Murphy's Trail [Hardcover]

Gary Paulsen (Author), Brian Burks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1996

WesternLarge Print EditionSheriff Al Murphy had no jurisdiction in the Arizona territory, but that didnt matter because Risa needed his help and he owed her. Risas husband was a lawyer and a leader in their small Mexican community. A few weeks ago he and their two sons had set out to report two murders by cattleman Ben King, and had disappeared the only trace was their buggy with blood on the seat. Murphy knew it was almost futile for one man to go up against King, but he also found that help came when he least expected it and from the most unlikely of allies.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In Al Murphy's hard-drinking days, Risa and Santiago Villabisencio nursed him back to health when he was wounded in a shootout. Times are better now; Murphy is the sheriff of Turret, New Mexico, when he responds to a desperate letter from Risa requesting help. He learns that Risa's lawyer husband and two sons left for Vera Cruz to get a warrant for the arrest of Ben King, a murderous local cattle baron. Risa's three men never arrived in Vera Cruz, and the family's buggy was found bloody and abandoned on the trail. Promptly thrown in jail for murder by the Vera Cruz law, Murphy, after escaping with the help of a street urchin named Gabriel, must prove himself innocent and solve the Villabisencio disappearance. Once again Murphy proves to be one of the best series characters in western fiction, and now, with the appearance of Gabriel, he has a surrogate son to cope with in the next installment. Fun reading and very satisfying. Wes Lukowsky

Product Details

• Hardcover: 137 pages
• Publisher: Walker & Co (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802741541
• ISBN-13: 978-0802741547
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,732,071 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gary Paulsen is one of the most honored writers of contemporary literature for young readers. He has written more than one hundred book for adults and young readers, and is the author of three Newberry Honor titles: Dogsong, Hatchet, and The Winter Room. He divides his time among Alaska, New Mexico, Minnesota, and the Pacific.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Murphy's Trail-Worth the Ride, April 2, 2000

By 

KAREN E WEATHERLY - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murphy's Trail (Hardcover)

I found this book to be a good authentic action packed western. Murphy is tough, likeable and believeable as a New Mexico Sheriff . The author knows what hes talking about as for as guns and horses and it was a good story.I would recomend this book to other western fans and Ill be looking for other Murphy books.