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Trail #4
Payback Trail
When Ruben Beeler joins Marshal Marion Daniels to investigate an incident of theft and murder, Rube is plunged into a world of dark deeds and black hearts. With the help of an abused and courageous young woman, Rube, Marion, and Marshal Addriss Tippideaux head south of the Missouri line into the hills and hollows of Northern Arkansas and take on an entire clan to see that justice is done. Suspicion of outsiders and hate for the government abounds, and the marshals are much farther from home than the miles they’ve traveled. Revenge is the order of the day, and life is cheap on THE PAYBACK TRAIL.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2014
65 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
David R. Lewis
30 books27 followersI am yet another embattled crusader in the writing wars. I live in the wilds of the Missouri outback with two cattledogs, a belligerent cat named Grizz, and my bride of 42 years, the coveted Laura. In my rather extended life I have been a musician, a metropolitan cop, a ranch hand and cowboy, and (shudder) a writer of radio and television commercial copy. Now before you run for the Pepto, let me say that there are some benefits to be had from such mundane labor. After a writer has ground through twenty to thirty thousand pieces of commercial copy, one of two things will happen. He will spend the last years of his life in Sunnydale Acres grinding his teeth and staring blankly at the sun, or he will have learned to write for Theatre of the Mind. In my case, some would claim the jury is still out but, since no nice young men in white coats have arrived at my dusty door sporting smiles and a jacket with extraordinarily long arms, I am free to keep the Theatre open . . . this time on my terms.
Even though I don’t care for bandwagons, I was browbeaten into writing two of my novels because I disliked the genres and trendiness from which they sprang. Oddly enough, they are two of my favorites. They are significantly different than others of their breed because I am a grown-up, and I write for grown-ups.
My novels are character-driven because life is character driven. As we move through the years, snippets of plots rocket by, but very few ever pan out. Characters, however, stay with us through thick and thin, rich with remembered dialogue and situation, four dimensional on the big screen in our Theatre of the Mind.
As a writer for grown-ups, my function is entertainment. Because I am a grown-up I indulge myself and write what entertains me: rich characters, tight dialogue, and uncomplicated storylines. Check out my website at www.ironbear-ebooks.com. Or, if you’d just want to jaw here for a while, great! Grizz won’t like it, but he’s just a cat.
Even though I don’t care for bandwagons, I was browbeaten into writing two of my novels because I disliked the genres and trendiness from which they sprang. Oddly enough, they are two of my favorites. They are significantly different than others of their breed because I am a grown-up, and I write for grown-ups.
My novels are character-driven because life is character driven. As we move through the years, snippets of plots rocket by, but very few ever pan out. Characters, however, stay with us through thick and thin, rich with remembered dialogue and situation, four dimensional on the big screen in our Theatre of the Mind.
As a writer for grown-ups, my function is entertainment. Because I am a grown-up I indulge myself and write what entertains me: rich characters, tight dialogue, and uncomplicated storylines. Check out my website at www.ironbear-ebooks.com. Or, if you’d just want to jaw here for a while, great! Grizz won’t like it, but he’s just a cat.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 25, 2023
This series takes you on a ride, literally... it's great to get to know these characters better and watch they and their friendship evolve. Westerns are not my genre by any stretch, but man, did this series capture me. Fantastic story with a top notch narration by the Author. The voices are so distinct I would recognize them anywhere. These stories have something for everyone.
November 2, 2020
This might be the best one yet. Several new characters, some serious fightin’ and dry humor and the usual Good Samaritan deeds. Gonna get the 5th one forthwith.
May 3, 2016
Payback Trail
Wow, a really great book. I love the way the men care for each other. I hate that one of the Marshall's had to get killed. But I know it's part of the story. This author has done a great job on these books. I am really enjoying reading these books.
Wow, a really great book. I love the way the men care for each other. I hate that one of the Marshall's had to get killed. But I know it's part of the story. This author has done a great job on these books. I am really enjoying reading these books.
February 9, 2017
These Trail Series westerns are the best I've read/listened to in the last decade! They will run your emotional gamut from funny to gut/heart wrenching.
December 28, 2017
U. S. MARSHAL ADDRISS TIPPIDEAUX
These U.S. Marshals are fierce some men to come up against. These men in my opinion never underestimate any of the men they go up against, they have each other's backs no matter what the situation is. In this adventure we are introduced to Addriss Tippideaux out of New Orleans via Memphis, and his bayou born mule, Mose. Sadly Addriss was killed in the line of duty, and Ruben was given Addriss's pearl handle grips pistols. As many of these U.S.Marshals haven't any family or they've been away from home for over twenty years or more, they lose track of their people. This is common in the west.
This adventure like all the rest are delightful to read. They'll have you laughing and actually feel as though your right there riding the trail, mountains and camping with them eating the food that Ruben prepared. Don't forget Baby Bill,
Miss Harmony, her father Verlon..a very close family who take care of each other. United States Marshal Marion Daniel, a force unto his own, a man to ride the river with...everyone keep your cinch tight, don't want to fall off your ride...
These U.S. Marshals are fierce some men to come up against. These men in my opinion never underestimate any of the men they go up against, they have each other's backs no matter what the situation is. In this adventure we are introduced to Addriss Tippideaux out of New Orleans via Memphis, and his bayou born mule, Mose. Sadly Addriss was killed in the line of duty, and Ruben was given Addriss's pearl handle grips pistols. As many of these U.S.Marshals haven't any family or they've been away from home for over twenty years or more, they lose track of their people. This is common in the west.
This adventure like all the rest are delightful to read. They'll have you laughing and actually feel as though your right there riding the trail, mountains and camping with them eating the food that Ruben prepared. Don't forget Baby Bill,
Miss Harmony, her father Verlon..a very close family who take care of each other. United States Marshal Marion Daniel, a force unto his own, a man to ride the river with...everyone keep your cinch tight, don't want to fall off your ride...
March 18, 2021
I absolutely love this series and I had to bump this review up to five stars. The honesty that shines through these novels tell me the author knew men like the ones he writes about. He knows that hard times called for a different kind of justice and horses were shot as often as men in the pursuit of those with no regard for any kind of life. I recognize some of these old timers sayings as some my Dad used or my husbands Grandpa. I love listening to the authors recreation of his wonderful characters. If this was a well done series on TV I would sure be watching. Thought I loved Walt Longmire but not as much as these heroes that feel like real life. Well done Mr Lewis!
June 22, 2025
Another deadly adventure
I really enjoy the humor and the action. The one thing that bothers me is using the Lord's name. I don't mind cursing as an expression or to emphasize a point but my Bible says do not use the Lord's name in vain. You do this and it is very distracting. Couldn't you use a little restraint? I would appreciate it and it would make reading your stories more enjoyable.
I really enjoy the humor and the action. The one thing that bothers me is using the Lord's name. I don't mind cursing as an expression or to emphasize a point but my Bible says do not use the Lord's name in vain. You do this and it is very distracting. Couldn't you use a little restraint? I would appreciate it and it would make reading your stories more enjoyable.
October 26, 2019
Great read
I always love westerns especially when you have to,e to relax an get lost in a great book my dislike was there really wasn’t a final battle seen it started then it was over I would like to recommend this book to my dad
I always love westerns especially when you have to,e to relax an get lost in a great book my dislike was there really wasn’t a final battle seen it started then it was over I would like to recommend this book to my dad
March 2, 2018
another wonderful installment of this great series! I am listening and reading all of them !
best books!
best books!
June 1, 2021
Great read
I just can’t stop reading these books. They are so interesting and have me imagining my family like this. I’m enjoying each one.
I just can’t stop reading these books. They are so interesting and have me imagining my family like this. I’m enjoying each one.
August 21, 2021
Action-packed? Check. Bit of a kinda sorta tear or two along the way? CHECK!
My Full Review →
My Full Review →
June 9, 2022
Love these stories. The author does a superb job of reading his own books. Well done!
March 1, 2017
A very good and entertaining novel and I enjoyed reading this novel. I recommend this book to everyone.
June 11, 2018
In this installment of David R. Lewis's The Trail Series, young Rubin Beeler and his crusty old marshal friend Marion Daniels have to travel south into the backwoods of northwest Arkansas to bring justice to some hillbillies what don't seem to know the Civil War is over and don't cotton to no lawmen snooping around, especially lawmen from a Northern state or from a federal agency.
The good guys win.
But, as always with this series, it's a fun ride to get there.
Lewis gives us a fun new character in this installment with Marshal Addriss Tippideaux. But that's all I have to say about that.
We see Rubin continuing his growth as a character and as a man. We learn more about Marion. Like before, Lewis keeps things moving at a brisk pace, mixes in huge dollops of humor in the interaction between the characters, and in the audio version he delivers it all in his amazing array of voices. Seriously, after going through the first four books (and starting the fifth) one right after the other, I'm starting to think in Rubin and Marion's voices.
About the only other thing I can think to add here is that while listening, after Addriss was introduced, the federal marshals put me in mind of the wizards in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings because of how they wander the countryside bringing wisdom, justice, and change.
Upon the second reading of this series, I have to say that Payback Trail is maybe my favorite. Homer is missing from the story, but the interaction between Rubin and Marion is so spot-on that Homer is hardly missed. The humor in this one is perfect.
The good guys win.
But, as always with this series, it's a fun ride to get there.
Lewis gives us a fun new character in this installment with Marshal Addriss Tippideaux. But that's all I have to say about that.
We see Rubin continuing his growth as a character and as a man. We learn more about Marion. Like before, Lewis keeps things moving at a brisk pace, mixes in huge dollops of humor in the interaction between the characters, and in the audio version he delivers it all in his amazing array of voices. Seriously, after going through the first four books (and starting the fifth) one right after the other, I'm starting to think in Rubin and Marion's voices.
About the only other thing I can think to add here is that while listening, after Addriss was introduced, the federal marshals put me in mind of the wizards in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings because of how they wander the countryside bringing wisdom, justice, and change.
Upon the second reading of this series, I have to say that Payback Trail is maybe my favorite. Homer is missing from the story, but the interaction between Rubin and Marion is so spot-on that Homer is hardly missed. The humor in this one is perfect.
January 23, 2016
Payback
When you name your settlement "Payback". Be careful when the Marshals come calling for their payback. The bad guys will never know what hit them.
When you name your settlement "Payback". Be careful when the Marshals come calling for their payback. The bad guys will never know what hit them.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews