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The Iron Horse Chronicles #1
Eagle Talons
2015 Will Rogers Bronze Medallion Award
Will Braddock doesn't want to be forced into an unwanted blacksmith apprenticeship. The newly orphaned fourteen-year-old embarks upon a quest to determine his own destiny. He heads west to seek work on the first transcontinental railroad.
Will learns to rely upon himself to achieve his goal. He constantly battles a young Irish thug who is determined to kill him. A mixed-blood Cheyenne youth‚ whom he saves from quicksand‚ gives Will two eagle talons from his amulet in thanks. The talons save Will's life‚ and though not magical‚ he's convinced they are lucky.
When a feisty young lady he has befriended is kidnapped by the Indians‚ and the Army refuses to send troops‚ Will decides to risk his own future to free her from captivity.
Will Braddock doesn't want to be forced into an unwanted blacksmith apprenticeship. The newly orphaned fourteen-year-old embarks upon a quest to determine his own destiny. He heads west to seek work on the first transcontinental railroad.
Will learns to rely upon himself to achieve his goal. He constantly battles a young Irish thug who is determined to kill him. A mixed-blood Cheyenne youth‚ whom he saves from quicksand‚ gives Will two eagle talons from his amulet in thanks. The talons save Will's life‚ and though not magical‚ he's convinced they are lucky.
When a feisty young lady he has befriended is kidnapped by the Indians‚ and the Army refuses to send troops‚ Will decides to risk his own future to free her from captivity.
292 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2014
2 people are currently reading
389 people want to read
About the author
Robert Lee Murphy
13 books13 followersAward winning author Robert Lee Murphy graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a business degree. Throughout his career, he worked with national and international agencies and institutions on all seven continents, including Antarctica, where Murphy Peak bears his name.
In conducting research for The Iron Horse Chronicles trilogy, Murphy traveled the route of the transcontinental railroad and walked the ground where the action takes place.
Eagle Talons,the first book in The Iron Horse Chronicles was awarded the 2015 Bronze Will Rogers Medallion. In 2016, Bear Claws, the second book, received the Silver Will Rogers Medallion and was awarded First Place in Fiction by The Wyoming Historical Society. Golden Spike, the final book in the trilogy, won the Silver Will Rogers Medallion in 2018.
Bozeman Paymaster: A Tale of the Fetterman Massacre was awarded First Place in Fiction by the Wyoming Historical Society in 2023. Bozeman Paymaster: A Tale of the Fetterman Massacre also received a Copper Will Rogers Medallion in 2023.
Robert's latest historical novel, Bear Flag Revolt was released by Thorndike Press in March 2025. This tells the tale of how Kit Carson and John Frémont "steal" California from Mexico in the 1840s.
Robert is a member of Western Writers of America, The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, and the Historical Novel Society.
In conducting research for The Iron Horse Chronicles trilogy, Murphy traveled the route of the transcontinental railroad and walked the ground where the action takes place.
Eagle Talons,the first book in The Iron Horse Chronicles was awarded the 2015 Bronze Will Rogers Medallion. In 2016, Bear Claws, the second book, received the Silver Will Rogers Medallion and was awarded First Place in Fiction by The Wyoming Historical Society. Golden Spike, the final book in the trilogy, won the Silver Will Rogers Medallion in 2018.
Bozeman Paymaster: A Tale of the Fetterman Massacre was awarded First Place in Fiction by the Wyoming Historical Society in 2023. Bozeman Paymaster: A Tale of the Fetterman Massacre also received a Copper Will Rogers Medallion in 2023.
Robert's latest historical novel, Bear Flag Revolt was released by Thorndike Press in March 2025. This tells the tale of how Kit Carson and John Frémont "steal" California from Mexico in the 1840s.
Robert is a member of Western Writers of America, The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, and the Historical Novel Society.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 30, 2024
I love this trilogy. I have read, and enjoyed, all three books in this series; “Eagle Talons,” “Bear Claws,” and “Golden Spike.” The author, Robert Lee Murphy, does a fantastic job of weaving the fictitious character of 15-year-old Will Braddock into actual historical events during the time of the building of the transcontinental railroad. It was so much fun to experience history through Will’s adventures. The historic detail provided by the author really makes it feel like you are back in time. I have just started listening to the series on Audible. So far the first book, Eagle Talons is available in Audible, and I can’t wait for the second book of “The Iron Horse Chronicles” to come out. I found the narrator’s voice very easy to listen to, and the cast of supporting characters, both real and fictional, are really brought to life through the writing and the narration. This is a story that will be appreciated by young and old.
October 1, 2017
Great Western adventure story
This was real page-turner for me. I hadn't read a western in a long time. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It's well plotted, the characters are engaging, and the realistic details add authenticity.
This was real page-turner for me. I hadn't read a western in a long time. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It's well plotted, the characters are engaging, and the realistic details add authenticity.
January 31, 2015
The devil is always in the details, and in this sense, the devil has met his match in Robert Lee Murphy’s flawless detail of the West and the building of the transcontinental railroad. Names, places, dates … they’re all there for the reader to savor on each and every page. The attention given to characters, young and old, effortlessly fits into the west’s rugged landscape.
Young Will Braddock and Jenny McNabb plunge head-on into unstoppable action and coming of age love. The charming account of their budding relationship is peppered with pursuit by not-so-charming, villainous characters. How Will gets himself in an out of trouble on his quest to become a part of the building of the Union Pacific Railroad, makes for enjoyable reading; not to mention how he handles himself when he comes into contact with a culture far different from his own. His encounters with Native American culture and character, adds to the reality and richness of Eagle Talons. The eagle talons in question draw divergent characters together, at the same time drawing the reader farther into this satisfying western tale.
Readers are also in for a treat, learning about the build-up and tear-down of railroad towns, designated, Hell on Wheels. The historical treats add up in Eagle Talons, providing a flavorful telling of this all-important time in America’s history. Reason indeed, to collect all three books in the Iron Horse Chronicles.
Joanne Sundell, author of Arctic Storm, Book One, Watch Eyes Trilogy
Young Will Braddock and Jenny McNabb plunge head-on into unstoppable action and coming of age love. The charming account of their budding relationship is peppered with pursuit by not-so-charming, villainous characters. How Will gets himself in an out of trouble on his quest to become a part of the building of the Union Pacific Railroad, makes for enjoyable reading; not to mention how he handles himself when he comes into contact with a culture far different from his own. His encounters with Native American culture and character, adds to the reality and richness of Eagle Talons. The eagle talons in question draw divergent characters together, at the same time drawing the reader farther into this satisfying western tale.
Readers are also in for a treat, learning about the build-up and tear-down of railroad towns, designated, Hell on Wheels. The historical treats add up in Eagle Talons, providing a flavorful telling of this all-important time in America’s history. Reason indeed, to collect all three books in the Iron Horse Chronicles.
Joanne Sundell, author of Arctic Storm, Book One, Watch Eyes Trilogy
November 10, 2014
I just finished Eagle Talons, Book One of The Iron Horse Chronicles. Once I started the book I had a hard time putting it down. It was such a fun adventure. I have always enjoyed reading works by authors that can take a piece of history and bring it to life on the pages of a book by incorporating fictional characters with the real historic figures of the time. Phillippa Gregory is one of my favorite authors, and after reading Eagle Talons I am going to add Robert Lee Murphy to my list of favorites. Robert Lee Murphy paints such a vivid picture of this period in time that I felt more like I was watching a movie than reading a book. I found myself referring often to the Historic Notes in the back of the book to learn which of the characters were actual people and which were fictional, they all seemed so real from the story. I am very much looking forward to Book Two of The Iron Horse Chronicles to see what kind of trouble Will Braddock will find himself in next.
I am an over 50's woman and I really enjoyed this book. I think the story will appeal to all age groups because it tells a tale of action, adventure, heroics and love during a period of time in our history that has fascinated people for years.
I am an over 50's woman and I really enjoyed this book. I think the story will appeal to all age groups because it tells a tale of action, adventure, heroics and love during a period of time in our history that has fascinated people for years.
June 10, 2015
I just finished Eagle Talons, Book One of The Iron Horse Chronicles. Once I started the book I had a hard time putting it down. It was such a fun adventure. I have always enjoyed reading works by authors that can take a piece of history and bring it to life on the pages of a book by incorporating fictional characters with the real historic figures of the time. Phillippa Gregory is one of my favorite authors, and after reading Eagle Talons I am going to add Robert Lee Murphy to my list of favorites. Robert Lee Murphy paints such a vivid picture of this period in time that I felt more like I was watching a movie than reading a book. I found myself referring often to the Historic Notes in the back of the book to learn which of the characters were actual people and which were fictional, they all seemed so real from the story. I am very much looking forward to Book Two of The Iron Horse Chronicles to see what kind of trouble Will Braddock will find himself in next.
I am an over 50's woman and I really enjoyed this book. I think the story will appeal to all age groups because it tells a tale of action, adventure, heroics and love during a period of time in our history that has fascinated people for years.
I am an over 50's woman and I really enjoyed this book. I think the story will appeal to all age groups because it tells a tale of action, adventure, heroics and love during a period of time in our history that has fascinated people for years.
August 27, 2014
I received an advance copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. I haven't really read any Western books but I entered to win this book because the adventure takes place during historically exciting times.
I enjoyed reading this book about teenager Will Braddock and his adventures out west during the building of the first transcontinental railroad. Will endures a lot of hardships, but his motivation for staying out west is not to be sent back to Iowa to be a blacksmith's apprentice for several years. He wants more freedom than that. This book is full of exciting action and has a developing love interest which is entertaining. I would have liked to see more humor worked into the story.
Will receives a couple of eagle talons from a Cheyenne boy of similar age after Will saves his life. The talons are referred to throughout the book but aren't mystical or magical. The story and characters are entirely realistic and believable.
I would recommend this book even if you aren't a fan of the Western genre.
I enjoyed reading this book about teenager Will Braddock and his adventures out west during the building of the first transcontinental railroad. Will endures a lot of hardships, but his motivation for staying out west is not to be sent back to Iowa to be a blacksmith's apprentice for several years. He wants more freedom than that. This book is full of exciting action and has a developing love interest which is entertaining. I would have liked to see more humor worked into the story.
Will receives a couple of eagle talons from a Cheyenne boy of similar age after Will saves his life. The talons are referred to throughout the book but aren't mystical or magical. The story and characters are entirely realistic and believable.
I would recommend this book even if you aren't a fan of the Western genre.
May 15, 2015
Looking forward to book two, Bear Claws.
May 4, 2016
YA Western series. This first one is OK but now that the characters are established, I am hoping for a better 2nd part.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews