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U.S. Marshal Zeke Halstead #1
Western Pursuit
ZEKE HALSTEAD:
A gunslinger murdered my pa last night when me and him and Uncle Billy were in town for supper.
Pa was unarmed.
I keep seeing Pa lying on the restaurant floor. He got shot in the chest, so how come blood is coming from his mouth? I feel all sick inside about what happened.
It’s my fault that Pa is dead.
Grandpa came from Topeka for the funeral today. He said that me and him and Uncle Billy are going after the killer.
So now we're on the trail, even though it's early evening already.
Grandpa’s leading the way. I’m riding alongside Uncle Billy. I ain’t used to riding a long ways. We’ve only been on the trail a short time and already the inside of my legs hurt.
Uncle Billy and Grandpa hardly talk. It seems to me that they don’t like each other. I wonder why that is. It’s getting dark and we’ll have to stop soon. Maybe they’ll talk some then. I don’t think Uncle Billy has seen his pa in over ten years. I ain’t seen Grandpa since I was six. I’m eighteen now.
I’m a mite nervous about this. My bum left knee causes me to limp. I ain’t never shot a pistol before, but I got one strapped on my hip now. I ain’t never been ten miles from home, either, which is why I ain’t used to riding a horse a long ways.
Grandpa said he’d teach me to shoot, and that we’ll catch the murderer sooner or later ’cause we ain’t going to give up chasing him. He said the only way the gunman gets away is if he kills all three of us. Grandpa means what he says.
He’s a United States Marshal.
Read Western Pursuit and ride along with Zeke, Uncle Billy, and Grandpa as they track a killer west across 1871 Kansas.
A gunslinger murdered my pa last night when me and him and Uncle Billy were in town for supper.
Pa was unarmed.
I keep seeing Pa lying on the restaurant floor. He got shot in the chest, so how come blood is coming from his mouth? I feel all sick inside about what happened.
It’s my fault that Pa is dead.
Grandpa came from Topeka for the funeral today. He said that me and him and Uncle Billy are going after the killer.
So now we're on the trail, even though it's early evening already.
Grandpa’s leading the way. I’m riding alongside Uncle Billy. I ain’t used to riding a long ways. We’ve only been on the trail a short time and already the inside of my legs hurt.
Uncle Billy and Grandpa hardly talk. It seems to me that they don’t like each other. I wonder why that is. It’s getting dark and we’ll have to stop soon. Maybe they’ll talk some then. I don’t think Uncle Billy has seen his pa in over ten years. I ain’t seen Grandpa since I was six. I’m eighteen now.
I’m a mite nervous about this. My bum left knee causes me to limp. I ain’t never shot a pistol before, but I got one strapped on my hip now. I ain’t never been ten miles from home, either, which is why I ain’t used to riding a horse a long ways.
Grandpa said he’d teach me to shoot, and that we’ll catch the murderer sooner or later ’cause we ain’t going to give up chasing him. He said the only way the gunman gets away is if he kills all three of us. Grandpa means what he says.
He’s a United States Marshal.
Read Western Pursuit and ride along with Zeke, Uncle Billy, and Grandpa as they track a killer west across 1871 Kansas.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 29, 2024
A good read.
Not Shakespeare or Tolstoy but as good read nevertheless. A few circumstances stretched my credulity but, hey! It's a Western novel. Suffice it to say that I went on to read the other two books in the series and enjoyed them, too.
Not Shakespeare or Tolstoy but as good read nevertheless. A few circumstances stretched my credulity but, hey! It's a Western novel. Suffice it to say that I went on to read the other two books in the series and enjoyed them, too.
August 2, 2025
Couldn't put it down!
It was an excellent read. The premise was imaginative. The characters are Interesting and I just couldn't put it down.
It was an excellent read. The premise was imaginative. The characters are Interesting and I just couldn't put it down.
September 13, 2020
GREAT WESTERN
My first book purchased from John Alexander. I was truly surprised at how the storyline drew me in and made me visualise every scene... I’ll look for more work from this skilled author. RECOMMENDED.
My first book purchased from John Alexander. I was truly surprised at how the storyline drew me in and made me visualise every scene... I’ll look for more work from this skilled author. RECOMMENDED.
February 22, 2026
Zeke’s start to grow up.
This was a good start for a new authors first book, even with the hurried up ending. The way the book is written you get a very good understanding of the characters and the direction the author is heading. Zeke isn’t a first choice for a lead character. Others kind of hold him up and help him grow up and learn what life is about. The book is well written and you get more interested as the book goes along. This author should have a good future with future books, just don’t take as long to finish them. Read and enjoy.
This was a good start for a new authors first book, even with the hurried up ending. The way the book is written you get a very good understanding of the characters and the direction the author is heading. Zeke isn’t a first choice for a lead character. Others kind of hold him up and help him grow up and learn what life is about. The book is well written and you get more interested as the book goes along. This author should have a good future with future books, just don’t take as long to finish them. Read and enjoy.
January 11, 2023
This book had a lot of potential but the writer focused more on the weaknesses of the US Marshals son, Rays son Zekes faults and desires to be a farmer than building up the main character, Zeke. I kept searching for a starter of character encouragement and inspiration but it was never found. The real main of background experience and tuffness was found in one of the bad guys.
October 28, 2024
Good read, will pass it on to my friends so they can enjoy it.
Nothing to dislike, well written my John Alexander, I Wii read the rest of the books in this series expecting the rest of the books to just as enjoyable as the first one. My friends and family will hear from me about how good the series was to read.
Robert Schultz 🇨🇱 🇺🇸 😇 🙏
Nothing to dislike, well written my John Alexander, I Wii read the rest of the books in this series expecting the rest of the books to just as enjoyable as the first one. My friends and family will hear from me about how good the series was to read.
Robert Schultz 🇨🇱 🇺🇸 😇 🙏
September 29, 2022
Western Pursuit: Tracking a Killer
This was absolutely incredible, loved it! Definitely a must read, excitement, joy and lots of drama throughout this book, lots of action packed scenes, that you won't forget, so don't miss this book, it's great?
This was absolutely incredible, loved it! Definitely a must read, excitement, joy and lots of drama throughout this book, lots of action packed scenes, that you won't forget, so don't miss this book, it's great?
October 27, 2020
A good western
There were a number of surprises in this story. Not the usual cliche western. Except for Becky.
I'd like to see more stories on Zeke on his new journey.
There were a number of surprises in this story. Not the usual cliche western. Except for Becky.
I'd like to see more stories on Zeke on his new journey.
September 18, 2022
Bad brain, good heart
Ol' Zeke had me pulling my hair out with his ignorance of people and life experiences, but all turned out well because of his good heart. Great read!
Ol' Zeke had me pulling my hair out with his ignorance of people and life experiences, but all turned out well because of his good heart. Great read!
February 13, 2023
Young man forced to grow up fast!
Reasonably good story. Zeke’s father was unarmed and killed by an outlaw while he defended Zeke’s honor in a restaurant. Zeke is his 18 year old son (with a limp caused by an injury to his knee.) His grandpa, a U S Marshall, comes to bring the outlaw to justice. I didn’t like how demeaning the grandpa was even if he was a good Marshall. I guess the author had to show how young and unprepared the young man was. He sure made a lot of mistakes in every situation. I hope he improves a lot in the next book. Sometimes the story was a bit slow but he finally succeeded in the end.
Reasonably good story. Zeke’s father was unarmed and killed by an outlaw while he defended Zeke’s honor in a restaurant. Zeke is his 18 year old son (with a limp caused by an injury to his knee.) His grandpa, a U S Marshall, comes to bring the outlaw to justice. I didn’t like how demeaning the grandpa was even if he was a good Marshall. I guess the author had to show how young and unprepared the young man was. He sure made a lot of mistakes in every situation. I hope he improves a lot in the next book. Sometimes the story was a bit slow but he finally succeeded in the end.
March 17, 2026
I thought about putting this book down several times but decided to finish it hoping it would get better...it didn't. The main character is like a lot of people today, always worrying about himself, should I do this or should I do that, what would someone else do, it was sickening at times even though he was being helped by others and given all kinds of advice he rarely if ever took it to heart. He remained a wuss until maybe 7 pages left in the book and then he's the hero. Pretty lame.
July 29, 2025
Author took God's name in vain. Returning it unread.
John Alexander took God's name in vain. I don't finish reading the book of any author who does this. Very offensive.
John Alexander took God's name in vain. I don't finish reading the book of any author who does this. Very offensive.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews