FICTION

Buffalo Trail: A Novel of the American West

by Jeff Guinn
Putnam. Oct. 2015. 432p. ISBN 9780399165429. $27; ebk. ISBN 9781101623244. F
COPY ISBN
Cash McLendon, a tenderfoot unfamiliar with guns and horses who had headed out West in Glorious, returns a bit more experienced, though he's not yet a crack shot or an accomplished cowboy. Still he joins a buffalo-hunting party heading from Dodge City, KS, to the Texas Panhandle. Unfortunately, this is Indian territory, and the native Comanche, Cheyenne, and Kiowa plan an attack on the whites encroaching on their lands. The two groups collide in the Second Battle of Adobe Walls, fought on June 27, 1874. Full of historical notable figures from the Old West, this second volume in Guinn's trilogy not only provides a buoyant narrative but also several lessons in Western history. This title is so well constructed that it could stand alone (for readers new to the trilogy).
VERDICT Those interested in the conflicts between Native Americans and the frontiersmen will be intrigued with both sides of the story presented here. However, the graphic violence detailed may deter some readers. Guinn skillfully ties his carefully constructed prolog outlining the Massacre at Sand Creek (1864) to a lone female warrior he imagines at the Second Battle at Adobe Walls. [See Prepub Alert, 4/27/15.]
Reviewed by Wendy W. Paige, Shelby Cty. P.L., Morristown, IN , Sep 01, 2015
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

FICTION

Until Our Time Comes: A Novel of World War II Poland
by Miller, Nicole M
FICTION

Her Part To Play
by Erlingsson, Jenny
FICTION

The Song of Sourwood Mountain
by Gabhart, Ann H
FICTION

A Run at Love
by Shiloh, Toni
FICTION

Meet Me at the Starlight
by Hauck, Rachel
FICTION

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend
by Wassmer, MJ
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?