An extremely well-written novelization of the 1970 John Wayne film.
It's a fictionalized account of the Lincoln County War. John Chisum is the biggest rancher in the area, but a rival named Murphy is planning on taking over and turning the territory into his personal financial kingdom. Chisum is a product of the days when the West was truly Wild, but is trying to adjust to the idea of staying within the confines of the law.
But Murphy isn't dealt with easily. Soon, a fellow rancher is dead and a young man named William Bonney (the dead man's surrogate son) is on a vengence ride. And eventually, Chisum will have no choice but to look to his six-guns to deal with Murphy himself.
It all ends with an epic action scene, with guns blazing, building burning and cattle stampeding through the streets of a town.
Chisum is a great western that is about struggles in the old west. Some things never change as greed and the search for power has John Chisum fighting against those who want to take over the town. This book also has a great connection with Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett.