Jericho's Road

Texas Rangers #6

by Elmer Kelton

When Texas Ranger private Andy Pickard is assigned to help patrol the Texas-Mexico border country he rides directly into a deadly feud. At odds are two land and cattle barons - Jericho Jackson, whose great spread lies just north of the Rio Grande, and Guadalupe Chavez, whose domain lies south of the river.
The men are alike in only one their hatred for each other, a hate born at the time of the Alamo and the U.S.-Mexican War, when Mexican lands were confiscated by ruthless Americans. The old rivals have turned to preying on each others' cattle with resulting bloodshed on both sides of the river.
Between the two camps, Big Jim McCawley's ranch seems almost symbolic of the opportunity for the people of the two nations to live together. McCawley is married to Guadalupe Chavez's sister, Juana -a fact that does not ingratiate him to either the Chavez or Jackson faction.
To Andy Pickard, who as a child was taken captive by Comanches, old prejudices are familiar territory, but the Jackson-Chavez war is flaring out of control by the time he reaches the Ranger camp on the border in the company of fellow Ranger Farley Brackett. The two Rangers find themselves caught up in the feud, risking arrest for crossing the river into Mexico, and risking death for not heeding the warning sign at the edge of Jericho Jackson's This is Jericho's Road. Take the Other.
Inevitably, the cauldron boils over and the forces of Jericho Jackson and "Lupe" Chavez meet in bloody combat. In the midst of this battle on Mexican soil are Andy Pickard -- longing to court and marry Bethel Brackett and live a peaceful life as an ex-Ranger -- and Brackett himself, falling in love with Teresa, Big Jim McCawley's half-Mexican daughter.
Jericho's Road , sixth book in Kelton's acclaimed Texas Ranger series, typifies "The right blend of action, drama, romance, humor and suspense" that Publishers Weekly said has made Kelton "a master of both plot and character development."

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Elmer Kelton (1926-2009) was award-winning author of more than forty novels, including The Time It Never Rained, Other Men’s Horses, Texas Standoff and Hard Trail to Follow. He grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas, and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas. His first novel, Hot Iron, was published in 1956. Among his awards have been seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His novel The Good Old Boys was made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. In addition to his novels, Kelton worked as an agricultural journalist for 42 years. He served in the infantry in World War II. He died in 2009.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/elmerk...

Reviews

[CindySR]

I love a Western. I like to picture them in my head like an episode of Gunsmoke or Bonanza. Not this one.

I didn't realize Kelton had a series based on Texas Rangers. Jericho's Road is #6, so some backstory is missed by not reading 1-5. Add to that hate for Mexicans along the border, hate for gringos, hate for rangers, and way more killing/murder than the average Western. It was one long, depressing haul. There is no romance.

[Jason Wilson]

3.5 Stars

[Peter Corrigan]

Solid Kelton, probably read it back in Texas days too but always a good yarn! Always good historical flavor and nuggets but not
too much to drag down the narrative.

[Donald]

Like everything Kelton writes this is good read!

[Kathy]

The plot was a bit thin, repetitious and predictable; characters one-dimensional in too many cases; the landscape minimal and the dialog maximal (but decently written). Kelton has received numerous impressive awards, and since I didn't loathe Jericho's Road, I'll try another one.

[Flor]

Jericho’s Road by Elmer Kelton
I like Westerns. This author is known for receiving the Spur Award so I thought this should be a good book. Wronnng!!
Yes, it had all the necessary ingredients of the genre, horses, cattle, gun fights, poverty, campfires, relationships based on land, love, lust and more important it cut a slice of the time between cultures on the Rio Grande.
This is what I found so very objectionable. As a minority I no longer am willing to spend my free time reading derogatory remarks about my ethnicity. This book was jam packed full of it. I am sure the author would say that this was character and story development, and I am trying to understand that -but in the end-I cannot. I will read Wikipedia or a history book but not any more of Elmer Kelton.

[M. O'Gannon]

Jericho’s Road – An Andy Pickard Novel – 2004 - **** - Pickard is transferred to the border on the Rio Grande River. The struggle between two large ranches, one on each side of the river, is the theme of the book. Mix in Kelton’s authenticity of life for a Texas Ranger, the aftermath of the war between the United States and Mexico, conflicts with other rangers, a bigoted sergeant trying to get a promotion and some romance and you have another great Kelton story. Kelton’s writing is as timeless as Louis Lamour and Zane Grey. Part of Kelton’s magic is his ability to bring the reader to care about the protagonist. If you like westerns, you will love Kelton.

[Mary Fitzgerald]

Ranger Andy Pickard is sent to the Mexican border to help curtail an inter border war between two landowners, one Mexican and the other American. Andy gets himself captured by both sides and is disillusioned by the tactics of the Rangers. The border war has been going on since the Spanish to America. Ok but not great.

[Jason Bergsy]

A tale of a Texas ranger in the early days of Texas, stationed on the border. He finds himself caught in the middle of to feuding men on either side of the river, both looking to raise hell and control the land.

Found this book very captivating and even funny throughout. A very easy read that will be hard to put down.

[Fredrick Danysh]

Part of Kelton's Texas Ranger series, this western novel has Ranger Andy Pichard transferred to the Texas-Mexican border. The racial war between whites and hispanics is highlighted as Andy is caught up in a conflict between cultures and the greed of men regardless of ethnicity.

[James Mullenix]

Jericho' Road

Another outstanding book in the Texas Ranger Series by Elmore. I find myself completely lost in every book I read. I will continue to read every last book of Elmore's until I'm done then start all over again lol!

[Eliece]

This is the first book I've read by Elmer Kelton that disappointed me. It wasn't terrible, or I wouldn't have wasted time finishing it. But it just didn't flow like the other books I've read by him.

[Greg]

Wow... the cast if characters has really grown... good book

[John]

just an ok western that i will forget about in a few days

[William]

audio Jonathan Davis' narration is worth 2 stars alone'; but only this story up to 4 stars.

[Phil Lyon]

Another great Ranger series.

[Paulette]

Whew.... Spoiler alert: my favorite characters lived to the end!

[Robyn]

I always enjoy Elmer Kelton. He spins a good yarn

[Megargee]

Rookie Texas Ranger Andy Pickard joins other Rangers patrolling the new border between Texas, now part of the US, and Mexico. The main focus of the story is the developing range war between the displaced Mexicans and the new Texican cattle barons as they rustle each others livestock and ambush each others cowhands. Andy is not too effective as he manages to get stung by a hive full of wasps, taken prisoner twice and have his horse and weapons appropriated three times. After most of the warring cattlemen have killed each other off he wisely decides it is time to quit rangering, go home. and court his sweetheart, Bethel. Not one of Kelton's best.

[Rosemary]

From the lives of real people, this sixth book of Kelton's series on the Texas Rangers keeps you turning pages. He has earned his countless honors and seven Spur Awards from Western Writers of America. He is truly great.
His books are not about gunplay, but have the right blend of action, drama, romance, humor and suspense.
Writing of early Texas, his knowledge of the state's history is complete, drawn from the lives of real people. He lives in the heart of most of his stories and knows the land well.

[Jennifer Lisman]

My first Western. I thought I would never read one, but had to for class. I was very pleasantly surprised. I'm not sure I'll run out and read more, but I enjoyed learning about the characters and the history surrounding this story.

[Jeff Dickison]

Good Badger Boy/Andy Pickard western. In this one Andy, a Texas Ranger, must travel to the Rio Grande area to help stop the Mexicans and Texicans from battling with each other. What he experiences there changes his entire life. Recommended.

[Roger Miller]

A Very interesting western novel, in a novel way, handles the subjects of racism and war. Like how Elmer lays it out plain to see, but it is not resolved. Let's the reader do some thinking for himself.

[Sonseeahray]

This is a great Western if you're into that sort of thing.

[Jo Klemm]

I'm not sure where I ran across this. I keep it in the car to read while I wait for Addie. It isn't bad but it won't be what he is remembered for.

[Mckenzie]

it is very good so far!

[WRH]

Another easy read of a book by Elmer Kelton

[George L Holmgreen]

good ranger book

Enjoyed a good read. Good action & historic fact. Always fun to read these novels-filled with lots of action. Looking forward to next book.

[George Eiland]

Another great cowboy story

This is just good reading. Good guys and bad guys. Stuff I grew up with. Love the entire series so far.