The Law at Miles City

by Wayne D. Overholser

Dave Harmon turns his reputation as a troublemaker into a job as a lawman when he accepts the position of town marshal for Miles City and finds himself taking on one of the town's leading businessmen and his army of thugs, who threaten anyone who stands against them. Reprint.

Genres: Westerns

Paperback

First published July 2, 2004

About the author

Wayne D. Overholser (born September 4, 1906 in Pomeroy, Washington; died August 27, 1996 in Boulder, Colorado) was an American Western writer.

Overholser won the 1953 First Spur Award for best novel for Lawman using the pseudonym Lee Leighton. In 1955 he won the 1954 (second) Spur Award for The Violent Land. He also used the pseudonyms John S. Daniels, Dan J. Stevens and Joseph Wayne.

Reviews

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A WDO. Western Adventure/Marshal/Warned and Challenged

WDO. has.penned a western adventure about a wandering western man who arrives in Miles City with pocket money, but no hope of a job. The man has hidden the facts about his experiences as a gunman. He is hired as the town marshal and warned at the same time that the troublesome element of Miles City plans to take over the town.The Marshal used his expertise for range riding and bounty hunting to fill the requirements of the job. This is a good read for the genre.....DEHS

[David Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I thought it didn't have as much energy as some of Overholer's other westerns, this was a solid read and a good western. It focuses around the standard lawman-taming-town story so common in westerns, with a drifter that has some law experience stepping into the job. He faces off against average criminals, corrupt local businessmen, gamblers, and rustlers. It's not hugely memorable, and the major villains could've used a little more background development, but it's enjoyable entertainment and fits the genre.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good story about a man who became Marshal, his exploits of keeping peace in the town.

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Verdict: A short one-evening read, Miles City is about a lawman who has to navigate his way through some local big shots, hookers, and gamblers in a law vs justice commentary that is forgettable and stereotypical.

Jeff's Rating: 2 / 5 (Okay)
movie rating if made into a movie: R

[Jeff Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and engaging story. Story moved along well enough that I could read it in one setting.