Rathmell's book, biased in favor of the five Marlow brothers, has long been out of print. Robert K. DeArment has sifted through the evidence and presents an objective, annotated edition. Readers can judge for themselves: were the Marlows as law-abiding as Rathmell claims?

The pioneering ventures of the Marlow family covered most of the western states, with emphasis on Young County, Texas, the scene of their most famous fight, and Colorado, where the surviving brothers finally settled; their fights with law men and outlaws were frequent and violent.