Eagle Talons: (1 Iron Horse Chronicles: Book One)

About the Book

Will Braddock doesn't want to be forced into an unwanted blacksmith apprenticeship. The newly orphaned fourteen-year-old embarks upon a quest to determine his own destiny. He heads west to seek work on the first transcontinental railroad.

Will learns to rely upon himself to achieve his goal. He constantly battles a young Irish thug who is determined to kill him. A mixed-blood Cheyenne youth' whom he saves from quicksand' gives Will two eagle talons from his amulet in thanks. The talons save Will's life' and though not magical' he's convinced they are lucky.

When a feisty young lady he has befriended is kidnapped by the Indians' and the Army refuses to send troops' Will decides to risk his own future to free her from captivity.

Review :
"Book One of the Iron Horse Chronicles by Robert Lee Murphy is a fast paced story with well-developed characters set in 1867 on the frontier as the railroad is expanding westward. Without any spoilers, I loved the tricky situations Will had to navigate, the characters he had to confront, and the barriers he had to overcome to survive. There is much in this book to discuss, from what it was like to be a boy relying on himself in a dangerous place and time, to how the Native Americans were affected by the coming of the railroad."

--Paul Greci for Project Mayhem

"Eagle Talons . . . is a debut novel from Robert Murphy and it's an outstanding work of historical fiction . . . I loved each and every character in Eagle Talons, even the bad guys. Murphy brilliantly develops each lead character so that readers will carry vivid memories into the sequels, knowing the characters are solidly developed and true to their roles. Jenny has more spunk than a rodeo bull and Homer is endearing in his willingness to teach while leading the young Will Braddock. Hopefully, Will is in the following books as he is an unforgettable young man, a composite of the best of early pioneer America. Murphy has a flair for historical fiction and his ability to tell the tale and put the reader right into the story is phenomenal! This is a coming of age story set in a time where kids on their own had to grow up fast. Murphy does a great job of using both the historical setting and the landscape as vehicles to increase the tension and keep the story moving."

--Karen Pirnot for Readers' Favorite

"Engaging action and vivid detail make the far-ranging adventures of Robert Lee Murphy's likeable young protagonist reminiscent of Mark Twain's Huck Finn."

--Lucia St. Clair Robson, Spur Award-winning author of Light a Distant Fire

"Robert Murphy's debut novel, the first in a series chronicling the building of the Union Pacific Railroad, shows just how enjoyable a well-researched story can be. Murphy displays a keen eye for detail in his descriptions of the land, the rowdiness of the various railroad towns, and in his

characters. This action-packed coming-of-age tale, set primarily in southeastern Wyoming, is

a fine read for young and old alike."

--Michael Zimmer, author of The Poacher's Daughter

"Set in 1867 this story seamlessly blends fiction with true historical events and features a number of real people. Will Braddock is a very likeable youngster and a number of those he'll become involved with fall into the same age group. So, in some ways, this is a coming of age tale, but Will has to grow up fast if he's to achieve his goals. Robert Lee Murphy mixes a number of sub-plots in with the real timeline of the building of the railroad and all provide twists and turns that held my attention well. His characters are engaging and I soon found [myself] hooked into their lives and found the book difficult to put down as I wanted to see what troubles would befall them next. Murphy's descriptions paint vivid pictures in the mind, and place you right in the thick of the various exciting action scenes. Most of the story follows Braddock, but Murphy occasionally switches to one or two of his other characters so the reader will begin to wonder how Braddock will deal with the troubles that are heading his way. With such young leads this book should appeal to a wide age range of readers and should be enjoyed by all who love westerns."

--Steve M. at Western Fiction Review

"When his mother dies, 14-year-old Will Braddock is apprenticed to a blacksmith, pending the approval of his uncle, Sean Corcoran, who is the Union Pacific's chief surveyor, busily plotting the railroad's course through Nebraska and Wyoming. Will is determined to find his uncle before he can approve the indenture, and he encounters many adventures on his way . . . [Murphy's] research is impeccable, and his wholesome young hero makes Eagle Talons, the first entry of a trilogy, engaging reading . . ."

--Booklist