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Rating: 
Summary: ANOTHER REHASH, SIGH!
Review: As an Earp Buff who started reading about Wyatt Earp in the 1930's, and even met some people who knew him over the years, visited the places where he became famous, read copiously on the Old West to gain insights into the time and place, I conclude this book is over-charitably viewed by many due to simple ignorance.
As stellar Earp Buff Jeff Morey commented, this book should be called: "Equivocation at the OK Corral." He also commented that it and the book on Wyatt by Richard Erwin, are derivative from "I Married Wyatt Earp." That doesn't scratch the surface. It is almost entirely derivative, a catalogue of previous writings.
I recommend to readers not conversant with such books as those that preceded it, on which this one is entirely based, that they first read the basic books and learn that they don't need to read this one. Also learn if they read it how a "quick study" author missed a lot. For example I see that Marks is bewildered that Mrs. Earp commented that a man named Billy Allen was suspected by the Earp Party of taking a couple of sneak shots at them at the famous gunfight. Why be bewildered? It is in the court testimony that appears in full in Alford Turner's "The OK Corral Inquest," which is surely one of the books that should be read not only before this one, but in preference to it. This, taken alone, is a quibbling point, except that numerous similar "gee whiz" comments show lack of in-depth knowledge.
Marks also mistook a well-known literary hoax, "An Illustrated Life of Doc Holliday," as fact. (Excusable in a way: Haley in writing of the Apaches mistook "The First Hundred Years of Nino Cochise," as a valid biography.)
Also notable is that this author's only acknowledgment of the major contribution to Earpiana of Wyatt's long-lost Autobiography is to say it was privately printed. One wonders why (especially) an academic author took great pains to avoid specifically crediting the remarkable detective work that went into finding a long-lost document eagerly sought by scholars for years. It's publication amounted to a great public service.
This book, in my opinion, shows evidence of being an error-ridden, non-objective work, an obvious "quick study" and as a result a seriously flawed work.
Other books to read on this subject before (or instead of) this one are: TOMBSTONE, by Walter Noble Burns; WYATT EARP, FRONTIER MARSHAL, by Stuart N. Lake; HELLDORADO, by William M. Breakenridge; I MARRIED WYATT EARP, by Josephine Earp and Glenn G. Boyer; THE EARPS TALK, and THE OK CORRAL INQUEST, annotated by Alford Turner; DOC HOLLIDAY: A FAMILY PORTRAIT, By Karen Holliday Tanner; JOHN RINGO, THE GUNFIGHTER WHO NEVER WAS, by Jack Burrows, and, more recently, WYATT EARP, THE MAN BEHIND THE MYTH, by Casey Tefertiller (with the caution that it is also another derivative book that smacks of "quick study" to the cognoscenti).
In addition to the faults cited, the writer does not have a facile style - quite the contrary - as is often the unfortunate case with academics. Heavy sledding indeed.
Rating: 
Summary: Gunfight at Lot 2, Row 17 sounds O.K to me..!
Review: Having read copious amounts of literature on the O.K. Corral gunfight at the ripe old age of 18, I found this book to be the most conscise, the most detailed (come on, almost a whole chapter on who fired the first shot, for God's sakes!) and the most objective work written on the subject. Marks does a fantastic job of informing the wide-eyed public that these were just men desensitized to death, not the 'lawmen clad in white, atop their noble steeds' as John Wayne et.al., would have us believe. After reading this book, I find movies such as 'Gunfight at the O.K Corral' and 'My Darling Clementine' to be ludicrous! If this is the perspective you would like, by all means, read the book.. but be forwarned: Doc Holliday isn't the urbane, suave talker Val Kilmer seems to think he is, and Wyatt Earp isn't at all the straightest arrow to be shot into the West.. and..dare I say it? the McLowrey brothers being upstart citizens?(Even having relations with an Earp relative..??) Johnny Ringo actually going to Mass and being recieved as a *gasp* gentleman caller? There are two sides to every person, and Marks does a fantastic job of reminding us that everyone has a conscience. Some people are just more vocal about it than others. However, there were areas where Marks could have laid down a little law herself; that Doc Holliday fired the first shot is erroneous. After all, he was carrying a shotgun at the time, and would not have had the time to reach for his nickle-plated pistol..but, you'll learn about this stuff when you read this book.. if you want to. Then again, I'm not impressing my History teacher with this extraneous knowledge.. But, if you're as hungry for the truth to the reasons behind the political intrigue that resulted in this massacre, as myself, you'll enjoy this book: there are no flowery farewells between friends, no teary "happily ever afters"..just guys who, like Gods, killed them for their sport..
Rating:
Summary: unbiased look at the gun fight.
Review: I brought this book when I visited Tombstone, Arizona at the recommendations from people who worked there. Upon reading it, I discovered that this book proves to be a well written, well researched historical book about one of the most famous events in United States' "wild west" history outside of Custer's Last Stand. Its also an event that have been heavily clouded in myths and legends, thanks mostly to many self-serving memoirs, personal accounts and entertaining Hollywood movies.
The book proves to be a very unbiased account of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, the author traced the all events leading up to the fight, detailed account of the fight and what came afterward. As one of the other reviewers wrote, it showed that in Tombstone, there was no definite "good guys" versus "bad guys" but all sides were basically grey. That is an excellent point that must be stressed heavily.
If there is one book to read on this subject, I would recommended this book as the sole book for this subject. Its easy to read, interesting material and its seem to withstand the test of time since its publication.
Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER REHASH, SIGH!
Review: I kind of went over the edge on this stuff after watching the movie "Tombstone" about 50 times. I've read almost everything I can find regarding the gunfight, and it's participants and this is by far the most comprensive book available.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Much Hypothesizing, Too Little Truth
Review: I understand that at the time this book came out, it was the politically "in" thing to try and burst old, american myths. It is also true that a historian cannot stick to facts alone, but by nature, must recreate the truth that those same facts indicate. But there is a fine line between recreating what the facts indicate, and deriving from them extensive rationalizations which, no matter how logical (rationalizations must be that by nature, right?), no longer derive support from those facts because the hypothesizing leave them so far behind. Much of her conclusions are based on accepting other conclusions she has previously made groundlessly. In light of much evidence which has surfaced since this book was written, I cannot recommend it at all. Curious how so many readers cannot differentiate conclusions from assumptions.
Rating:
Summary: Best account I've ever read
Review: I've read not only Dr. Marks' book, but several others covering the Earps. I strongly recommend "I Married Wyatt Earp" to get some extra color on the situation. I've also visited Tombstone, including visits to the Cochise County Courthouse, and the Arizona Historical Society in Tucson. I think Marks' book does an excellent, if somewhat dry recitation of the events in Tombstone. For serious students of the Earps, this is a must read. I have to take exception with those who want to say there were no good guys. Western frontier society was not plagued by today's desire to ignore good and bad. Read what the judge had to say at the trial. Just because people were rough and tumble didn't mean they broke the law. That was the Earp crowd. Save the pc judgements about gamblers and saloon keepers. Study the times of these men. The Clantons and McLaurys regularly broke the law. They picked the wrong fight, with the wrong men, at the wrong time. Also, none of the Earps had a hard time attracting women. Doc Holliday rarely went looking for a fight, and he was intensely loyal to the Earps, particularly Wyatt and Morgan. Compare that with the way Ike Clanton ran while his own brother was getting shot up in the street.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent, balanced look at the events
Review: If you could read only one book about the OK Corral gunfight, this should be it. There is no attempt to make either group right or wrong; too often these days, one or the other group is portrayed as a set of complete bad guys, when "complete" is much too strong a word. There are a few other books that should be considered, Chaput's "Virgil Earp: Western Peace Officer", Tanner and DeArment's "Doc Holliday: A Family Portrait", and Bob Boze Bell's books on Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. All reach pretty much the same conclusions although there are some variations in viewpoint that will make the reader think (for example, Tanner's view on just who was the target at the Boarding House is intriguing). Anyway, Dr. Marks' book is well-written, with a style that is easy to follow and appreciate. It is my hope that she finds other western subjects to write about so that we may enjoy more of the fruits of her research and writing ability.
Rating:
Summary: A Picture of theReal West: The Golves Come Off
Review: Ms. Mark's paints an authentic picture of Wyatt Earp and the citizens of Tombstone. The greatest point that Ms. Marks makes in her book is that in the frontier towns there were no white hats or black hats, in fact there was a lot of gray. Wyatt Earp besides being a Marshal was also involved with gambling casinos with a vested interest. He was a businessman who also was a Marshal. In some ways this book entertains the conflicts between the frontier urbanites and the western country or western suburbia folk. This is great and exciting social history in that it tells the bare facts as they were known. Wyatt's mistress to be wife had a somewhat bawdy past but as Ms. Marks notes these were different times and social judgements of today did not necessarily apply in the western frontier towns. The book climaxes the Clanton and Earp feud, the fact that gunfights out in the street were rare in fact Ms. Marks tells the tale of how Wild Bill Hitchcock would stick a gun in the slight front ribs of a tough to gain the technical advantage of not shooting him in the back. And Earp would crack a skull many times more often with his pistol then use it. Also covers the tragic post OK Corral gunfight of Earp's family, the assassination of brother Morgan and his older brother crippled from the OK corral. The book even follows Earp's post Tombstone life where he forever is literally looking for the gold at the end of the rainbow (the gold was at his side, his wife). Earp's exciting period as Marshal of several towns over what appears a short time was enhanced by the writings of friend Bat Masterson who was famous himself and later became a great sports writer. After reading this book, I had a greater appreciation for Clint Eastwood's movie, "The Unforgiven" which also had a lot of gray hats in a frontier town.
Rating: 
Summary: absorbing and thought-provoking
Review: Paula Mitchell Marks' "And Die in the West" is one of the most enjoyable treatments of history that I have read in some time. Not only is her prose highly readable and informative, it also achieves that goal which every good historian must set out to do--provide an objective analysis in light of the sources available. Mrs. Marks provides a comprehensive look at the forces which helped to define the West, then provides the shootout out behind the OK Corral and its aftermath as the ultimate example of those forces in conflict. While it can be argued that a bit too much time is spent on the legal proceedings following the gunfight, it is a minor flaw in an otherwise first-rate work. Anyone looking for a thorough, detailed description of the events and characters that played a role in the mythos of the West is hereby encouraged to make this book a part of their permanent collection.
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