A Thousand Bayonets Review

A Thousand Bayonets

by Joel Mark Harris (

A Thousand Bayonets Review (original review posted on June 27, 2012)

A Thousand Bayonets by Joel Mark Harris

John Webster is a handsome, broad shouldered experienced reporter, once stationed in Baghdad where he witnessed a bombing that killed and injured several people. While following the story he was shot in the leg.  He is now a reporter for the Vancouver Daily Globe.

Upon receiving a lead from his source, Webster is hopeful of learning more about the ongoing war between factions in Vancouver. Webster witnesses the shooting of 5 members of the Heart gang including Kenneth Dzyinski, the big boss; Anthony Hewson, Ken’s right hand man; and 3 lower level members. They were gunned down by 2 unknown masked gunmen. John has recorded the meeting with a small voice recorder and after talking to the police, he realizes he is the only witness.

Detective Wiltore and Detective Tamara Lewis are partners with the Vancouver Police and are investigating the shooting deaths of the 5 Heart gang members. With no solid leads or forensic evidence to help except the .45 ACP cartridges that the gunmen used, they are looking for Webster to go over what he saw again. Webster is no where to be found, and his editor Charlie isn’t being very helpful.

Webster has good instincts, honed by his time in Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries. He’s pretty sure he’s being followed and when Charlie tells him he’s received a subpena to surrender his records to the police, Webster goes into hiding. He has to figure out who was behind the shooting before those people get him first.

After contacting a woman whom he met at Ken Dyzyinski’s funeral, John has to try and make a quick getaway. Waking in the hospital, he knows its time to get to the bottom of this mess, before he losses his life. Webster doesn’t know who he can trust, but he’s got good instincts and its his life on the line.

A great read, it will keep you turning the pages. The author describes the city of Vancouver with all of its diversity beautifully. The characters are very believable, with John Webster being a man of integrity, haunted by past events.

I won my copy on Goodreads and my review was unsolicited.