“Nelson, arguably the best thing ever to have come out of the Lone Star State, gives a tip of the hat to fellow Texan Larry McMurtry with his debut novel.” —Kirkus Reviews

Retired Texas Ranger Captain Hank Tomlinson intends to spend the rest of his days raising cattle on his Broken Arrow Ranch, and nurturing his frontier town of Luck, Texas. But when the brutal murder and scalping of a mysterious drifter leads to a clash between cavalry soldiers and a band of Comanches suspected of the killing, a full-scale uprising seems likely. Worse yet, the murder of the drifter bears a disturbing resemblance to a string of killings Hank remembers from his distant and violent past as a Texas Ranger.

Meanwhile, Hank's twenty-year-old son and his adoptive brother find themselves on the trail of a valuable Kentucky mare who vanished under their watch. The trail leads them into the dangerous haunts of outlaws and vengeful Comanche warriors. Now Hank must attempt to keep his sons safe while trying to catch a murderer who he knows will soon strike again. His ace-in-the-hole is beautiful Flora Barlow, the tavern owner with a knack for detective work.

Though a rival lawman and a competing rancher complicate Hank's investigation, he and Flora slowly begin to uncover a crooked web of crime, deception, and murder. Dark secrets emerge, and everyone must choose sides as lawmen, outlaws, soldiers, and Comanche warriors converge for a final, bloody confrontation.

“Willie Nelson and Mike Blakely . . . lead us along paths that no other western I've read has taken . . . an entertainingly spun tale.” —Blogcritics