Big Jake's Last Drive

Trail Drive #26

by Robert J. Randisi, Ralph Compton

Two old ranch hands lead one last trail drive but they can't escape death along the way in a brand new thrilling western in Ralph Compton's trail drive series.Big Jake Motley had been running the Big M spread in Texas for over 30 years. In that time, he's driven thousands of head of cattle to market in Kansas. Now, while both the Nineteenth century and the era of trail drive are coming to an end, Big Jake is determined to make one last drive to Kansas. The only thing is, he doesn't have the cowhands to move that much beef. He drafts his old friend, Chance McCandles, into service, and together, the two aging cowboys put together a crew.The trail to Kansas is fraught with dangers both natural and man made, but when Chance is killed by rustlers, Big Jake has one more task in before him, extract vengeance for his old friend.

Genres: Westerns

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2020

About the author

Robert Joseph Randisi was a prolific American author, editor, and screenwriter, best known for his work in detective and Western fiction. He wrote over 650 books, including The Gunsmith series under the pen name J.R. Roberts, and edited more than 30 anthologies. A co-founder of Mystery Scene magazine, the American Crime Writers League, and Western Fictioneers, he also established The Private Eye Writers of America and created the Shamus Award. Randisi collaborated on novels with Eileen Davidson and Vince Van Patten, and created memorable characters such as Miles Jacoby, Joe Keough, and The Rat Pack. He received multiple lifetime achievement awards and the John Seigenthaler Humanitarian Award.

Reviews

[David Burnworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Jake once owned the big successful ranch named the Big M after his wife passed away things slowly started going downhill. Jake stays to himself loses all of his friends including his foreman and then has to sell the ranch. He decides to do one last drive and that is where this story actually starts. Though successful the drive has enough ups and downs including the death of one on his crew and a huge payback for it.

[Shortie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was one of his better books

[Ray Ratliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about revenge in the old west.

[Joe Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good old western that’s an easy read. Enjoyed Big Jakes character and western values.

[Leonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lo of fun to read about 2 old cowboys who decide to make the last cattle drive to Dodge City. There is always a bad guy and how they handle him is a fun read.