Gun Man

by Loren D. Estleman

From one of the most renowned storytellers of our time comes a novel of a wanted man seeking refuge in the legendary Missouri militia.

Estleman has no rival--not even Louis L'Amour--in evoking the American Southwest."-- Kirkus Reviews

"Estleman rivals the finest American novelists."-- The Washington Post

Genres: Westerns

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Loren D. Estleman is an American writer of detective and Western fiction. He writes with a manual typewriter.

Estleman is most famous for his novels about P.I. Amos Walker. Other series characters include Old West marshal Page Murdock and hitman Peter Macklin. He has also written a series of novels about the history of crime in Detroit (also the setting of his Walker books.) His non-series works include Bloody Season, a fictional recreation of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and several novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes.

Series:
* Amos Walker Mystery
* Valentino Mystery
* Detroit Crime Mystery
* Peter Macklin Mystery
* Page Murdock Mystery

Reviews

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Estleman western work from a journeyman author. This book follows the life and exploits of a fictional gunslinger, the type that people know and sometimes celebrate such as Billy the Kid, Isom Dart, and Buffalo Bill.

From his youth on a Missouri farm to his death in Wyoming, John "Killer" Miller is a secessionist Guerrilla, a bandit, a big ranch regulator, a soldier in the Confederate Army, a sheriff, and a figure of legend as his life develops -- but remains apathetic about it all except the money and the chance to survive. Each chapter starts with lines from what would have been a song about him, one of those old west ballads from the past century.

The book is tight and interesting, and so convincing you begin to wonder if Miller has a wikipedia page.

[Oliver Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this western are genuinely brilliant, I especially liked the discussion of dime novels and their scandalised glamorisation of gunfighters. But the writing felt a little too rushed to me at times and I lost track of the story occasionally

[Benjamin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lazy and unimaginative writing. I could forgive that, but the editing on this book is an insult to every person who picks it up. I wonder if the publisher thought James Caan was the hero in Elf before Buddy changed him?

[David C Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty flat western by Estleman’s usual standards. The title sums it up: a killer kills from before the civil war (Bleeding Kansas) to the closing of the range by barbed wire. The problem is that Miller has no interesting let alone redeeming qualities. You can see the final revelation coming but not the reasons for the final killing. The writing lacks Estleman’s usual flair - and humor. The only thing that passes as a “joke” is the naming of a character in the Kansas wars Herb Clutter: this was the name of the father of the Kansas family killed in the 1950s murder case made famous by Capote’s In Cold Blood.

[FredM2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of a young boy that has circumstances make the choices for his life. He becomes many things from a killer to a bounty hunter. He was a soldier and when the war ended he was with a gang that did not see the end of the war to end their killing and robbing. This book tells his story from a very young age up until his death with a whole lot of interesting stories in between. I really enjoyed the reading.

[Dirk Grobbelaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

"They don't pay to hear it told straight."

A somewhat cynical Western with thematic similarities to Journal of the Gun Years.

Powerful stuff.

4.5 stars

[Donadee's Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's a gripping Western tale of a young boy turned legendary gunfighter, saddle up and let's ride!

Gun Man: A Classic Western Novel by Loren D. Estleman is a gripping tale set in the American Southwest. The story follows Eugene Morner, who, at just twelve years old, kills his first man on the Great Plains, giving birth to his alias, John Miller. From the Indian Wars to the Civil War, Miller's name becomes synonymous with death as he navigates a life filled with violence and moral ambiguity. As a gun for hire, Miller plays both sides of the law, riding with outlaws and serving as a lawman, always loyal to the highest bidder. His journey takes him from robbing banks to hunting down criminals, leaving a trail of bloodshed in his wake. The novel explores the harsh realities of the frontier, where survival often means making difficult and ruthless choices.

Throughout his life, Miller encounters a variety of characters, each adding depth to his story. From his partnership with the mixed-race drifter Isham Eagle to his involvement in the Kansas-Missouri border wars, Miller's experiences highlight the complexities of the Western frontier. The narrative delves into the themes of loyalty, survival, and the blurred lines between right and wrong. Gun Man is a powerful and propulsive novel that captures the essence of the American West. Estleman's masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions bring the rugged landscape and its inhabitants to life, making this book a must-read for fans of Western fiction. So pick up your copy today, settle back, and enjoy!

• ASIN: B0DN6QCW9L
• Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
• Publication Date: 12/24/2024
• File Size: 4405 KB
• Print Length: 243 pages
• Genre: Louis L'Amour Westerns, Frontier & Pioneer Western Fiction, Western Fiction Classics

[Dan Thorson · Rating 3 out of 5]

When 12 year old Eugene Mortimer takes to the Western Frontier, he enters the world as a vulnerable young boy seeking an identity and a purpose. Eugene finds this through the power of an expert gunshot, embracing a new persona as John “Killer” Miller. As John Miller, the young protagonist becomes a notorious gunfighter and outlaw who roams the West lending his skills to serve both sides of justice. Estleman’s compelling novel exemplifies Western fiction characterized by vivid and detailed settings, realistic and powerful dialog, and plenty of violent action. Unlike many examples of Western fiction, however, Estleman’s work offers a thought-provoking and balanced examination of Western justice that is rooted in historical fact.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories of gun men and guns are normally taken dead seriously in the traditional western. Humor and irony may be found in their gallows varieties, and then only in the voices of one or more characters. But Estleman infuses this entire novel with a wry, amusing tone.

It takes the elements of the standard story of the frontier gunslinger and imagines how they might have been in the case of a single young man. The humor deromanticizes gunslingers and diminishes the stature that legend gives them. But it’s of a piece with the droll self-deprecating wit found among westerners, which gives a subject weight by not being serious about it...

Read my review at my blog.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I've read several of his novels, I'm not a huge Loren D. Estleman fan. I don't dislike his work at all . . . I just don't thrive on it though I do enjoy reading the work of a local author.

Like his novels set in Detroit, this one is written in a spare style. Also like the Detroit novels, I often feel that I'm not reading the right things between the lines. What I end up with is a fine story with not much to think back on once the book is finished. I need a little subtext.

This was also my first foray into the Western genre. I might try another author a some point.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first exposure to Mr. Estleman in the Western genre. I really enjoyed the beginning; especially the in depth research he must have pursued to create such wonderful ambience. I thoughtthe story lagged a bit towards the end but I'll certainly continue to read further efforts by the author.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#6 in the American West series.

The American West series - An accidental death drives John Miller, a paid killer, west to join a gang of train and bank robbers and, in succession, he becomes a lawman, highwayman, and assassin.