The Gun That Wasn't There (Paperback)

~ Russell Smith (Author)
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Gun That Wasn't There by retired Texas police chief Russell Smith, with an introduction by Elmer Kelton, meticulously outlines the true story of rural West Texas communities under attack by an armed criminal in the 1960s. At times graphic, this vivid true crime story is an unusually perceptive assessment of the criminal mind as told with the surprising empathetic voice of both survivors and victims of crime.

About the Author

Russell Smith was born in Uvalde, Texas to parents Dick and June Smith. He started writing poems and short stories long before he graduated from high school in 1969. He attended Southwest Texas Junior College, Howard College and Angelo State University; the majority of his classes dealt with criminal justice. His law enforcement career began as a reserve deputy with the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Department in 1977 and ended when he retired as the San Angelo Texas Police Chief in 1999. This experience spurred his professional writing career when he sold his first article to a police trade magazine in 1980. Russell spent five years as an outdoor columnist for the San Angelo Standard-Times and several magazines. He received numerous awards for his writing and photography from the Texas Outdoor Writers’ Association. He continues to do research for non-fiction books from his home in San Angelo, Texas where he and his wife reside.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (January 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419628178
• ISBN-13: 978-1419628177
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #534,173 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I could not put this book down!, March 24, 2007

By	Terri "tkc" (Haslet, TX) - See all my reviews

What a great book. I could visualize the caveman bandit, his hiding spots, the rough land, the houses and the people. Russell Smith brings the characters and the landscape to life. Chapter 1 was a great way to start the book and it hooked me. I can't wait to read his next book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting True Story, March 18, 2007

By	West Texan - See all my reviews

"The Gun That Wasn't There" is an interesting true story about a man who lived off the land, the ranches, and the businesses of the area he was in. The local people knew about him, had often seen him, but it wasn't unusual for "illegals" to cross their ranches so they didn't pay much attention to him until he broke into a house while the people were home and attacked them. This is a story about man against man, one wanting to be left alone to survive the way he knew best, and those who wanted to stop him.

The book includes several original photographs as well as recent photos of the area. The author paints such a vivid description of the area that you already know what is there without seeing the photographs. There are numerous endnotes that historians and genealogists will love.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I didn't want the story to end, April 17, 2007

By	A Texan (Texas) - See all my reviews

Russell Smith has a way of telling a story so that you see every event, almost as if you were there when it happened. You see the rugged country and the people very vividly in your mind. You feel the suspense as the caveman bandit enters a home at night while the occupants are sleeping. You laugh as two macho teenage boys decide they will be heroes and catch the bandit one dark, cold night. I got so involved in the story, I didn't want it to end.