The Making Of Jake McTavish: A Western Adventure by D. M. McGowan.
Synopsis: In the west of the 1890s, Jake’s wife is raped and murdered, an image from which he attempts to escape and hide. When two thieves try to take what little he has left, Jake realizes he must face the past and solve his wife’s murder to truly escape the images in his head. But to find the killer, he discovers even more surprises …
Jake McTavish left his home in central Canada when he was in his early teens. After working ships on the Great Lakes, fishing Lake Winnipeg, feeding cattle south of Fort Garry, and shooting wolves on the prairies, he starts his own cattle operation in the foothills of the western mountains. Then he meets his life-long partner, Anna.
Jake and Anna were married three years when it all came crashing down. He came home to find his beautiful wife raped and murdered.
In an attempt to escape the vision of his butchered wife and all that he lost, Jake runs deep into the mountains, where he spends three years trapping and panning gold. When two outlaws attempt to rob him and leave him for dead, Jake finally comes out of the stupor he has lived in and begins to fight back.
First, he deals with the two thugs. Next, he returns to his homestead to find his wife’s killer. Solving a murder after several years is no easy task, especially when it includes surprises he didn’t want to find..
5 Stars: 1800’s Western Pioneering Era Saga!
The Making of Jake McTavish by D. M. McGowan is an 1800’s western pioneering era saga that combines exceptional story telling with an historical tale told by Peace Country pioneer John Brown.
Well-developed characters and true to life settings with descriptive writing put the reader into the story. The main character Jake McTavish stands alone in his empty cabin with his thoughts that he voiced to his blue tick hound, “Maybe I’ll just have t’shoot somebody. That way the government will have t’ feed us ‘til they punch my ticket and bury me.”
Life had been especially hard since the murder of his wife. For the fourth year he must continue his Peace River trek in British Columbia (1898) to take the furs that he had collected by canoe down to Ft. St John. This is an important ritual as Jake trades bails of skins for cash to pay for supplies and to repair equipment heading into the new season. Times were hard enough without the ambush that knocked him out cold and took most of everything that he had in his camp.
Just 11 years ago “in the spring of 1887 Jake became a wealthy saddle tramp. He only had fourteen Canadian dollars, two U.S. dollars and eighty-six cents, but he was rich in other goods. He had four horses, a fine, double rigged saddle, a short barrelled Colt pistol, a Colt Navy .36 and a Winchester rifle. He also had a serviceable pack saddle, bed roll, enough food to last a month and the pack covered with two tarps.”
By 1889 Jake had spent two years with the Cambridge Cattle Company and had accumulated some money. With a deep yearning for something more and the passing of the Canadian Homestead Act, Jake chose three hundred and twenty isolated acres in the foothills north of the Rocky Mountains. In the fall of 1891 with 15 yearlings to sell he met Anna Porenski. When she married him, he no longer felt driven, because he had it all. Anna was raised on a farm, so ranch life came easy to her and she enjoyed gardening. The only thing missing are children for fate has refused to grant Jake and wife Anna a baby. To end such dreams Anna is murdered and the responding Mounted Policeman comes close to accusing Jake.”
Travel with Jake McTavish on a journey to find Anna’s killer or killers.
The Making of Jake McTavish by D. M. McGowan for the author’s incredible story telling of Jake McTavish. I invite you to also read: The Great Liquor War, Homesteader: Finding Sharon and Partners. D. M. McGowan tells us that Cattle Business is coming soon.
Editorial Review and Endorsement by Book Marketing Global Network.
Review by Lydia Efobi: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. One of the best western tales I’ve read in a while!! Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2022. The Making of Jake McTavish, by D. M. McGowan, is one 1800s canard set in the west. It encompasses unique storytelling with a chronological tale. This western tale features well-developed characters that are wholesome make-believe. The book is set in such a manner that it is easy for readers to actualize the atmosphere. Without giving too much away, the book follows a young man, Jake, up to his marriage till his wife’s rape case and murder. Jake’s response to the varied challenges makes up a very intriguing plot. There’s a solid diffusion of ecstasy in this book. At first, I was a bit skeptical about the setting, but alas, I enjoyed every bit of the book. The language was easy to connect with, and comprehension was flawless. I would recommend this book to historical mystery buffs. Ultimately, this is a 5-star novel and deserves the broadest possible readership.
Review by JP Blickenstaff: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Great Story. Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2021. This is a good Western of 1890 Canada. That historical setting is almost worth the read. But the story keeps your turning the pages. It will not let you quit reading. The story follows a young man up to his marriage But his wife is murdered. The man’s reaction, running to escape the devastation, the mystery of the murder and solving the murder makes for a fascinating story. D. M. McGowan wrote a good book.
Review by Amazon Customer: 5.0 out of 5 Stars, McGowan Scores Again. Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2016. Another good western by D. M. McGowan. The author combines a plot full of twists and turns with a well-described setting mainly in the foothills and mountains of Alberta and BC. There are accurate references to historical events that took place in the area. Interesting titbits are inserted about how a man could survive in the wilderness if resourceful. The characters are believable. I especially liked Jake’s rather cutting wit. Paula, with her independent spirit and determination, is refreshing compared to the paper-thin development of the female in traditional westerns. I’m looking forward to Mr. McGowan’s next book – Cattle Business.
Review by Amazon Customer: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. I loved, loved, loved this book. Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2016. I loved, loved, loved this book. Ended up not getting much sleep that day because I couldn’t put it down and the ending was not at all what I expected to be the final result. This is a really great book. It is an easy read and a fascinating story. Very well done and definitely worth the money. Now just have to get the rest of his books.
Review by Dgardi: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Great Story telling! Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2016. Darn it all, I’m off my feed this morning. Had to finish the book far into the night. The Chapters were short and kept introducing interesting twists and turns. Great story-telling!
Product Details:
Print Length: 242 Pages
Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Agency (December 19, 2015)
Western Fiction (Crime Thriller)
Western Fiction (Focus On Canada)
Western Fiction (Historical)
Western Fiction (Traditional)
Western (Historical Fiction Thrillers)
Western (Action and Adventure)
Amazon Print:
https://www.amazon.com/Making-Jake-McTavish-D-Mcgowan/dp/1681810883/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Customer Ratings:
https://www.amazon.com/Making-Jake-McTavish-D-Mcgowan/dp/1681810883/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#customerReviews
About The Author: Author Dave McGowan has been a cowboy, forest fire fighter, heavy equipment operator, farmhand, gardener, road musician and businessman. He now writes, and works as a commercial driver, in Northern British Columbia.
The forgoing is the bio from the back of my novels and one might conclude from this information that I was a poor employee … either lazy or didn’t know what I was doing … and was kicked off a lot of jobs. You would be partially correct, at least in surmising that I don’t know what I am doing. As for my being a poor employee, you would have to ask my bosses … although I think I’ve managed to trick the one I have now.
Of course, when I had my own business, my boss thought I was marvelous.
Truthfully, I’ve managed over the years to find employment regardless of my location or the problems that might exist with the economy. I enjoyed much of that experience at the time and am glad that I attained it.
I’ve also visited a good portion of North America and lived in several areas of Canada where I met some great people and enjoyed some wonderful country.
Speaking of great people, Karen and I are parents to four great people who have supplied eight grandchildren who show that improvements can be possible in each generation. One of those has added a great-grand daughter to the line.
Amazon Author’s Page:
http://www.amazon.com/D.-M.-McGowan/e/B004V9WZVI/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1439326526&sr=1-2-ent
Professional Website:
http://sbprabooks.com/davidmmcgowan
Professional Blog:
http://www.dmmcgowan.blogspot.com/
Publisher’s Website:
http://sbprabooks.com/davidmmcgowan
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/dmcgowan99
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/DaveMcGowan2
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davemcgowanspartners/
Author’s Page At Book Marketing Global Network:
https://bookmarketingglobalnetwork.com/book-marketing-global-network/author-dave-mcgowan/
