Crow #2: Worse Than Death (1979) by James W. Marvin (Laurence James)

Under a variety of house names, Laurence James was a mainstay of the UK-based Piccadilly Cowboy stable of writers and penned the Crow series, as well as The Apache, Gunslingers, and the Caleb Thorn series.  

Following a short prelude, Worse than Death introduces readers to a wagon train made up of Cavalry officer wives and a small detachment of soldiers escorting them through the blizzard-ridden Dakota Territories and into the sights of renegade Shoshone chief, Many Knives, who is on the warpath against whites. After an initial attack on the wagon train decimates the ranks and leaves the travelers stranded, our anti-hero, Crow, enters the scene and assists what’s left of the soldiers and the women. 

Lest this sound like an altruistic bit of heroism, it’s made clear that Crow is only looking out for Crow and how he can best survive the situation. Much mayhem ensues as a series of attacks are repelled in some fierce, well-paced action described in gruesome detail. The combined threat of the Indians and the extreme severity of the elements make for a grueling but intense read. 

Yet Crow still finds time to engage in a jaw-droppingly left-field ménage à trois that includes the 16-year old virginal daughter of one of the lieutenants, who has very recently been tortured to death within her sight. There’s also cannibalism, dead infants, butchered animals, and an overall air of nihilism that permeates the entire affair prior to a decidedly downbeat ending. 

All in all, that level of non-stop nihilism felt like it was heaped on for shock's sake more than the author trying to make any kind of statement with its inclusion. In that regard it's pure sensationalistic exploitation and, while not exactly my personal cup of tea, I can’t deny that it was well done; I read the entire book in 2 days and was never bored. But traditional fun it was not.

Reviewed by Steve Carroll