed with Blackheart Mountain and its secrets, so when he sends Mahoney on his next mission, the reader is keen to find out if Mahoney can succeed. There is so much at stake here; a primary mission that poses a lot of problems, a tribe that is revolutionary, and a landscape that is fraught with danger. The setting itself is like a character in the story, a land with a life and an impact in the story that heightens the conflict. I loved the prose and the strong narrative voice. The scenes are focused and the plot points very strong. This is a novel for readers who enjoy adventure and mystery; it is suspenseful and filled with memorable characters.

Leave My Ashes on Blackheart Mountain is the first book in The Two Revolvers Saga by Dave Matthes. When Rancid Mahoney took the job of finding Blackheart Mountain, he was prepared to search long and hard. After two decades of failing at the job, he was about to embark on another attempt when his employer asked him to do something else before he went back to the search. He must take Til Drange to face judgment for the crimes he committed. It was supposed to be a straightforward job, but it turned out to be none of that. Til Drange had a dangerous man after him who wanted him dead and anyone who got in the way would be killed as well. To make matters worse, a war might break out before it can be stopped. With Mahoney stuck in the middle of it all, was there even a chance for him to stay out of it?

Fast-paced and intense; these were the first two words that came to my mind when I started reading Leave My Ashes on Blackheart Mountain. Mahoney had my attention the moment he was introduced. He had the spunk and sass to grab my attention and hold it until the end. The development of the plot reflected incredibly well with Mahoney’s development. The relationship between Mahoney and Drange was tense, but they created a synergy that worked for them and benefited both. Dave Matthes did a good job of maintaining the flow, hyping up the main plot while also having the subplots support it. However, this was something I was expecting from Dave Matthes and he did not disappoint. This action-packed journey is a must-read!