The Sheriff of Hangtown

‘Smoky’ Tondra is no ordinary treasure hunter.

Crossing the treacherous snow-covered Sierras, danger lies not only in the unrelenting snow drift but in the possibility that a gang of Piutes might shoot an arrow through his chest at any moment.

Perhaps he wouldn’t have made it this far if it weren’t for the self-fashioned Norwegian snowshoes bound to his feet, or the promise of gold waiting for him on his journey beyond the ‘Hangtown’ of Placerville.

After narrowly escaping a war-party of Piutes, Smoky’s snowshoes fail him, sending him cascading down the mountain and crashing into a community of settlers who will change his life forever.

Maida Monroe is captivated by the snowshoe man. How is it that he could traverse the snowy mountains so quickly without freezing to death, or know about the Piutes’ plan to attack their settlement before anyone else did?

The other settlers, her father, and Dick Monroe – the object of her sister’s affections – are clearly wary of the new arrival, but Smoky isn’t the only one.

Baron Von Gombardt is also new in town, and makes no secret of his plans to make Maida his bride.

He may be rich, but Smoky sees something more sinister behind his charming eyes.

As the once sleepy stopover town of Placerville suddenly becomes rife with crime, Smoky’s plans to find his fortune are put on hold when a string of murders leave the residents desperate for a new Sheriff.

Can Smoky clean up this Hangtown and save the lives of the settlers he now calls his friends?

The Sheriff of Hangtown is a thrilling western adventure with a hero desperate for justice, a perfect read for fans of Zane Grey.

Praise of Mason Macrae

‘A classic of the genre.’ – Tom Kasey, bestselling author of Trade Off.

Pioneering Press is a western imprint of Endeavour Press – the UK’s leading independent digital publisher. We publish new and classic westers by authors from the US and the UK.