Synopses & Reviews
Punctuated by gunshots and hoof beats, this engaging collection presents six biographies of hardened lawmen in Old California. Illustrating the dangerous lives of these brave enforcers, this historical study documents how Sheriff Hiram Rapelje rose to the heights and fell to the depths of his profession, while Detective Emil Harris earned a statewide reputation. From William J. Howard's role in tracking down the infamous bandit, Joaquin Murrieta, to those who were killed gun fighting in the line of duty, this vivid depiction sheds a fascinating light on a number of colorful personalities within a forgotten era.
Review
"A remarkable look at some of the most noted, but now forgotten, lawmen of the California frontier. Once again Bill Secrest has aimed straight and hit the bullseye." John Boessenecker, author, Gold Dust and Gunsmoke
Review
"In Showdown! Secrest has rescued a number of nineteenth-century California lawmen from an undeserved obscurity while providing the stories of their times as a backdrop for their truly amazing feats." Kevin J. Mullen, author, Chinatown Squad
Review
"William B. Secrest is the dean of California's Old West historians. Showdown features six officers who aren't well remembered today . . . Secrest tells their stories honestly; several had dark sides." True West
Review
""Punctuated by gunshots and hoof beats, this engaging collection . . . [and] vivid depiction sheds a fascinating light on a number of colorful personalities within a forgotten era."" --""Independent Publisher""
About the Author
William B. Secrest is a former art director for an advertising firm. He has written for the American West, Montana, True West, and Westways. He is the author of California Desperadoes; Perilous Trails, Dangerous Men; and When the Great Spirit Died. He lives in Fresno, California.