Blood and Gold: The Legend of Joaquin Murrieta

by Jeffrey J. Mariotte, Peter Murrieta

Gold Camps of California-1850s

When Joaquin Murrieta's older brother and cousin head for the riches of the California gold fields, he cannot resist the restless desire to follow. In a bold move, he convinces Rosita, the young woman he loves, to run away with him under cover of darkness. They follow the irresistible lure of the future they might grasp for their own in America, the land of dreams.

Instead, they face deep prejudice and explosive violence that leads to unspeakable tragedy, and forces Joaquin to set his sights on being a leader of men-becoming a legend, in the process. To make a place for himself and his people, he strikes back at the whites and the devastating, perpetual hatred they feel toward the Mexicans. Determined not to fail, to carve out a place in this vast land for himself and his followers, Joaquin Murrieta fights back with a stubborn will that is sure to win all...

But can he succeed? With his band of outlaws-and then, an army of patriots-he is determined to drive the Americans from the land that had so recently belonged to his beloved Mexico. It seems an almost unattainable achievement to some, but Joaquin cannot consider failure in this obsession.

With Joaquin's brother murdered, and his band of renegades on the run, they must make their final stand and face Murrieta's evil nemesis-cruel California Ranger Harry Love-who has been given carte blanche to do whatever it takes to kill Murrieta and drive his followers out of California for good. As the battle rages in a final showdown between Love and Murrieta, it's kill or be killed

Only one of them can walk away from BLOOD AND GOLD...

614 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2021

About the author

Also writes as Jeff Mariotte

Jeffrey J. Mariotte is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 70 novels, including the Cody Cavanaugh western series, historical western epic Blood and Gold: The Legend of Joaquin Murrieta (with Peter Murrieta), thrillers Empty Rooms and The Devil's Bait, supernatural thrillers Season of the Wolf, Missing White Girl, River Runs Red, and Cold Black Hearts, horror epic The Slab, and the Dark Vengeance teen horror quartet. With wife and writing partner Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell, he wrote the sf/horror/thriller 7 SYKOS and Mafia III: Plain of Jars, the authorized prequel to the bestselling video game. His most recent release is the short story collection Byrd's Luck & Other Stories, comprising five "traditional" Western tales and five horror-Western stories, two of them brand-new for this edition.

He also writes occasional nonfiction, short fiction (some of which is collected in Nine Frights), and comic books, including the long-running horror/Western comic book series Desperadoes and graphic novels Fade to Black and Zombie Cop. With Marsheila Rockwell, he has published several short stories and is working on more. He has worked in virtually every aspect of the book business, as a writer, editor, marketing executive, and bookseller.

Learn more at www.jeffmariotte.com, and follow him at https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyJMari... and @JeffMariotte on Twitter.

Also writes as Jeff Mariotte

Reviews

[Lisab_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a lot to unpack. It’s brilliantly written and nonstop action. It is not my typical genre and I was hesitant to give it a go. I fell in love with Joaquin Murrieta from the first chapter and was rooting for him throughout his journey. This story is intense, violent, and TW for rape and racism. As much as I wanted to throw the book out of anger or grief at times, I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend for anyone who loves some historical fiction mixed with legend. Give it a try even if it’s out of your genre preference. You may be surprised! Epic.

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

🏜️ This book is epic in scope and size. Over 600 pages, it is based on a true story of 1850s California. A man’s simple and romantic world takes a tragic turn and, in seeking vengeance, he enters into the life of an outlaw or bandito. The story builds from there and is violently told, though no more violent than what many watch on TV or at the cinemas. It is well-written, there is always something about to happen next, but you could well nickname the book There Will Be Blood. Not for the faint of heart but an important tale nonetheless with a surprise ending.

[Ernest Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The legend of Joaquin Murrieta is the origin story of the Chicano identity. Before that there were just Mexicans and Americans. This novel crystalizes it for the 21st century, in a way that will satisfy both aficionados of gory shoot'em ups, and scholars of ethnic studies and California history. Going beyond the simple revenge story, it shows how being a messianic folks hero leads to a bloody sacrifice. And still, it somehow manages to pull off a happy ending. Amazing.

[Denise Delocos · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books. :) Great story.

[Andrew McBride · Rating 4 out of 5]

JOAQUIN MURRIETA has long fascinated me, so I was waiting for a novel tying his story together. JEFFREY MARIOTTE has provided one and makes a fine job of it. Murrieta was a Mexican bandit whose gangs raided in California in the gold rush era of the early 1850s. Mariotte makes no claims to tell ‘the whole truth’ about him. Doing so is clearly impossible as Murrieta’s life (and death) is shrouded in controversy and legend, but Mariotte probably gets as close as anyone can. He writes (with the help of Murrieta’s descendant PETER who provides background information) a pacey, entertaining tale full of action and colour. For me, though, the best part is the characterisation, particularly of Murrieta. He’s a complex, conflicted young man, sometimes aspiring to be a latter-day ‘Robin Hood’ or the liberator of all oppressed Mexicans in California. But at other times he’s simply a ruthless killer. Mariotte has won acclaim and awards writing across genres and in varying formats. He’s relatively new at the western, but has definitely hit the ground running!

[Drtaxsacto · Rating 5 out of 5]

a well told story

Mariotte and his collaborator weave an excellent story around a mythic figure in the California Gold Rush. Murrieta was a mix folk hero and brutal bandit. This is a fun read.

[Rachel Faulk · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. An entertaining read, if a bit long at 600 pages. Joaquin Murrieta is a fascinating character and I enjoyed this retelling of his legend.