Gunsmoke & Grit: 'Brothers of the Gun' by Mark Lee Gardner

Disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book from NetGalley.

Through Gunsmoke & Grit, I'm excited to share my musings on fictional Wild West tales. However, I occasionally wander into the realm of nonfiction, like with Brothers of the Gun: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and a Reckoning in Tombstone by Mark Lee Gardner—set to gallop its way into bookstores on November 11, 2025, courtesy of Dutton. I was fortunate enough to snag a digital ARC from NetGalley many moons ago, and I deliberately refrained from reviewing it until just the right moment, when the publication date was close enough for a proper showdown.

Given the title, you can probably guess that this book is about the lives of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday—those legendary gunfighters whose names have been etched into the annals of history thanks to a thirty-second shootout at a little spot known as the O.K. Corral. But their storied friendship didn't kick off in that fateful moment in 1881; oh no! It all began back in the raucous cattle town of Dodge City three years earlier. Picture this: Wyatt, an assistant city marshal, is outnumbered by a pack of rowdy, armed cowboys. Meanwhile, Doc is comfortably perched at a monte table in the Long Branch saloon, a man of leisure—until he spots Wyatt's trouble. In true heroic fashion, Doc bursts out, two revolvers drawn, shouting, “Throw up your hands!” Startled, the cowboys comply, and off they are led to jail. Wyatt credited Doc with saving his skin that day, igniting a friendship as volatile as gunpowder.

In this eye-opening dual biography, the first of its kind about these two icons of the Old West, Gardner paints a swirling tableau filled with saloons, brothels, gambling dens, stagecoach robberies, and revenge plots. While there's plenty of gunsmoke and grit, hold on to your hats—this isn't a simple hero worship piece. Wyatt and Doc, much like anyone else—both back in their day and in our modern world—had their share of flaws and failings. Gardner does not shy away from the unsavory elements of their lives; they are laid bare alongside their legendary exploits.

Gardner reveals fresh tidbits about Wyatt’s and Doc’s early days, their infamous friendship, the O.K. Corral face-off, and Wyatt’s controversial “vendetta ride” following his brother Morgan's assassination. Drawing from an impressive trove of research—from diaries and letters to court records and contemporary newspapers—Gardner takes readers on a thrilling ride through history. It’s undeniably edge-of-your-seat nonfiction storytelling at its finest.

Now, while I wouldn't brand myself as a die-hard history buff, I've certainly soaked up my fair share of tales about Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday from various books and the silver screen. As luck would have it, I recently received the latest issue of True West magazine, which features these two legends. Even without the Tombstone backdrop, both of these gunfighters have earned their rightful place in the annals of history.

Mark Lee Gardner clearly poured extensive research into Brothers of the Gun. His narrative, however, has a streamlined quality—especially when it comes to portraying Doc Holliday, who often feels more like a sidekick in Wyatt’s saga rather than a fully fleshed-out historical figure. It's not as detailed or comprehensive as some other biographies swirling around, yet it is packed with facts that challenge the romanticized imagery often surrounding the duo. Gardner doesn't shy from exposing the less-than-glamorous aspects of Earp and Holliday, some of which I was already familiar with, and others that caught me off guard. Perhaps this was Gardner’s intention, a clever tactic to carve out a distinctive space in the crowded field of Wild West literature. There were occasional moments when I felt I was immersed in a fictional tale rather than a historical account—and maybe that was all by design.

But what do I know? I'm just a guy sharing thoughts from the dusty corners of my blog. Despite my moments of nitpicking, I enjoyed reading Brothers of the Gun. Gardner has a knack for weaving words; his prose dances off the page, and I found myself learning a few intriguing nuggets about Wyatt and Doc that I hadn’t encountered before. So, tip your hat and open your mind—this journey through the storied lives of two of the West’s most infamous characters is one worth taking. ╌★★★★✰

〜B.J. Burgess