Murdock's Law

Rating:
Summary: Western fans, don't miss Page Murdock!
Review: Another great Western by Loren Estleman. For my money, Estleman is the best Western writer in the world. His reoccurring character, U.S. Marshall, Page Murdock, is always a sure winner. The writing is very good, as is the characterization. In this book, Eslteman brings to life a classic old west gunslinger named Chris Shedwell. As is always the case with Estleman, his description of Shedwell's life is as authentic and sharp as a spur. Shedwell is a haunted man, his condition nearly terminal because of the reputation that follows him like the finger of death. Estleman's knowledge of firearms of the late 19th Century is second to none as well. There are never any exaggerated fireworks in any of his work. The great thing about Estelman's Western books is they are both myth destroying and myth making at the same time. An example of this is the way Estleman handles the character, Shedwell. You will never find the hero, Murdock, squaring off with Shedwell in a traditional middle of the street quick draw contest, which rarely if ever happened in the old west. Men then, like now, usually killed each other at very close quarters in furious bursts of violence.

What makes Estleman's work jump off the page, though, is the dialogue. Rather than trying to describe it, let me give you a taste. When asked if he is afraid of the gunfighter (Shedwell), Murdock responds:

"Not afraid. I know he'll kill me. He's dropped nine men that I know of, most of them looking at him. He's better than I am. Besides, whether you've noticed it or not, I'm not the most popular figure in this town after last night. I've heard of three men holding off a roomful of angry citizens, but the reason I've heard of it is it doesn't happen very often. The next time I see Shedwell, I want him alone with his back to me and a shotgun in my hands."

Do yourself a favor and get this book, as well as all the Estleman Western titles.

Rating:
Summary: This is a Page Murdock book.
Review: Despite what the Amazon typo says, this is not a Peter Macklin book. It is a great Western with Page Murdock (see my review).