Review of Outlaws, Renegades, and Prickly Pear Jam

[Bertha Jackson]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Outlaws, Renegades, and Prickly Pear Jam" by Jerry Bustin.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Outlaws, Renegades, and Prickly Pear Jam: Clayton Banner, Arizona Ranger by Jerry Bustin is a historical-fiction novel about U.S. Federal Marshal Clayton (Clay) Banner's fight against outlaws and renegades in southeastern Arizona. Clay's position was also an opportunity for Clay to find the outlaws who murdered his first wife and son. The only clue he had was a broken piece of a turquoise and silver concho he found in his dead wife's hand. He joins forces with his blood brother, Eagle Feather, to make the territory safer and free of corruption. They not only have to fight Paiutes, Arapahos, Hopis, and Mexican Banditos but also town deputies. Are they successful in bringing peace to the Arizona territory? At what price does peace come? Does Clay find the murderers of his first family? What is Prickly Pear Jam?

Jerry Bustin did a fantastic job describing the demographics in this book. I could easily visualize the blooming desert cactus and rivers surrounded by weeping willows, aspens, and cottonwood trees. I could easily see the footprints showing a hole in the bottom of a shoe and a body stuffed into a privy. All the characters in this novel are fully developed. I could feel Molly's insecurities when Clay left town after their daughter was born. Life during this time was dangerous, and death was just around every corner. It was common for children to be kidnapped and raised by Native Americans. I appreciate the author showing that although the Native Americans were people to be feared, many were friendly and helped keep the country safe.

The lack of professional editing is the only negative aspect of this book. The book has a fast-paced and smooth-flowing plot, but my reading was distracted by the many errors that a professional editor would have found.

The errors are the only reason this exciting book did not receive the full rating. The lack of professional editing gave me no choice but to give it 3 out of 4 stars. There was no reason to give it fewer stars because there were no other negative aspects.

Mature readers who enjoy reading westerns about the history of the Arizona territory are the ones I recommend this book to. Sensitive readers need to be aware there is religious, gory, and non-descriptive sexual content and non-borderline profanity in this book. Although the characters say prayers and believe in God, the spiritual content is minimal and general in context, and I do not think most readers will be offended by it.

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Outlaws, Renegades, and Prickly Pear Jam
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[Okoye Chinonso+]

What a heartfelt book. Witnessing your first family die would have really been traumatising, yet he wasn't swallowed by grief, nor was his judgment clouded with revenge.
Thanks for the review, it was great.

[Ifesi]

What an interesting story. Thanks for an honest review.

[Itz Savaga]

It's good that Clayton made his territory corrupt free, because corruption is one of the things that could bring downfall to a person or an organization, I would love to read this book to find out if Clayton and his brother found out the person who murdered his first wife and if he maintained the corrupt free territory. Great review.

[Christopherio]

historical fiction is not really my thing but it has an interesting story. thanks for the review.

[Uwe Neufeld]

I have read true stories of the Wild West and it struck the sense of justice of the ordinary settler. They took theire rifles and out they went to hunt the robbers. So why wouldn't the indians help to fight the outlaws?
Nice review!