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Outlaws ran wild in Apache County, Arizona Territory, until the day a long-haired, straight-shooting cowboy with the unlikely name of Commodore Perry Owens pinned on the sheriff's badge and set out to rid the county of lawlessness. Owens would need every bit of his gun skill just to stay alive as he cleaned up the territory! Acclaimed Western author Chuck Tyrell brings the illustrious career of Commodore Perry Owens to vivid life in THE SHERIFF, the latest entry in the West of the Big River series from Western Fictioneers. An action-packed blend of history and fiction, this novel is a compelling portrait of a brave man in a time and place that have become legendary. It's excitement all the way in this new West of the Big River saga!

156 pages, Paperback

Published December 5, 2014

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Chuck Tyrell

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for Louie the Mustache Matos.
1,427 reviews142 followers
June 21, 2023
The Sheriff by Chuck Tyrell is the last novel in the West of the Big River Box Set, a collection from the Western Fictioneers group, that takes historical figures from the Old West and writes fictionalized accounts of their stories.

The Sheriff is about Commodore Perry Owens, also known as CP Owens, a no-nonsense lawman that did not drink or smoke or brag about his accomplishments. Consequently, because he did not brag about his accomplishments, nor did he have an official biographer, there is little known about CP Owens aside from the legendary stories shared in aggregate along with mythic exaggerations that helped perpetuate the long tales.

The story is communicated as CP’s own words via an interview with a reporter in a “as told to in his own words” narrative device. The novel is prototypical of the making of a legend, and the hero's journey, capitalizing on tropes that are reflective of the western genre. This is a strong addition to the set and a great way to bookend the series.
Profile Image for Charles  van Buren.
1,911 reviews307 followers
September 2, 2019
WEST OF THE BIG RIVER
THE SHERIFF Chuck Tyrell
This is at least one of the top three novels in the eight book set, WEST OF THE BIG RIVER. It is a well researched story of legendary Arizona lawman, Commodore Perry Owens whose father was Oliver H. Perry Owens, named for a famous U. S. Naval officer. Owens mother came up with the name Commodore Perry for their son. Throughout this book Owens is called CP.

The story is told through the device of a young reporter interviewing Owens who relates stories from his career. Owens doesn't brag, he just tells things as they happened. One of the things he tells is why he wore shoulder length hair when he was a young man. If any Indian could take his scalp, he would take home a fine trophy.

Good novel based on the life of an interesting western character. The Owens in this book didn't drink or smoke and seldom cursed. Accurate with his revolvers using either hand and a dead shot with a rifle, the Owens in this novel practiced two hours a day. Few of us bring that kind of dedication and work ethic to the table. Just for the record, I don't believe that the Model 1876 Winchester was available in .44-40.
1,290 reviews3 followers
April 13, 2022
A fine book, but one written for a much younger audience. I didn't realize it was part of a series. It's really apparent how attitudes have changed.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews

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