Americas
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Follow Me to Hell: McNelly's Texas Rangers and the Rise of Frontier Justice
Tom Clavin's Follow Me to Hell is the explosive true story of how legendary Ranger Leander McNelly and his men brought justice to a lawless Texan frontier.
In turbulent 1870s Texas, the revered and fearless Ranger Leander McNelly led his men in one dramatic campaign after another, throwing cattle thieves, desperadoes, border ruffians, and other dangerous criminals into jail or, if that's how they wanted it, six feet under. They would stop at nothing in pursuit of justice, even sending 26 Rangers across the border to retrieve stolen cattle―taking on hundreds of Mexican troops with nothing but their Sharps rifles and six-guns. The nation came to call them "McNelly's Rangers."
Set against the backdrop of 200 years of thrilling Texas Rangers history, this page-turner takes readers into the tough life along the Texas border that was tamed by a courageous, yet doomed, captain and his team of fearless men.
It was one hell of a ride!
In turbulent 1870s Texas, the revered and fearless Ranger Leander McNelly led his men in one dramatic campaign after another, throwing cattle thieves, desperadoes, border ruffians, and other dangerous criminals into jail or, if that's how they wanted it, six feet under. They would stop at nothing in pursuit of justice, even sending 26 Rangers across the border to retrieve stolen cattle―taking on hundreds of Mexican troops with nothing but their Sharps rifles and six-guns. The nation came to call them "McNelly's Rangers."
Set against the backdrop of 200 years of thrilling Texas Rangers history, this page-turner takes readers into the tough life along the Texas border that was tamed by a courageous, yet doomed, captain and his team of fearless men.
It was one hell of a ride!
Editorial Reviews
Praise for Tom Clavin:
"Clavin knows Western history ... [he] tells a good story." ―Library Journal on Follow Me to Hell
"A rollicking tale of a Texas lawman and the iron-jawed contingent that rode with him...Fans of the Wild West and its pistol-packin' miscreants will enjoy Clavin's latest." ―Kirkus Reviews on Follow Me to Hell
"‘Lightning Down' has an overarching positivity and celebration of resilience." ―AP News
"Absorbing...Fun and revealing." ―The Wall Street Journal on Dodge City
"Clavin tacks up the truth like wanted posters in every chapter." ―The New York Times Book Review on Wild Bill
"Breezy narrative style...fascinating lore." ―NPR on Tombstone
"Clavin knows Western history ... [he] tells a good story." ―Library Journal on Follow Me to Hell
"A rollicking tale of a Texas lawman and the iron-jawed contingent that rode with him...Fans of the Wild West and its pistol-packin' miscreants will enjoy Clavin's latest." ―Kirkus Reviews on Follow Me to Hell
"‘Lightning Down' has an overarching positivity and celebration of resilience." ―AP News
"Absorbing...Fun and revealing." ―The Wall Street Journal on Dodge City
"Clavin tacks up the truth like wanted posters in every chapter." ―The New York Times Book Review on Wild Bill
"Breezy narrative style...fascinating lore." ―NPR on Tombstone
Readers Top Reviews
Casey Wheeler
This book is a billed as a biography of Leander McNelly and his role in the Texas Rangers. It is actually more of a history of the Rangers with McNelly mixed in until the final few chapters that focus almost entirely on him. Funding was always a problem for the Rangers and on a number of occasions they were disbanded and reformed as State Police or Militia and then later reformed again as Rangers. McNelly was an interesting and colorful personality that helps make this an engaging and interesting read. I recommend this book for anyone with an interest in the history of the west.
P. GoldenCasey Wh
This is an entertaining, very readable, story of Texas and the Rangers that kept order - and occasionally disorder - along the frontiers. It is more than just a profile of the Ranger in the book’s subtitle. The book traces the origins of the land that became Texas in very digestible chapters full of colorful characters and incidents. The book is peppered with chapter end-notes that expand on topics raised in that section. Overall a very entertaining book about what is arguably the most larger-than-life state in the Union and the characters that made it that way.
Frozen_LizardFroz
Follow Me to Hell: McNelly's Texas Rangers and the Rise of Frontier Justice by Tom Calvin is a great read. It gives a nice extended introduction to the origins of the Texas Rangers on its way to exploring the life and times of Leander McNelly who became a Texas legend during his own lifetime. Actually I had never heard of McNelly or his Rangers prior to picking up this book but having read one of the author's previous works, the excellent biography Wild Bill: The True Story of the American Frontier’s First Gunfighter, I decided to take a look. I found it to be an interesting story written in a highly readable fashion (To quote something my niece once said, "For a history book it's not boring at all"). Informative without being overly academic in style. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended for any fan of Old West history.
