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The Law Wranglers #1

Deal with the Devil

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“There are other lawyers in New Mexico,” Josh said.

“But not many that would know about hunting for a girl among the Comanche,” Levi replied.

And so after several long years of trying to put the past behind him, Josh Rivers finds himself intertwined in a case that has him leaving the comforts of his life in Santa Fe for the desolation of the Staked Plains. In his quest to find a young woman abducted by the Comanche, Josh must confront the horrors of his past, as well as pull off the diplomatic high-wire act of negotiating with the Comanche and their great war chief, Quanah Parker.

Set amidst the Texas-Indian wars, high-octane action, adventure, and intrigue abound in Deal with the Devil, the first book of The Law Wranglers series.

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2016

738 people are currently reading
391 people want to read

About the author

Ron Schwab

47 books192 followers
Ron Schwab is the author of the popular Western series, The Law Wranglers, The Coyote Saga, and The Lockes, as well as several standalone novels, including Grit, a winner of the Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Award for Best Western Novel, and Cut Nose, a finalist for the Western Writers of America Best Western Historical Novel. He is a member of the Western Writers of America, Western Fictioneers, and Mystery Writers of America.

Ron’s earlier published works included the suspense novels, Crocodile Fears and The Buddy System, both printed under a pseudonym, Michael J. Stewart. He is a member of the Western Writers of America, Western Fictioneers, and Mystery Writers of America.

Ron and his wife, Bev, divide their time between their home in Fairbury, Nebraska and their cabin in the Kansas Flint Hills.

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5 stars
1,097 (55%)
4 stars
597 (30%)
3 stars
206 (10%)
2 stars
44 (2%)
1 star
28 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Profile Image for Fred Barnes.
316 reviews42 followers
March 7, 2025
IF YOU ENJOY A GREAT WESTERN, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!

☆☆☆☆☆

What another start to what's looking like another great series from Ron Schwab. Deal with the Devil (The Law Wranglers Book 1) is a well told tell of a family living in the New Mexico territory in the 1800's. The characters are clearly defined everyday people dealing with the Comanche Wars, the burnt out homesteads, murder of family and friends, and the abduction of settlers in the Southwest. These wars were not atrocities affiliated by one side. The Comanches were not only pushed out their lands but were viciously attacted and killed. It was a time when both sides took many losses, and the lives of many were in the balance.

This is a fictional story based on the time period and the events which are well documented though through most accounts based on the side of the whites. Ron Schwab has brought the historical events into a story of a lawyer named Josh Rivers based out of his Santa Fe New Mexico. Josh is hired to find and negotiate the release of a young lady who was abducted from her father's ranch by the Comanches.

If you are interested in a book that is action-packed, intriguing, suspenseful, and based on historical facts, this book is for you.

I really enjoyed reading this book and have already started the second in this series. You can't go work with any of the books and series written by Ron Schwab, or at least I should state that is based on the books he had written that I have read so far. You might want to start at his early series and move on to the next in chronical order since some of the characters are carried from one book or series to the next. That being said, it's easy enough to pick up any of his books and find yourself enjoying the characters and storyline.

Quotes:

"Noble erst drowned himself in his own sweat."

"I'm just a dowdy old man; too old to suck and too young to die."

"You can say a hell of a lot by not talking and learn a hell of a lot more by listening."

"Use your brain, not your mouth, and you've got one up on the next guy."
Profile Image for Frank Kelso.
Author 12 books368 followers
Read
September 28, 2019
The Law Wranglers begins a family saga.

Schwab again? No, not the TV ad for stockbrokers, this is Ron Schwab, who writes great westerns. He has assembled a great cast of characters, from family, friends, and lovers You'll need a program to keep track of the characters and their role.
Profile Image for Gerald Guy.
Author 48 books7 followers
June 7, 2019
When small-town lawyer Danna Sinclair solicits the help of El Paso attorney Josh Rivers, she gets far more than she anticipates. Rivers and his brother not only know their way around a courtroom but they are no strangers to Comanche country, where they must search for a missing heir. The trail takes several twists and turns. In the end, a formidable alliance is formed and I can’t wait to read more. Will the feared war chief Quanah Parker lead Rivers to his kidnapped son? This is the first entry in Ron Schwab’s Law Wranglers series and worthy of your time.
252 reviews1 follower
April 29, 2019
This was a quick read, I really enjoyed it and it was pleasant after the last book that I read
Profile Image for Debbi.
1,010 reviews
July 6, 2019
4 stars! Has everything a good western should have; cowboys, indians, no-good lawmen, damsels-in-distress, big cattle ranches, murders, everything! Looking forward to book #2.
Profile Image for Pam Bales.
2,526 reviews12 followers
December 9, 2017
Well, I was interested in this series because the author lives in the Flint Hills. I just admit, I didn't much care for the graphic beginning but decided to carry on. I did enjoy the story and am ready to start the next one. I guess I'm at the age in life where there's only so much graphic sex one needs in a book. Get on with the story. I am intrigued with the characters and the storyline so I am hoping for good things to come.
199 reviews2 followers
June 10, 2021
Joshua's dad approaches him about a case where he has to go to Madison to meet the lawyer there DL Sawyer

Josh and Dana are on an adventure that they didn't expect and Cal was supposed to go with Josh on the trail to the Comanche but got shot before they left. Dana is going to take care of him until he's better and then put them in the empire hotel. In the meantime Josh takes off on the trail and runs across the stagecoach being attacked by Comanche with one woman still being untouched and two men that are already tormented to death. Josh goes and rescues the woman and chases off the Comanche who are only interested in the horses right now. Josh and Jessica continue on their way to a canyon location where they can hide out and recover. Unfortunately Josh sleeps too long about 10 hours and all of a sudden they're surrounded by Indians the next morning Comanche of all things. Quanah Parker is there and takes Josh and Jessica back to their camp. Their campus located in the ravine actually a canyon that's so steep and so crowded with Indians at the bottom that there's no way they can escape.
534 reviews2 followers
November 19, 2019
This western novel is the first in the Law Wrangler series. It mixes lawyering and western gun action. While the underlying plot is a newly orphaned young girl my lose her ranch to a greedy uncle, it runs much deeper than the typical western storyline. Which is the handsome loner beats off with fists and guns the evil rancher and his hired guns. No, this story gets complicated because the young girl heiress is now missing. She was taken captive by the Comanches in the raid that killed her father. Is she still alive, or may her Uncle be able to have her legally declared dead? So, you need both lawyer skills and western frontier tracking skills to help resolve the ranch ownership issue. There are also other subplots western action and characters that keep the reader engaged and reading until every angle is covered. However, some continuing story threads remain as the Law Wrangler series continues.
Profile Image for Aidan.
9 reviews
February 4, 2017
For fans of westerns, this book had everything in it. Literally. I'm not sure Ron Schwab missed a single possible trope or cliche in the western genre--coyotes and comanches, arrows and six shooters, horses and cattle, hats and kidnappings, multiple devastatingly beautiful heroines, money on the line, etc.

I would not recommend this book, however, to anyone who isn't already a big fan of the genre. The characters, plot, and writing all existed to prop up the tropes--which could make it a bit alienating to someone who wasn't already in love with those same tropes.

So while it wasn't my cup of sarsaparilla, I'm sure it's someone else's!
399 reviews4 followers
November 5, 2022
Loose men make a good western story?

I guess so but I don’t much like it! It is a wonder Ron Schwab’s men/heroes don’t have babies all over the western frontier. He has some great stories and adventures—but in this book they just can’t keep it in their pants! At least he is not too explicit but it seems like the men in this story (he and his brother) get it free everywhere and with practically every woman. Thank goodness his other books aren’t quite like this one with man whores.
191 reviews2 followers
Currently reading
October 1, 2019
Love to read

Ever since I was around nine or ten years old I have loved this type of reading. I am now 88 years young at least in spirit if not in flesh, and have not changed. This is my kind of reading! I lived for twelve years on the Navajo and Hopi reservation in northern Arizona and that was as close to my yearning for so many years. Made some great friends there. You won't go wrong reading this and subsequent books.
222 reviews7 followers
July 14, 2020
Really a good story

I enjoyed this story, it's seems like I am going to have a good series to read. I enjoy series. This family consist of a rancher, the father. A lawyer , a drunk army scout, a banker and a writer. Four boys and a lovely daughter who is single and in love with an Indian who is an artist. This artist is just pretty dang good with his hands and a gun. He is even handy with a knife. Anyway I think you'll enjoy meeting the family. Frank
301 reviews
July 4, 2021
Law Wranglers or Lawyers

I got this as a freebies from Amazon Kindle. I have read Ron Schwab before and really liked his style of the Western genre. This particular premise had me anticipating a good story. I was not disappointed. His use of accurate historical figure to blend the story together was well done. The romance he blends in with the characters was good and not overdone. Overall, z very good read. A 4.8 out of 5 rating. I will definitely read the next one.
9 reviews
September 11, 2024
Can put you to sleep for long stretches

About average. I get the feeling many of the characters who are meant to be likeable - aren't. So far we have a handsome brother who sleeps with about ALL of the women, a lawyer who seems mainly clueless but very lucky, and a brilliant historical figure in Quannah Parker. Add the rich crooked rancher & the town officials he's bought and you'll get the idea.
Profile Image for Judith  Spero.
54 reviews
October 19, 2017
My first time reading this authors material and it was really well written. The story line is exciting and easy to follow. There are several characters that come into the picture at different times but they are easy to follow the back and forth between characters. Finished the book quickly and started on book 2.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
143 reviews
December 2, 2019
Very enjoyable

I love reading Westerns, however my heart is always with the People. No story ever ends well for the Native Americans. Therefore, I appreciate Mr. Schwab's fairness in his portrayal of their way of life and the hardships they had to endure. Well done, and we'll written.
13 reviews1 follower
December 19, 2019
A Different kind of Western .

Yes it was a different kind of Western . Although the action and excitement was there throughout the entire book , the courtroom aspect of the story added the difference . My one negative comment would be that there was too much gratuitous sex . This did not detract from the storyline .
Profile Image for Ghada Almoulani.
76 reviews4 followers
March 30, 2025
I loved the book, the storyline, and the characters. It’s a fast paced read, with lots of events and background information. It’s my first time reading about life in southwest America during the late 1800s. I was intrigued and entertained. I felt the story could take more details, and the characters could have more depth to them. I wished it was a bit longer!
13 reviews
September 11, 2017
Excellent read

Excellent western. Has all the elements a good western should have, romance, adventure, gun play, Indians. Well written leaving you wanting to know more of the story.
1 review
July 4, 2018
A great example of a modern western

An avid reader of the western genre will not be sorry to pick Ron Schwab to fools.
He develops likeable characters with plausible story lines and it’s a gentle and enjoyable ride.
6 reviews
November 24, 2019
Great Western Story

I had given up on the western genre after I finished all of Louis L’amore’s books. I have found my new author. Looking forward to plowing my way through the remainder of this series.
265 reviews1 follower
November 24, 2019
Heartwarming and Breathtaking

This book has everything that a good Western needs to keep readers engaged. Search and rescue in heart-pounding circumstances, romance and a surprise ending. Great read!
Profile Image for Jackie L. Darnell.
66 reviews2 followers
April 8, 2020
I ENJOYED THE READ VERY MUCH. Ron writes with authority on the old west. I have purchased up thru Book six. That means as a picky western writer I mean what I say, this book is good. I look forward to the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Loretta Gabriel.
833 reviews6 followers
May 24, 2021
Heartwarming and entertaining story.

A great story of the West and the hardships that went along with the dealing Indians as well as settling legal matters. A lot of action and suspense.
91 reviews2 followers
September 6, 2021
Great Start of a Promising Series

Ron Schwab is an outstanding writer of western genre. His characters each stand alone are well suited for the setting in and around Santa Fe. You may look forward to an entertaining series.
3,590 reviews16 followers
February 20, 2022
Really enjoyed this book!

I loved this one! The action was high, the romance was fun and winning is always good! I hope that more books follow the two lawyer's! Oh that opening of her and her pig sticker was awesome!
71 reviews1 follower
January 23, 2023
The Deal

A good moving story, that, may have happened, in the era of Quanah Parker. A story of a greedy uncle,
trying to take a ranch, that belongs to his niece (whose been captured by Comanche Indians). A book,
I would recommend to family and friends.
21 reviews
March 7, 2023
Very well written story about recovering young girl who was kidnapped by Comanche warriers. .Josh Rivers has had some success in finding and releasing some from the Indians.
In this case the girl is needed so her uncle won't get the ranch.
40 reviews
May 5, 2017
Quanah Parker

This book is an excellent accounting of the history of Quanah Parker's quest for surrendering and negotiating for the best terms for his tribe.
859 reviews2 followers
August 16, 2017
Deal with the Devil

Enjoyable book,full of drama and little romance thrown in. Lots of bad guys and not so perfect heroes. Recommend to those who like westerns.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews

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