Dead Man's Walk

Ive been a fan of Mr. McMurtry since I first read Lonesome Dove, so many, many years ago. Gus and Woodrow are dear friends of mine. This book enabled me to get to know them as young men, as I've never known them before. Mr McMurtry has once again put me on horseback in amongst them and their fine companions. I felt my own deep fear of the man Buffalo Hump. Lay as a child in Maggie's comforting arms. Knew the sting of arrow and the piercing jolt of lance. I have shared weak coffee with brave men and cowards during the long trudge through the dead mens valley. I have sat with Call on the outskirts of camp, listening to a sad tune on a harmonica played by a doomed man. I have frozen to death near a young Mexican soldier. I have been moved by this book to the point of tears and many times been blessed with laughter. In my sixty years knowing the gift and owning the ability to read, I have to say that of all the Authors I've had the pleasure to know, Larry McMurtry has been my favorite and consistent guide into and through his remarkable imagination.

Good story but not a great story.

McMurtry never disappoints and is an excellent character writer. In one paragraph, you have known these people all your life and can clearly see them like a photograph in your mind. You will be intrigued in the first two pages of how camp life works with pseudo-military buffoons ordering around gullible field hands with one prostitute in tow and dangerous natives around every bend as our poor heroes are initially (and unknowingly) poorly provisioned. I would not recommend reading these novels out of publication Order even though this is the first Gus and Call adventure. Read Lonesome Dove first at least and then come back to this book so you get those "wow" moments of seeing why they become the surly yet capable rangers they were. This book is a lot darker and more bleak than Lonesome Dove when it comes to painting a romantic image of the old west. I would only recommend this one (not as a stand alone) if you are committing to read Comanche Moon next.

Grisham does with words what an artist does to a canvas

I had not given much thought to the Lonesome Dove prequels, but am glad I went back and picked this one up. Very good development of the characters with intriguing adventures along the way. Well worth the time to listen. Now onto Comanche Moon to see where else McMurtry takes us.

Working my way through the four book series. Enjoyed this one for the way it filled me in on Gus and Woodrow's beginnings as rangers.

The narrator did an excellent job. However, somewhere in the middle of the reading a whole paragraph was not read as well as some words. Other than that, the reading made the book more interesting. But I just didn't like how lives ended based on luck game.

Overall so enjoyable for our long road trip through the very area Gus and Call travelled (glad we were in a car and not on foot). Classic book read very well by the narrator. There were some awkward long pauses maybe between chapters and that is the only quandary.

great book following young Woodrow and Augustus in the nuances of Ranger life

Enjoyed this book and others written by mr. Mc urtry. Wish you had all of his books available