What do you think?
Rate this book
Hayden Tilden #1
Lawdog: The Life and Times of Hayden Tilden
Fans of gritty westerns will love this action-packed novel by J. Lee Butts!
Legendary as the meanest, most fearless lawdog of the Old West, Hayden Tilden sometimes blurs the line between U.S. Marshal and hired assassin. His adventures all began with one murderous, cold-blooded bastard: Saginaw Bob Magruder.
The depraved killer butchered Tilden’s entire family and hurled the young man into a ruthless, bloody crusade for vengeance and a career as a U. S. Marshal. Tracking down Magruder will be just the beginning of Tilden’s adventures, bringing his own brand of justice to the wild and lawless West.
“Lawdog has it all. I couldn’t put it down.” —Jack Ballas, author of A Town Afraid
“Lawdog should assume its rightful place beside other Western classics.” —Peter Brandvold, bestselling author of Once Hell Freezes Over
About the Author:
J. Lee Butts is the author of 22 published books and numerous magazine articles and short works. His book Brotherhood of Blood was runner-up for the Western Writers of America Spur Award in 2005. He’s worn many hats over the years (teacher, administrator, pool manager, IBM supervisor, and western author), and he and his late wife lived everywhere from Los Angeles to Dallas. Currently he’s hanging those hats back in White Hall, Arkansas.
Legendary as the meanest, most fearless lawdog of the Old West, Hayden Tilden sometimes blurs the line between U.S. Marshal and hired assassin. His adventures all began with one murderous, cold-blooded bastard: Saginaw Bob Magruder.
The depraved killer butchered Tilden’s entire family and hurled the young man into a ruthless, bloody crusade for vengeance and a career as a U. S. Marshal. Tracking down Magruder will be just the beginning of Tilden’s adventures, bringing his own brand of justice to the wild and lawless West.
“Lawdog has it all. I couldn’t put it down.” —Jack Ballas, author of A Town Afraid
“Lawdog should assume its rightful place beside other Western classics.” —Peter Brandvold, bestselling author of Once Hell Freezes Over
About the Author:
J. Lee Butts is the author of 22 published books and numerous magazine articles and short works. His book Brotherhood of Blood was runner-up for the Western Writers of America Spur Award in 2005. He’s worn many hats over the years (teacher, administrator, pool manager, IBM supervisor, and western author), and he and his late wife lived everywhere from Los Angeles to Dallas. Currently he’s hanging those hats back in White Hall, Arkansas.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2001
60 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 27, 2024
Way better than average, best Western I have read in years.
Told in first person mostly, a good plot. Some action on almost every page. Geography fits well. Most of the time correct descriptions, of places and enterprises. Equipment fits well too. Found it a great narrative of those wild and wooly days. Suspense, Romance, twists and turns. Sorry it had to end.
Told in first person mostly, a good plot. Some action on almost every page. Geography fits well. Most of the time correct descriptions, of places and enterprises. Equipment fits well too. Found it a great narrative of those wild and wooly days. Suspense, Romance, twists and turns. Sorry it had to end.
November 4, 2017
Great story telling...
This is one of those books you don't want to end. He makes you feel like you know the characters and want to hear their story. I'm looking forward to the coming books in this series. Great job!
This is one of those books you don't want to end. He makes you feel like you know the characters and want to hear their story. I'm looking forward to the coming books in this series. Great job!
June 4, 2020
Best ones yet.
I have read dozens of Western tales. Lived the early west vicariously. This was truly one of the best. I liked the development of the characters and the real feel of the places, characters and outcomes. This one was good.
I have read dozens of Western tales. Lived the early west vicariously. This was truly one of the best. I liked the development of the characters and the real feel of the places, characters and outcomes. This one was good.
June 5, 2017
Lawdog
Good wild west story of a marshal and his tracking of a man that killed his family and tried to kill him.
Good wild west story of a marshal and his tracking of a man that killed his family and tried to kill him.
July 29, 2017
I enjoyed it. Colorful language.
June 30, 2018
Excellent book about Hayden Tilden becoming a U.S. Marshall and avenging the death of his family. First book in a series, lot's of action and interesting characters.
March 2, 2025
Never expected to enjoy a western but here we are. Action throughout the whole novel and it was believable not just crazy “western” stories.
July 23, 2016
THE LIFE OF A U. S. MARSHALL
This starts out like the usual FAMILY REVENGE, but it does and it doesn't end the way we think. This is a nicely written adventure, with many facets to the creation of this adventure. The names that are used are so real. Your made to feel the pain, ANGER and the lack of respect for mankind. The characters described, for instance Saginaw Bob McGrauder, Hooty Gwen, Killin Bill Hogan, are just some of character's names. This book will have you laughing some parts are sad the other enjoyable. Caesar the dog of undetermined origin who follows and protects Hayden 'M God' Tilden and his posse of United States Marshalls a hard living bunch of men who would lay their lives down, take a bullet for each other. It explains how hard it was living and traveling in the West. If it isn't the weather, you have the no-count vicious cow dung low lives riding in to murder your family..Not easy..but it worked..EVERYONE READ AND ENJOY...and keep your coffee hot...
This starts out like the usual FAMILY REVENGE, but it does and it doesn't end the way we think. This is a nicely written adventure, with many facets to the creation of this adventure. The names that are used are so real. Your made to feel the pain, ANGER and the lack of respect for mankind. The characters described, for instance Saginaw Bob McGrauder, Hooty Gwen, Killin Bill Hogan, are just some of character's names. This book will have you laughing some parts are sad the other enjoyable. Caesar the dog of undetermined origin who follows and protects Hayden 'M God' Tilden and his posse of United States Marshalls a hard living bunch of men who would lay their lives down, take a bullet for each other. It explains how hard it was living and traveling in the West. If it isn't the weather, you have the no-count vicious cow dung low lives riding in to murder your family..Not easy..but it worked..EVERYONE READ AND ENJOY...and keep your coffee hot...
February 7, 2017
This is one of the best westerns i have read. I plan on reading more of J. Lee Butts westerns, He is a good writer. The marshalls had a lot of ground to cover in those days.
April 23, 2016
I've been on a western role lately and have been so lucky to find another terrific story. Mr. Butts has done an outstanding job of writing about US Marshall Tilden. It includes all the things I love in westerns and it's well written! In an unusual format, Mr. Tilden is living at the old folks home and a young reporter wants to interview him about his life. Although fiction, you wouldn't know it because it's so realistic. The characters are colorful and there's lots of action. It would make a great movie.
July 4, 2016
Pretty good cowboy story
Story is told from a lawman to a newspaper reporter. It has an almost tongue in cheek quality to it. Certainly a well spun yarn. Give this one a read for a light weight story of the old west.
Story is told from a lawman to a newspaper reporter. It has an almost tongue in cheek quality to it. Certainly a well spun yarn. Give this one a read for a light weight story of the old west.
October 18, 2015
Loved this story. I would love to see this adapted into film or TV.
June 15, 2016
Lawdogs
This is a well written, a funny story that you will enjoy. This has to story this was well thought out.
This is a well written, a funny story that you will enjoy. This has to story this was well thought out.
July 5, 2016
Surprisingly entertaining
A five star. I don't give many five stars. I'm a died in the wool Louis L'Amour fan and this ranks right up there.
A five star. I don't give many five stars. I'm a died in the wool Louis L'Amour fan and this ranks right up there.
July 5, 2016
I found the Western history fabricated for this book to be fascinating. The rest of the effort was long and difficult to follow. I love Westerns but this presentation was not one of my favorites.
July 11, 2016
I very much enjoyed reading this book. I am currently reading the next book in the series and will probably read more by this author. I recommend this book to everyone.
August 2, 2016
Enjoyable read
I enjoyed the book cover to cover. Characters, plots galore all kept my attention. Plan to continue with the series until I've read them all.
I enjoyed the book cover to cover. Characters, plots galore all kept my attention. Plan to continue with the series until I've read them all.
August 11, 2016
Good book
UPS and downs all around liked the storyline very much. It was new and old all along the way and then some
UPS and downs all around liked the storyline very much. It was new and old all along the way and then some
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews