JR Sanders’ Some Gave All, a historical non-fiction western, is one of a kind. Readers of history, biography, and nonfiction about the Old West will find the book absolutely fascinating.

Sanders has selected relatively forgotten Old West legislators who “died with their boots on” in the line of duty from 1879 to 1910. As the cover of the book says, “They risked it all and paid for it all.” Each chapter focuses on a particular law enforcement officer and the outlaws who led to his disappearance. These stories are fascinating and Sanders has done extensive research here. The perpetrator includes Police Officer Humphrey R. Symons, Deputy Sheriff Cassius M. Hollister, US Sheriff Harrington Lee Gosling, Detective John William Gilley, City Sheriff James F. Isbell, Sheriff John Jasper Bogard, Deputy Sheriff Daniel Carlyle Cameron, Deputy Sheriff Joseph John Lerri, Deputy Sheriff Charles Milton White, Deputy Sheriff George Clinton Woodsum, Sheriff Gustave Adolph Koch, Sheriff John Henry Dillingham, Special Agent David Frank Calhoun, and Sheriff of the town John Morgan Rennix. Officers served throughout the West, from Nevada to Colorado, Kansas, Texas, California and even as far east as Missouri.

As fascinating as the stories of law enforcement officers are the fascinating tales of the criminals who killed them. There are absolutely no dull or calamity characters in the book.

Sanders’ writing is very attractive. Each chapter begins differently and immediately draws the reader in. In addition, the paperback trade volume contains more than 40 illustrations that add a lot of impact to the stories. The illustrations bring an intensity and a reality to the murderous tales that could not otherwise be experienced.

It is extremely difficult to choose just one favorite among the accounts that Sanders gives the reader. The death of every law enforcement officer is very disturbing. However, an emotion permeates the book as it is read. Knowing the details of real life killers and law enforcement officers, without romanticizing as one would find in the tales of Hickok, Masterson, Earp, et al, provides quite an experience. Due to Sanders’ attention to detail, readers can feel that they personally know the characters in this book.

Some Gave All is a book that will be available for many years to come. It’s rare to find a heavily researched nonfiction / historical / biographical book about the West and not just a rerun of Billy the Kid, Pat Garretson, Wyatt Earp, and other exaggerated characters. Sanders’ book is real. True. These were real men, often loved in their communities, who died in shocking and unpredictable ways – each death a tragic loss.