What do you think?
Rate this book
Death of a Bad Man
In this sharp-shooting Ralph Compton western, a man of honor becomes an outlaw.
Solomon Brakefield tried to play by the rules—and lost. When the mine Sol worked for was robbed, he went after the robbers himself. After he brought the money back, he was given no more than a handshake and a few dollars. Seems like living life on the straight and narrow just doesn’t pay.
So Sol seeks out Nester Quarles, known killer and train robber, to teach him the tricks of the outlaw’s trade. Quarles has plenty to teach, but there’s a price to be paid—and the currency is Sol’s soul.
More Than Eight Million Ralph Compton Books In Print!
Solomon Brakefield tried to play by the rules—and lost. When the mine Sol worked for was robbed, he went after the robbers himself. After he brought the money back, he was given no more than a handshake and a few dollars. Seems like living life on the straight and narrow just doesn’t pay.
So Sol seeks out Nester Quarles, known killer and train robber, to teach him the tricks of the outlaw’s trade. Quarles has plenty to teach, but there’s a price to be paid—and the currency is Sol’s soul.
More Than Eight Million Ralph Compton Books In Print!
- GenresWesterns
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 2008
6 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Ralph Compton
247 books84 followersRalph Compton (April 11, 1934—September 16, 1998) was an American writer of western fiction.
A native of St. Clair County, Alabama, Compton began his writing career with a notable work, The Goodnight Trail, which was chosen as a finalist for the Western Writers of America "Medicine Pipe Bearer Award" bestowed upon the "Best Debut Novel". He was also the author of the Sundown Rider series and the Border Empire series. In the last decade of his life, he authored more than two dozen novels, some of which made it onto the USA Today bestseller list for fiction.
Ralph Compton died in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 64. Since his passing, Signet Books has continued the author's legacy, releasing new novels, written by authors such as Joseph A. West and David Robbins, under Compton's byline.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/ralphc...
A native of St. Clair County, Alabama, Compton began his writing career with a notable work, The Goodnight Trail, which was chosen as a finalist for the Western Writers of America "Medicine Pipe Bearer Award" bestowed upon the "Best Debut Novel". He was also the author of the Sundown Rider series and the Border Empire series. In the last decade of his life, he authored more than two dozen novels, some of which made it onto the USA Today bestseller list for fiction.
Ralph Compton died in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 64. Since his passing, Signet Books has continued the author's legacy, releasing new novels, written by authors such as Joseph A. West and David Robbins, under Compton's byline.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/ralphc...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 23, 2021
Main character, Sol Brakefield isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Even with help of the outlaw Nester Quarles, Sol doesn't listen very well until the end of the story.
March 16, 2022
Horribly written in almost every way.
May 29, 2012
An enjoyable western novel that set out the realities of being a bad man in the Old West. It had many typical elements of a western, but also showed the problems in an outlaw's day-to-day life. I think I'll read another book by this author when I get the chance.
June 27, 2008
Though not a big fan of Ralph Compton I did enjoy this one. The lesson taught is a good one and definitely a twist.
September 29, 2016
Too much dialogue, not enough action.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews