The Eyes of Texas

By: William W. Johnstone, J. A. Johnstone

Narrated by: Jack Garrett

Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

Shady Rest, Texas, has the dubious reputation for being the deadliest town in America. Getting yourself killed is as easy as blinking and twice as quick. Sure enough, Matt Jensen hasn't swallowed his whisky before the town's marshal is gunned down.

©2013 William W. Johnstone (P)2013 Recorded Books

Too Blood-Thirsty

Killing is a given in any "shoot'em up" western, but it was overdone in this one, in my opinion. Too much rape and murder.

Matt Jenson, the invincible hero, came to the rescue of a town who needed one.

There were so many characters it was hard to keep up with who was who, as the story switched from one town to the next, one set of characters to the next.

There didn't seem to be much depth to the story, I could not really get into it.

On a positive note, the narrator did a good job, although many of the characters sounded alike, he would distinguish the one speaking. He could have done better with the voices, had he fewer characters to portray.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Cowboy book

Okay as a story ..plain simple simpley
written. Nice relaxing no brainer story about a do go over gunslinger who does his job, gets rewards gets the girl disses the girl

Shady Rest, Pecos, Texas, Tails Of The Old West And Matt Jesen.

I have read or listened to Audible versions of many of The Johnstone Brothers Books. You don't have to start at the first book to keep up with them and their storires. They usually cover different time frames and one or any Jensen Family members. The Head of This Family was once a Mountain name Smoke Jensen. He has settledown and owns a large cattle ranch in Big Rock, Colorado. Smoke found this boy years back, alone no one around so he brought him home with him. He raised him as his own and named him Matt Jensen. He saw potential in him, so he became his mentor. He taught him everything he knew, How to shoot, fast, accurate, ride, heard cattle and many survival skills. When reached adulthood he became a Army Scout. Now that the War was over, him not wanting to be a rancher, or settle down, he drifted, took on several different type of jobs, but always got restless. When he got that feeling he took to the trails to see what was over the next hill. In this story he was on his way home for a short visit when he stopped in Trinidad, Colorado. He picked up some gifts for a close friend Amon and his wife. When he arrived he heard cries coming from the house as he called out. Entering he found Amon lying on the floor shot up pretty bad. He checked his wife, but it was too late. She had been stripped, raped and murdered. Returning his friend realizing he was dying held on until he told Matt his story and described the two men in detail. Matt assured him he would find them and make them pay, but when he looked at Amon he realized He had taken his last breath. He covered them, saw tracks, went into town to report to the Sherriff, then stocked up and started out. He found them, killed one and returned the other to the Sherriff. He was to hang in the morning, but early AM, his brother sprang him and they rode off incognito slowly out of town. Later Matt tried to locate tracks to follow, but unable to find any it upset him. He was a patient man and knew sooner or later he would run into him, so he and Spirit his horse, boarded a train and continued to BIg Rock to visit Smoke. After a time he became restless, thanked them, said his goodbyes, went to town, reasupplied and they hit the trail with no particular destination in sight. As the story continues, you have the usual western occurrences, banks, stage coache robberies, gun fights, and the likes. This story switches between two towns, Shady Rest and Pecos, Texas. There are too many characters to keep track of names. Just the same the Johnstone Brothers do a great job of keeping you interested and wondering what will happen next. Think about it, there is only so much you can write about the Old West, you have to be repetitive. I think they write fantastic real to the Old West stories and I either read or listen to all I see. Jack Garrett is a excellent Narrator. I have read some that say he sounds the same for different characters. He has a hard job having to change his voice to fit the characters, but I can overlook this small flaw, but like I say he does a great job. I recommend this book to teens and above due to the violence. Happy Trails. I'm off to find another I haven't read yet.

Eyes of Texas

Would you consider the audio edition of The Eyes of Texas to be better than the print version?

yes I do not like to read and do not have time but I listen on the way to work and home and when on the road and while I am repair Kayaks as that is my business.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Matt Jensen

What does Jack Garrett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

he is the best

If you could take any character from The Eyes of Texas out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Matt Jensen

These are the best books!!!!!

If you could sum up The Eyes of Texas in three words, what would they be?

Just another all out GREAT story from Johnstone!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Eyes of Texas?

Every part for me was great - Never boring!!1

What about Jack Garrett’s performance did you like?

Love this man, in fact I look forward to his narrations!