Customer Reviews

Badge and Buckshot: Lawlessness in Old California

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It is easy to pass over a book such as this, unless you are specifically researching lawlessness in the Old West.

Don't be so hasty.

Not only is this a well written book, it is engaging on its own level -- that is, quite well written and far beyond the standard dry text one would normally associate with such a topic.

Of course, I have my own prejudices -- I am a Sacramento Valley peace officer with an interest in history. Many of the local haunts have particular meaning to me, as I know the locales and can associate places with the text.

In any case, the book is very well researched, supports its facts in detail, has a nicely dispersed display of black and white photos throughout, and reminds us that many of the officers of yesteryear had their beginnings in the criminal element.

Few things were as clear as they seem in a number of idealized western films. There were base motivations: greed, violence, power.

And yet, on the other hand, this is not ! what one would call a PC book in which history has been rewritten with an eye to a particular agenda. History is what it was. Rough and raw and ragged on the edges. The book is not candy-coated.

Sorry to say, the book will probably not reach a mass audience. But hey, John Boessenecker: I read your book and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Well done, my friend!

"BADGE and BUCKSHOT" On Lawlessness In Old California was packed full of the information that I needed for my project, Lawman Stephen Venard. In fact there was a whole chapter devoted to this subject. As a result of this information I have been able to obtain even more information through other resources, thanks to author John Boessenecker. In addition he writes so that you feel you are there at the times and places of the events. I have bought two other books by different authors and was unable to find if the information on the subject was in those books before purchasing them. I would like to have had an index available for them to see if the subject was covered or not. Those other two books were worthless for my purpose but are very good reads even though.

Wil