Really enjoyed this one! I should have read it so much sooner! But I don’t regret it. This maybe a new obsession! I love the characters, plot, etc.

Follow me to hell is the story of the Texas Rangers and how well-known names brought justice and law to Texas. From Steve Austin‘s to John Bastrop, Sam Houston and others taming towns and cities in Texas and Louisiana, this is the story of the wild, wild west. Tom Clavin is obviously a western history buff and he tells all without sugar coating anything, Readers may find the going slow as the pages are brimming with authentic western history from Mexico to the Canuck Indian Village where natives are slaughtered after offering a hand in peace. The historical account of the famous Texas Rangers is intense, informative and entertaining if you enjoy the history of larger than life characters who tamed the wild West. Clavin does an excellent job of filling in the missing pieces and links. Highly recommended to history buffs.

A lot of history about Texas and Louisiana with some about the Canuck Indians which I had never heard of before. Stories about men joining the Rangers and some of their exploits, camping, and some of the people that they captured and looked for. I was expecting more and at times I felt let down maybe it was just me. The writing was good. And it did seem like it was well-researched.

I'm late to the review, but enjoyed this three act look at the context and origin of the Texas Rangers. Act I sets the stage by summarizing the first forty-five years of "Rangers" importance to Texas independence, statehood, and Civil War action. While each chapter is interesting and builds on the one before, it's a lot to remember as you move forward.

In Act II we're finally introduced to the title character and ushered off to Sibley, Baylor, Green, etc. While necessary to include details about the people and campaigns that influenced McNelly, I began to wonder if the book was properly titled. Getting caught up in the Gettysburg of the West, I completely forgot that I'm supposed to remember McNelly was part of the campaign.

Finally, the second half of the book turns again to the main subject and we're along for an impressive history of the people and places that made Texas dangerous in the 1870s. There's plenty of wild-west action, violence, cattle-rustling, and one unlikely man leading the charge to bring justice and order.

One detraction was that by the time we caught up with Capt. McNelly and his Rangers as teased in the Prologue, we'd forgotten how the book started.

I love a good non-fiction, especially about the old west. Maybe it’s because I live in Indian Territory, or maybe it’s because of the great stories I’ve read and was told growing up. This was just like that!

I really enjoyed this book. It’s exhaustive and at times exhausting, trying to keep up with all the names and all the characters, But I have a personal passion for this era and the author did a great job of informing and entertaining!

Best-selling author of history books Tom Clavin tells the exciting story of the Texas Rangers in his newest book, "Follow Me to Hell". These men were tough, but not like the Texas Rangers of today. Their leader was even tougher but not the stereotypical cowboy. They fought cattle rustlers, robbers, murderers, and others of the lawless tribes. Indians were everywhere, settlers came in unchecked, it was a wild time in Texas and they were the only thing between savagery and peace at times. Interesting book for all but of special interest to those who love the old west stories, tales from the early days of Texas, and cowboys. Well-written and extensively researched addition to the body of Texas history. Thanks to #NetGalley#FollowMetoHell for the opportunity to read and review this book.

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.

Saddle up for one heck of a ride along the border of Mexico and Texas in the 19th Century. Full of historical facts and stories peppered with colorful characters.

Many names will seem familiar and the author very kindly ties them all together. There are times when the amount of information is almost overwhelming. But you understand why the author feels it is important to the reader as you push through. It is worth it though as the author does a good job of setting the scene to help the reader prepare for when McNelly arrives as a Texas Ranger.

The groundwork really helps to understand the dynamics of what he and his peers were dealing with. The politics on both sides of the border, the personal struggles, the spying and double-crossing. And yet, this particular man kept to his personal morals and compass. Brave to the point of craziness at times, it is hard to comprehend men like this existed in our history. Other than Hollywood heroes in movies, we rarely encounter individuals like this our day to day. The loyalty he inspired is truly worth learning about. His actions, and those of a few others, changed the course of our nation’s history; not just Texas history.

I found this book picks up pace as you turn the pages and get absorbed into the time and places you are reading about. After I finished reading it, I find myself still thinking about it. It is an inspiring read about an incredible man. I have not previously read any of Mr. Clavin’s other books, but I know some of them will be in my future read pile.

Tom Clavin has a knack for writing history with verve and humor. Among present day writers of Western history he is my favorite. I have read others of his, and while they have been excellent, nothing tops his books about Dodge City and Tombstone. To those august tomes "Follow Me to Hell" must be added. What a fascinating and excellent book this is, and what a pleasure it was to read. If you are interested in the history of the American West, in this case particularly Texas, you will find this book to be absolutely enthralling. I did, and I most heartily recommend it.

I love westerns, especially when they are true and feature historical heroes like the Texas Rangers. No need to make up action and thrills when the real stories will do. I've read Tom Clavin's books before and he has done a great job again of letting history tell the story while entertaining and educating readers.

In 1870s Texas, Ranger Leander McNelly leads his men in one campaign after another as they try to bring law to the Texas frontier. This is the true story of how McNelly and his team "tamed" the frontier and made it safe for law-abiding citizens to live without fear in their every day life.

This is meant to be a story of Captain Leander McNelly of the Texas Rangers, however nearly half of the book was spent on early Texas history and how the Rangers came into being. That's not necessarily a bad thing as most of it was new to me and interesting, however for someone more familiar with Texas history it might be a let down. McNelly was an interesting character with a rich, though brief history as he died in his early thirties. His adventures were colorful and inspiring. Another negative was that much of the author's material was repeating the work of other historians. For someone familiar with McNelly and the Rangers, I doubt there is much new here, but for someone like me who unfamiliar with Texas history and in particular, Texas Ranger history, it is a good general source. But if you are looking for a more detailed history of Leander McNelly you might consider other sources. Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read this advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Although I do love a good book of history this one just was as dry as a cracker. The detailed history of the rangers and its leader was very thoroughly researched but so burning honestly. There was a lot of Texas history mainly to fill out the book and it all read like a textbook and I really had to push thru to finish it.

Thank you to netgalley and St. Martins Press for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A detailed history of the Texas Rangers from before the Republic of Texas until the retirement of Leander McNelly in 1877. The early chapters of the book cover the settlement of Texas by American immigrants and the battle for independence from Mexico. The latter chapters cover the role of McNelly's Rangers in dealing with criminals after the Indian threat had been eliminated.
The book tends to be a bit dry in places, but has much factual information. If you are a fan of Texas history, this book is for you.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Many are only familiar with the Texas Rangers from the show, "Walker Texas Ranger," (admittedly, that is where I started years ago), but there was so much more to them than that!

This fabulous book will take you through some of the early histories of the Texas Rangers, and the men who helped develop and solidify the position throughout the state. As it starts out, we are going to see a lot of familiar names, especially for those who live or have lived in Texas. Stephan Austin is just one that you are going to read about early on, as the fight for Texas Independence from Mexico is underway, and how the idea for the Texas Rangers came about.

Leander McNelly is one that truly embodied the Texas Ranger spirit. He drove his men hard, but he was fair, and the men under him were entirely loyal to him to the end. While they had some exciting exploits, they were determined to uphold the law, and make Texas a safer place for those who lived there.

This amazing book will take you through the wilds of Texas, and bring a true sense of what justice was like on the frontier. While lawlessness was a problem for a while, the Texas Rangers quickly proved to be an effective form of justice, one which still endures today.

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com in return for a fair review.
Author Tom Clavin is one of my favorites and can make anything interesting. He writes not only with intelligence, but humor and can convey historical information in a friendly, conversational tone. Follow Me to Hell details the history of the Texas Rangers during the 1800s and focuses on one particular leader, the legendary Captain Leander McNelly who served after the Civil War. With nerves of steel and a definite sense of right and wrong, McNelly led his men into all kinds of dangerous adventures--and they followed. Despite suffering from tuberculosis, McNelly took on one dangerous assignment after another...cattle rustling, trouble at the Mexican border, and outlaw robbers. He left no stone unturned and never waivered from his duty. They rode the Texas range, righting wrongs, putting the bad guys either in jail or the burial ground. Even when the U.S. Army refused to back him, he and his men went out on their own tracking down Mexican bandits across the border. Clavin brought the era to life and gave McNelly some long overdue credit for his bravery. Personally, I look forward to each new book that Tom Clavin writes and applaud his research and writing skills.

It was ok.
More of an historical account of how the Texas Rangers came into being.
Many encounters with lawless bandits, cattle rustlers and territorial battles between Mexico and Texas.

Follow me to hell is the rip rolling origin story of the Texas Rangers in how well-known names brought justice and the law to Texas. From Steve Austin‘s unwanted duty left to him by his father to John Bastrop, Sam Houston and many other names we know today as towns and cities in Texas and Louisiana. The author tells the good the bad and the ugly, This is a well researched well told story. It reads exactly like what it is a story straight out of the wild west and man was it wild. From Mexico‘s lackadaisical governing style From the Canuck Indian greeting visitors to their village only to be slaughtered to the stories that make you proud to be an American. It’s all in this book and I know I’ve said it before but what a great book it is. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical account of the making of the Texas rangers and will probably read this book again in the future. I can’t say enough great things about this book and all the stories I’ve had not heard before and that is always a plus because I am an avid reader of western history. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving the review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I so wanted to love this book, there is nothing better than a good ole Western tale, but unfortunately this is about the Texas Rangers, it is not a first person or second person depiction. It reads like a history book. This had so much potential. Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Clavin did his research and it has lots and lots of information about how the rangers began, how they fought Indians and try to reign in a lawless land. It covers a lot of characters also and does explain their part in the rangers.
I’m sure there are a lot of readers that will truly enjoy this type of writing but not me.

Received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my unbiased review – This one comes in with 3 stars only due to the way it was written.