Page Murdock has been sent to the tough New Mexico of 1881 to track down a man and bring him to justice. But more than a trail of revenge, Murdock finds himself on a desperate odyssey. For in the Southwest a friend can turn out to be one's cruelest enemy, an enemy one's finest friend. And the woman Murdock loves will be as voluptuous as Venus and wicked as sin.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Page Murdock, the stalwart, peripatetic hero of Estleman's lean and lively western, is fed up with marshaling for a domineering federal judge in the Montana Territory. Aiming to settle down, he buys himself a half interest in a bar in San Sabado, New Mexico Territory. But things don't go smoothly for the erstwhile lawman. Almost immediately he runs afoul of Frank Baronet, the corrupt and scheming county sheriff who has more to hide than just nefarious business dealings and graft. To make matters worse, upon his arrival in San Sabado--called the City of Widows because, as a haven for banditos and revolutionaries near the Mexican border, its male population is regularly decimated--Murdock finds that his partner in the saloon has taken on yet another partner, diminishing Murdock's share to only a third. Then there's Baronet's brother, supposedly dead but still robbing banks with abandon. Estleman ( Bloody Season ) brews all these elements together into a potent mix, enlivened by some of the best dialogue in the business. He skillfully mingles reality-based characters (Gov. Lew Wallace of Ben Hur fame, and Pat Garrett) with such fictional creations as Poker Annie (a cardplaying expert modeled on the real-life Poker Alice). As readers have come to expect of this veteran writer, he also displays an eye for detail and gift of description that transcends the genre.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
In an act of personal vengeance, Judge Harlan Blackthorne of Montana Territory sends deputy U.S. Marshal Page Murdock to San Sabado, New Mexico, to bring to justice murderers Ross and Frank Baronet. As a cover for his activities, Murdock, reprised from Estleman's The Stranglers (Doubleday, 1984), buys into a friend's saloon. His task is complicated by the fact that Ross is reputed to be dead in Mexico, and Frank is the sheriff of Socorro County, where Murdock's saloon is located. Estleman, famed as much for his crime novels (e.g., Motown, LJ 6/15/91) as he is for Westerns, has crafted an excellent tale with believable dialog and complex characters. His research is meticulous, and his writing wastes no words. Highly recommended for all public libraries.
- Robert Jordan, Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
- Robert Jordan, Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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More About the Author
Since the appearance of his first novel in 1976, Loren D. Estleman has written more than 65 books and hundreds of short stories and articles. Alone (Dec 2009, Forge Books) is the second in a new series about L.A. film detective Valentino, and features Greta Garbo.
To kick off the new decade, Estleman's The Book of Murdock (eighth in the U.S. Deputy Marshal Page Murdock series) will appear in March and, to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of Private Detective Amos Walker, The Left-Handed Dollar will publish in December. It's the 20th novel in the award-winning series.
An authority on both criminal history and the American West, Estleman has been called the most critically acclaimed author of his generation. He has been nominated for the National Book Award and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Award.
He has received seventeen national writing awards: four Shamuses from the Private Eye Writers of America, five Spurs from the Western Writers of America, two American Mystery Awards from Mystery Scene Magazine, two Outstanding Mystery Writer of the Year awards from Popular Fiction Monthly, two Stirrup Awards for outstanding articles in the Western Writers of America magazine, The Roundup, and three Western Heritage Awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. In 1987, the Michigan Foundation of the Arts presented him with its award for literature. In 1997, the Michigan Library Association named him the recipient of the Michigan Author's Award. In 2007, Nicotine Kiss was named a Notable Book by the Library of Michigan.
Estleman graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Journalism. On April 27, 2002, EMU presented him with an honorary doctorate in letters. He left the job market in 1980 to write full time. He lives in Michigan and is married to writer Deborah Morgan. For more information, please visit his website: www.lorenestleman.com
To kick off the new decade, Estleman's The Book of Murdock (eighth in the U.S. Deputy Marshal Page Murdock series) will appear in March and, to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of Private Detective Amos Walker, The Left-Handed Dollar will publish in December. It's the 20th novel in the award-winning series.
An authority on both criminal history and the American West, Estleman has been called the most critically acclaimed author of his generation. He has been nominated for the National Book Award and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Award.
He has received seventeen national writing awards: four Shamuses from the Private Eye Writers of America, five Spurs from the Western Writers of America, two American Mystery Awards from Mystery Scene Magazine, two Outstanding Mystery Writer of the Year awards from Popular Fiction Monthly, two Stirrup Awards for outstanding articles in the Western Writers of America magazine, The Roundup, and three Western Heritage Awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. In 1987, the Michigan Foundation of the Arts presented him with its award for literature. In 1997, the Michigan Library Association named him the recipient of the Michigan Author's Award. In 2007, Nicotine Kiss was named a Notable Book by the Library of Michigan.
Estleman graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Journalism. On April 27, 2002, EMU presented him with an honorary doctorate in letters. He left the job market in 1980 to write full time. He lives in Michigan and is married to writer Deborah Morgan. For more information, please visit his website: www.lorenestleman.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
city of widows by loren d. estleman,
By
This review is from: City of Widows (Page Murdock, US Deputy Marshall, Book 5) (Hardcover)
This story would be Ideal for the film media. Though it is a western novel,it bears the stamp of authenticity due to the fact that it was carefully researched, the characters were not just cardboard figures with dialogue but human beings living in Western United States in the 1870-1880's. Its setting is after the Lincoln County Wars when most of the males were killed offduring the fueds. Enter U.S. Marshall Page Murdock who is undercover searching for the Baronette Brothers who were guilty of a murder in the North,he is supposed to have retired from law enforcement. He was commisioned to bring in the baronnete brothers but had to do so quickly because the statute of limitations for their crime was approaching expiration. He bought a third interest in a saloon with an ex-lover who proves treacherous and one of the baronetted brothers who happens to be the Marshall in a neighboring town. The action in this story leads to a credible climax, it is a story which will have you waiting for the next Page Murdock Novel.
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Apaches,...if they were alone on the planet they've have picked a fight with the moon.",
By
This review is from: City of Widows (Page Murdock, US Deputy Marshall, Book 5) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is my second novel by Loren D Estleman;the first being "Journey of the Dead" for which I wrote a Review on January 31,2007 and rated it 5*.Although I enjoyed it more;this novel is somewhat similar in style. Estleman includes a lot of historical connections,extensive ,almost to the point of excess descriptions. He spends a lot of effort in great detail on characters and other things;where in many cases I just wished he would get on with the story. As a result ,his writing,descriptions etc, outweigh the storyline.If that is what you like ,you'll really enjoy this author. I notice from some of the author's other novels that he writes a lot of mystery and suspense;and this definately comes through in this novel;but less so in "Journey of the Dead". Estleman combines historical facts,characters,events etc. with fiction and I find it somewhat of an aggravation to sort things out. In 1991 ,I spent a week in the area of Soccoro,Bosque del Apache,San Marcial,and Truth or Consequences; Birding.This is where most of this novel is set.There is still an Old Soccoro area,with many buildings from the 1880's,but I don't recall any Mesas,nor can I find any town of San Sabado on the atlas.The town of Truth or Consequences is still very active and it certainly was Geronimo's old stomping grounds. Actually,I remember seeing a spring where he came for water. The time period is 1881,and several references to the death of President Garfield are made along with those of Jay Gould,the Railroad Magnate,Lillie Langtree,the actress,Jack Rimfire a writer somewhat like Ned Buntline,Bill Cody,Billy the Kid ;just to name a few. Although I'm not positive, I doubt if Judge Blacktorne,Marshal Ortiz,Frank Baronet ever existed or were based on real characters. I'd like to know if otherwise. Readers of the fast-ation westerns will note the similarity of the main character Page Murdock,to Curtis Long of "Longarm",Skye Fargo of "The Trailsman",or Ben Stillman and Lou Prophet ,Peter Brandvold writes about. If your preference is descriptive writing,lots of historical association and mystery over barroom ,canyon and mainstreet fast-action and shoot-outs ;this novel should be right down your alley. Estleman sprinkles his novels with great lines,such as these; "Cheap meaning stole." "Every great fortune begins with a crime." "God's finger touched him and he slept." "They were dressed all in black from bonnets to shoes,their dark hems dragging like crow's wings in the dust of the street." "California has its swallows and we have our magpies." "Any town that is running out of widows can't be all bad." "A man who arms himself in secret is a man who will come at you from behind." "Gold itself isn't wicked,only its source." "There is no sport in hunting men.I never did it for sport."
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