The Long Dusty Trail: The Beginning, Book 1

By: Mel Adkins

Narrated by: John Stamper

As the great migration of men and cattle headed west to new untamed lands in the 1880s, one man stood tall. Jimmy Highsaw was honest as the day is long - cross him and hell was at hand. Leaving his job as trail scout for John Chisum, Jim rode to Durango to visit his sister, and fell headlong into a plot to bring a herd of the new breed of Hereford cattle from Kansas City to Durango Colorado. A long dusty trail filled with romance, gun smoke, hardship, and death.

©2012 Melvin L Adkins (P)2014 Mel Adkins

Great listen, More More More

Really good story. Could not stop listening. Left me really looking to books 2 and 3

Meh

Narrator a bit bland. Story far fetched but I listened to all of it. Won't listen to rest of series .

Terrible narrator

Story was good. But the narrator was the worst I've heard and took all the focus off the story. All I could think of the whole story was how good the book could be with a different narrator.

good western.

Enjoyed it. but, a weak ending. a bit too mushy and illogical.

Keep Looking

Would you try another book from Mel Adkins and/or John Stamper?

No

Would you ever listen to anything by Mel Adkins again?

No

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of John Stamper?

Mark Deakins

What character would you cut from The Long Dusty Trail: The Beginning, Book 1?

The miner and his granddaughter.

Any additional comments?

Mel Adkins writes the novel as if it's an introduction the the western genre, which is unfortunate because it's sure to drive away anyone looking to start reading westerns, as well as souring the experience for a seasoned western reader. The story line is all over the place, where just about every cliche western scenario is rehashed with no originality or contribution to the story. Limited detail on too many adventures that don't add to the main plot. Poor narrating skills, very monotone, the juvenile writing style leads to a harsh presentation of dialogue. Horrible editing with many repeated words or phrases.