Murdock's Law [Import] [Hardcover]

Loren D. Estleman (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 184 pages
• Publisher: Robert Hale Ltd (February 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 070900804X
• ISBN-13: 978-0709008040
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Western fans, don't miss Page Murdock!, February 2, 2004

By 

M. Dog (Everywhere and Nowhere) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Murdock's Law (Page Murdock, US Deputy Marshall, Book 3) (Paperback)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love and Violence in the Old West, July 5, 2010

By 

Kenneth Mark Hoover "opinionated book worm" (Allen, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Murdock's Law (Hardcover)

The next novel by Estleman in the Page Murdock series is called Murdock's Law. It's another tightly written and plotted novel, with the added bonus in that it introduces Colleen Bower, Murdock's female counterpart. In this one Murdock has to take over a town marshal's job and stop a range war. For the most part the novel follows a fairly predictable path, but it's better known among Estelman fans as the one that brings Colleen Bower on stage. She is great and a superb match for Murdock, and the ending is both poignant and memorable. A very fine read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, July 20, 2007

By 

Tom (IL, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murdock's Law (Page Murdock, US Deputy Marshall, Book 3) (Paperback)

Wow, how is there only one other review for this book? This is an amazing peice of writing. It has some of the best lines you'll ever read, spoken by some of the best characters ever imagined(Murdock stands out the most) and is perfectly paced.

Its a true western, reminding me of Howard Hawks films like Rio Bravo and El Dorado.

Not much need to be said besides, read it!