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U.S. Marshal Shorty Thompson #12

When Preaching Is Hell

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R.B. Handlin, a young preacher from Boston, goes west in 1882. He finds his inherited ranch taken over by outlaws. His church is burned and he is sent to prison for murder. Once released, he goes against everything he ever believed in, straps on a .45 and uses it just to preach in Prescott, Arizona.

264 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2006

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About the author

Paul L. Thompson

581 books33 followers
Paul L. Thompson is an American author of Western novels. He was born and raised on a ranch in New Mexico. His work is deeply rooted in his personal experience as a cowboy, often featuring real geographical locations and historical details from the American Southwest between 1870 and 1912.

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5 stars
524 (65%)
4 stars
204 (25%)
3 stars
51 (6%)
2 stars
17 (2%)
1 star
7 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Martha Peebles.
903 reviews10 followers
August 4, 2022
U. S. Marshall Shorty Thompson

Another great read about Shorty. I really enjoy reading these books. They are hard to lay down as you want to see what happens next. Thank you Paul L. Thompson for a great read.
150 reviews1 follower
December 5, 2022
The bank job!!

It was an OK story. For being a Shorty Thompson Western, the book didn't have enough to do with or be about Shorty. I've read better Shorty books and I'm sure there will be many more. Now on to the next book of the series.
61 reviews1 follower
January 12, 2024
What a fantastic story

I'm really impressed that this author is able to write such thrilling stories and keep the reader glued to the story till the end. Looking forward to the next story!!
69 reviews1 follower
July 14, 2023
Believe in the Lord

Mr Thompson, this book was very good only proving that the Lord's protects the good. Thank you for your good works.
3,795 reviews18 followers
November 5, 2024
Brilliant storyline!

What a great story this was! I loved the twists and turns that lead to a very good ending! Lot's of intriguing things happen in this book!
1,249 reviews23 followers
June 28, 2017
HELL IS WHERE YOU MAKE IT

A good read, loaded with the routine back shooters, ranch grabbers. You know the usual take what isn't theirs and murder the owners entire family. The law is shorthanded or they are in the back pockets of these tyrants. A brother is shoot in back by a dirty banker who is also a twin. The twin HL is the true owner of the bank. His twin brother Robert, was written out of the family will due his gambling and other lowdown antics took over his brother's bank and other assets pretending to be HL. This adventure has you read so far has a lot of action and retribution.
EVERYONE have a seat and enjoy the action, twists and turns that occur in Prescott, Arizona as Shorty Thompson, U. S. Marshal and Sheriff Martin fight another bullying land grabbing network of Bad Boys.
1,410 reviews13 followers
October 13, 2017
It continues to amaze me just how well Mr. Paul Thompson can consistently write so many fascinating stories of our old west, never duplicating any of his stories. Excellent Author: Excellent series of novels.

Very well deserving of the five stars and probably deserves more. I have almost become possessed with the U. S. Marshal Shorty Thompson series, and as I have stated previously; these stories are completely competitively with Mr. C. J. Box and the Joe Pickett series. This storyline, to me, was completely different than any of the other books, and the characters, other than Marshal Thompson, could not have been cast any differently. I reached the point where I could not put the book down until I had completed the final paragraph. Recommend this book? You bet your life I do. Do not read it and the loss will be yours.
424 reviews2 followers
June 16, 2017
Identical twins are hard to tell apart

When a nice banker turns into a greedy sumbitch do you even wonder why? When land owners start turning up dead to you wonder who killed them? Do you just blame it on the indians.
Will Prescott be over run by evil or will good prevail?
Paul L. Thompson writes about actual places with an interesting twist. Sometimes funny, sometimes deadly serious makes for great Western reading.
Profile Image for Martha Peebles.
903 reviews10 followers
June 15, 2017
U. S. Marshall Shorty Thompson

What a great read. I really enjoy reading these books on U. S. Marshall Shorty Thompson. It is so hard to put these books down. You just keep turning the page to see what is happening next. Lots of action in theses books. Thank you for a great read.
164 reviews1 follower
July 16, 2019
Phew it's a long read.

I didn't think this story would ever end. It was good. But very very long. It's about gold and greed.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews