Murphy's Trail

Murphy #7

by Gary Paulsen, Brian Burks

Sheriff Al Murphy had no jurisdiction in the Arizona Territory, but that didn't matter because Risa Villabisencio needed his help. Many years ago Risa and her husband, Santiago, had taken in the wounded sheriff and nursed him, saving his life.
Santiago was a lawyer and a leader of the small Mexican community in San Patricio and the surrounding area; he had even tried to enlist the aid of the governor when justice was not forthcoming from the local law. A few weeks ago Santiago and his two sons had been waylaid as they headed to see the U.S. marshal in Vera Cruz to report that cattleman Ben King had murdered two Mexican goatherders. Santiago never reached Tucson. His buggy was found, with blood on the seat. There was no sign of Santiago or his sons.
Murphy retraced Santiago's trail, following every possible lead. It was almost futile for one man to go up against King and his men, but Murphy found that help sometimes came when he least expected it and from the most unlikely of allies.

137 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

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]

Murphy’s Trail is the seventh and final volume in Gary Paulsen’s excellent western series. Paulsen’s ends the saga with an action-filled epic adventure that sees Murphy convicted of murder and traveling through Arizona to find some missing friends. As in previous books, Murphy acquires comic sidekicks, this time in the form of a clever but not too ethical young lad and a giant miner who likes to fight.
The Murphy series is excellent (and I’m not a fan of westerns but I’m a big fan of author Gary Paulsen).
Highly recommended.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. With its good characterizations and theme of racial discrimination, it would make a good movie; but in the 35 years since it was written, the characters may seem too "stock" for the current audience.

[SFrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fantastic! Gary Paulsen and Brian Burks wrote about the west as I imagined it was.