Reviewed by Michelle Robertson for Readers' Favorite

Murdered on the Streets of Tombstone by Joyce Aros is an intriguing book about one of the most controversial events in America's late 1800s. Readers are transported to a Midwest lifestyle of cowboys, frontier men and women, farmers, raiders, saloons, gambling, and of course gunmen.
Late 1870s American western towns are home to many historical events, but none more notorious than the O.K Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, during which the lawmen and cowboys had it out on the street. Over time, word spread about the famous lawmen and friends who took out the "bad" cowboys on the streets of Tombstone. Almost every child growing up in America has heard of Wyatt Earp or Doc Holiday (the lawmen), but most have not heard of Newman Canton or the McLaury brothers, Tom and Frank (the cowboys). The author has set out to change the unknown facts of the so called "bad" cowboys. In this riveting, conversational-style book containing facts, word of mouth, and documented accounts of life in Tombstone, Arizona in 1870s, Joyce Aros describes factual events and opinions of Newman Canton, the McLaury brothers, and other cowboys, as well as the Earps.

Growing up in America and hearing the tale of the O.K. Corral, one would have never known what the cowboys were really like because they were depicted as bad men. Reading this book, deciphering fact from fiction, and getting another view on the well-known legend was refreshing. Although the author states various views throughout the book, she also provides documented sources to back up events with newspaper clippings and court documents of that time. Whether readers believe the Earp brothers were good or bad, or the cowboys were good or bad, they can respect the author's hard work and dedicated research of Tombstone Arizona and its residents, lawmen, and outlaws of the 1870s. It takes a lot of courage to bring out some truth, even if it is 200-something years prior. Bravo, Joyce Aros, on a great read.