Murphy's War

Murphy #4

by Gary Paulsen

When the lawless inhabitants of Fletcher, Wyoming, lynch a powerful Texan's son, Sheriff Al Murphy takes on the power-hungry feed store owner and his rowdy hired hands

152 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Gary James Paulsen was an American writer of children's and young adult fiction, best known for coming-of-age stories about the wilderness. He was the author of more than 200 books and wrote more than 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, all primarily for teenagers. He won the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1997 for his lifetime contribution in writing for teens.

Reviews

[Tim Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if Gary Paulsen never wrote a single young adult reader’s book I think he would have been remembered for his outstanding Western series about Al Murphy.
Rarely have I read a western series where the hero has real human faults and gets injured most every book. Set in a tawdry and unappealing old west, Murphy does his best to live by his code and make his way as a lawman. Murphy’s War shows Murphy at his lowest point, succumbing to drink as he mourns the loss of his partner. This book is enlivened by the addition of a puppy and a British artist, both providing comic relief to an often grim tale.
I love this series and wish it was back in print.
Highly recommended.

[SFrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paulsen does a great job with this entire 7 book series about the West.