Shadow on the Trail

by Zane Grey

Traveling with a new name and a new face, Wade Holden, the triggerman responsible for the fall of the notorious Simm Bell gang, rides far and wide, carving out the life of a feared and respected gunman. Reprint.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Romance, Classics

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1946

About the author

Pearl Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the rugged Old West. As of June 2007, the Internet Movie Database credits Grey with 110 films, one TV episode, and a series, Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater based loosely on his novels and short stories.

Reviews

[Gary Sites · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorite westerns. One of Dad's favorites, too. He told me he first read it in high school in the '50s, and loved it. He's since read it twice more, once in the early '60s to my Mom, and then again in 2010. He gave me this copy, along with the entire Zane Grey collection that Mom bought for him the first couple of years they were married. I'll definitely read this one again.

[Coleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who are familiar with Zane Grey and his books, this novel fits right in with the best of them. Cattle Rustlers, bad guys, good guys, some bad and good guys, and lots of shooting and chasing around. My copy of the book is old [1936] but the time frame for the novel is the post-Civil War 1800's. Grey's description of Texas and Arizona, which are where most of the action takes place is stellar. He also uses much of the vernacular of the folks.

Wade Holden is the star of the show, a bank robber, who is almost caught by the Texas Rangers, and decides to go into hiding and go straight. Not an easy task, even in those days without fingerprints. Knowing that the Rangers always get their man, Wade goes West to Arizona and changes his name and appearance.

Although the story is not the Lone Ranger and Tonto, Wade does have a 'half-breed' [Indian] who is highly valued for tracking the bad guys. He also has a crew that have been on both sides of the law.
When I find a gem such as this Zane Grey book, I don't hesitate to snatch it up to read. As many as Grey wrote, there are still quite a few of his books that I have not read.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this traditional Western when I was a kid of 12 or 13. So, I reread it just for the fun of it. For the most part, I enjoyed the story. A gunman/outlaw goes straight, mends his evil ways, and marries the rancher's daughter. Zane Grey paints breathtakingly vivid landscapes and settings. He's not PC, which I didn't like. His prose is stilted and clunky, but I could follow most of it. His dialogue holds up enough. The romance is old-fashioned by today's standards, but I found myself rooting for the protagonist. At any rate, it's an okay Western; just don't expect anything new or different.

[SuZanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering the genre, this novel is not bad. All the stereotypes are present: loner, cattle ranchers, outlaws including bank robbers and cattle rustlers, pretty young women (and their honorable but helpless father) in a desperate situation. Since I grew up in Montana, I thought I should at least read one Zane Grey novel after decades of disparaging the Western genre as a whole. It's not Larry McMurtry or Norman MacLean or Ivan Doig, the next generation of writers, but for the 1940s Western writing it's slightly more than okay.

This quick read is good for reminiscing on the glorious western outdoors. The vivid descriptions of the landscapes of Texas and Arizona during all four seasons did make me a bit nostalgic for Montana and New Mexico, where I have lived. As someone once said, "Everything important happens to you before the age of 21." I don't necessarily agree, but growing up in the wide-open spaces of the West certainly marked me in important ways, giving me a lasting love of the trees, mountains, rivers, and wildlife of the Western United States.

[Jim Becker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better story than the last Zane Grey book I listened to, and a better reader. So, more enjoyable.

[Julie Rothenfluh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Zane Grey - a young outlaw turns his life around at the behest of his dying outlaw father! A good deed by a beautiful young girl sets him on the path of righteousness! Of course, he comes upon her and her family several years later, and saves the family and their ranch; turns several young almost bad men into good, rustler- killing cowboys; kills the bad guys; and brings peace and prosperity to the Arizona land he’s come to love! Oh - and, of course, he wins the girl and receives absolution from the Texas Ranger who swore to “ride him down”! Top notch!

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve watched over 100 western films in my life, but never read anything from the genre. My wife has recently been raving about her favorite western books, so I thought I give one a try. This Zane Grey novel was fantastic. Even if you’re totally unfamiliar with westerns you’ll get a great introduction though this sprawling story that transcends virtually the entire American southwest and every sort of western backdrop imaginable. Robbers, Texas Rangers, Buffalo hunters, mountain men, cattlemen, and rustlers all figure into this tale. It’s sheer scope is probably what impressed me most, no two hour movie could possibly encapsulate the journey of Wade Holden and his personal quest to survive and go straight after a life of crime. Packed to the gills with interesting characters, environments that are majestic in their description, and a surprisingly solid romance story, Shadow on the Trail is a great western in every definition and a story I look forward to revisiting.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder mystery with a side of romance holds this historical story till the reader is determined to keep till the end. Clean. Well and clearly narrated. An enjoyable visit to America when morals mattered more than position or money.

[Ross L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took awhile to get used to a wiring style from 76 years ago. But I liked it.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young outlaw pledges to reform his life and save the ranch, cattle and daughter of a besieged rancher in Arizona. I was surprised by a lofty vocabulary. However, the story has little suspense and a preachy message

I remember my step father reading only Zane Grey. He had a shelf if ten or more of these. I dedicated my reading of this book to his memory.

[Shoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Post Civil War - Beginning of book is in Denton County, TX.

Bank/Train Robber Gang, Texas Rangers, Buffalo Hunters, Cattlemen, Cattle Rustlers, Bad Guys Turned Good, "Half-breed Indian", Lawless West, Pretty Young Women, Strong Silent Men, Long-Suffering Love Story, Happily Ever After

The Rangers always get their man. "Ride him down."

From the comic book, 1955
SHADOW ON THE TRAIL
A lengthening shadow on his trail haunts
Wade Holden and dogs his footsteps
as he strives to live down his past.
Years of honest living are dimmed
by an enveloping cloud of fear
that darkens his every conscious moment.
And though he tries to cast off the shadow
and emerge free and unafraid,
its growing length threatens to engulf him
with a terrible judgment.


blurbs:
In the days of the frontier West, it was not unusual for desperadoes and fugitives from justice to seemingly disappear from the face of the earth. Shadow on the Trail by Zane Grey, one of the best-selling authors of all time, is the story of one such man who returned to reestablish himself in a law-abiding society.

In Texas, young bank robber Wade Holden, once the toughest, fastest trigger man in the notorious Simm Bell gang, makes a promise to his dying mentor that he will go straight. He is tired of shooting, riding, and fighting. All he wants now is to settle down on the ranch for a nice peaceful life. But with the Texas Rangers on his tail, he struggles to find sanctuary. With the help of a young woman, Jacqueline Pencarrow and her family, he turns his life around in Arizona.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Triggerman Wade Holden escapes when the rest of his notorious gang falls. With a beard and a new name, Tex Brandon, Wade becomes a legend as a feared and respected gunman. But his life could very well end on the Arizona ranch of the only woman he’d ever die for.


Narrator: Russell Bentley -- slight pauses every few words make this much longer

[Rrshively · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is typical Zane Gray with a strong, silent man with a tough and violent past and a beautiful young woman who is drawn to him. What happened to those outlaws in the old West who simply disappeared and were never heard from again? Zane Gray was inspired to write this story from that question. Leaving his outlaw past at the request of his dying leader, Wade Holden rides west to find jobs here and there over the years always looking over his shoulder for the Texas Ranger whose mantra is "Ride the man down." His occupations require him to hone his skills with the gun. When he is hired by the Pencarrow family, he finds his reason for being a skilled gunman who can ward off rustlers and bad men. His past life and his present need to be always vigilant against raiders keep him from the beautiful eldest daughter. How will this all be resolved? Read and see! Also be ready for a lot of violent vigilante justice.

I read this book for a challoenge from my library to read different types of books which included a Western. I scanned my husband's Zane Gray collection to find an interesting title, and I found the Western I wanted to read.

[RJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A descriptive, roaming, and romantic tale of a man wanting to lose himself in the vast territory west of Texas. Wade Holden, a former bank robber, and gunslinger wanted a new life free of crime and bullets. His past followed him in the form of Texas Rangers. South and west he traveled, coming upon buffalo hunters and rustlers. It was the time of the Lincoln County War. It was the time of Jessie Chisholm, the “Jingle-bob Cattle King”, was called so because of the way he marked ears and branded his cattle. Wade threw in with his Seven Rivers Ranch, enjoying the lonesome life and hard work of the cowboy, but peace was not to be. Ever westward, New Mexico, and then Arizona. Tombstone was in its heyday. Always moving north and west. Wade came upon “Pantero’s Folly” where he felt his destiny had come to fruition. Here was where he was meant to be. All his years of experience and training prepared him for it. I believe this is the best Zane Grey novel I have ever read/listened to.

[Boostamonte Halvorsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book didn't take as long as it seemed for me to read, I moved and lost the book amidst the boxes (it was in a box I didn't pack.) But I finally got it back and it was such a good read! I don't typically like westerns, but besides the cowboy vernacular, it didn't feel like a western. It was good to imagine the simpler days--if you can call what they did and dealt with simple....but no rush, no media, no info blasts, and work was whatever you did that either gave you food or earned you a little money, the stress came down to that, and if you had food in reserve, stress was pretty low--at least, that is how I imagine it! I am sure that wasn't the case...maybe I just need a 4 week vacation from work! Haha!

This book is great, and I will definitely read more of his work, he is a great writer!

[John Sooter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining Read

It's a great story with basis in real events. If you like historical fiction, you should enjoy this; of course, this is a romance. It reflects the language and culture of the time. If you are a purist for political correctness of the 21st century, don't bother, but if you want a good story, read on. Zane loves to wax eloquently over a vista and talk all around emotions, but he finally gets you there. He is authentic because the places he takes you and describes are places he has actually been. Enjoy!

[Faye Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading about desert life and history of the people who live there. After the last book (Unassigned Territory), I needed something wholesome to get the bad taste out of my mouth. Zane Grey never disappoints! While there was a considerable amount of violence in the book, it was not used for shock value, but as a realistic portrayal of the hard times faced by those who settled the West.

[Marie_eve_78 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was the first time I read a cowboy/western novel. Since it is very old, I had to ignore the racism (but it was jarring). The story in the first third of the book was gripping. But after a while most of the narration was replaced by dialog, which were written phonetically (supposing a huge accent and some expressions I am not familiar with). It made the reading unpleasant and slowed down the story.

[Bill Jackman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zane Grey Western

Zane Grey wrote moralistic stories about a west that never was. He wrote at a different time with a different ethos about appropriate ways to refer to people. It is an enjoyable story, with just a little mental filtering needed to match my current ethos preference.

[Travis Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story about a young outlaw trying to change his ways. Then learns what it is like to have something worth living for. This is the first Zane Grey novel i have ever read. My grandmother loved his writing and, now that I have had a taste of it I see why she loved him. I will try more of his novels in the future and, hope they are all this good.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains everything a classic western should - a bad 'un turned good, a plucky girl, cows and cowboys, rustlers who get what's coming to them, evocative descriptive passages of the beautiful natural world, and a happy ending.

[John Shearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadow on the trail

This story has all the features of a good read, but it's not quite up to the standards set by Gray himself. The full length story isn't his forte, shorts are much better.

[MICHAEL A. PARD · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great read!!!!

I really enjoyed this book. The storyline and characters really drew me in, I couldn't put it down! I'm sure I'll read this one again and again. Hope you enjoy it as as much as I did!!!

[Pat Gibney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good western novel!

[David Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, my First western for many years. It will not be my last

I found the story reverting a real page Turner. I will be looking out for some more of this author's books

[Murray Wattenmaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I enjoyed the writing he way the writer tried to give the sense of the time
And the constant pain in the main character

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I already posted a review ... maybe a different edition.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was interesting, but had ambiguous morality, and the women were fairly flat characters. Not my favorite western.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Dad read Zane Grey as a boy and he loved them all his life. I asked him what one of his favorites is and read it in his honor. I love you Dad.

[Karen Terney · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn’t finish this book. Not enough interest in the story or characters. I’d heard about Zane Grey. I was very disappointed. Won’t read another one.

[Yahya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy western story. The simpleness and the ordinariness of life.