Hard Country is the first of a trilogy on the history of a family, a state and, to some extent, the nation. The family is that of McGarrity's main protagonist of his books, Kevin Kearney. Hard Country is very aptly named. The book covers the era from about 1870 to the first world war. It's how the family settles in New Mexico territory and how back-breaking life was in the Southwest in the late 19th century. This is the story of how people lived, fought and died in a very hard country - a country that either made you or broke you. The characters are fascinating - neither saints nor sinners and usually a combination of both. This is an amazing book and I am looking forward to reading the sequels.