(Born in Alabama during the Depression, Compton moved to Nashville in 1978, where he tried his had at publishing, record producing, and songwriting before he turned his hand to writing westerns. After Compton's death in 1999, Ralph Cotton and Robert Vaughan were hired to continue writing under the Ralph Compton name.
Genres: Western
Series
Trail Drive
1. The Goodnight Trail (1992)
2. The Western Trail (1992)
3. The Chisholm Trail (1993)
4. The Bandera Trail (1993)
5. The California Trail (1994)
6. The Shawnee Trail (1994)
7. The Virginia City Trail (1994)
8. The Dodge City Trail (1995)
9. The Oregon Trail (1995)
10. The Santa Fe Trail (1997)
11. The Old Spanish Trail (1998)
12. The Deadwood Trail (1999)
13. The Green River Trail (1999)
14. The Dakota Trail (2001) (with Robert Vaughan)
15. The Alamosa Trail (2002) (with Robert Vaughan)
16. The Bozeman Trail (2002) (with Robert Vaughan)
17. The Abilene Trail (2003) (with Dusty Richards)
18. Trail to Fort Smith (2004) (with Dusty Richards)
19. The Palo Duro Trail (2004) (with Jory Sherman)
20. The Ogallala Trail (2005) (with Dusty Richards)
21. The Ellsworth Trail (2005) (with Jory Sherman)
22. The Tenderfoot Trail (2006) (with Joseph A West)
23. Trail to Cottonwood Falls (2007) (with Dusty Richards)
24. The Amarillo Trail (2011) (with Jory Sherman)
25. The Omaha Trail (2012) (with Jory Sherman)
Big Jake's Last Drive (2020) (with Robert J Randisi)
The Badlands Trail (2020) (with Lyle Brandt)
The Kelly Trail (2020) (with Terrence McCauley)
Drive for Independence (2020) (with Lyle Brandt)
Red Trail (2020) (with John Shirley)
The Empire Trail (2021) (with Jeff Rovin)
Too-Late Trail (2021) (with Matthew P Mayo)
Terror Trail (2021) (with Lyle Brandt)
The Saltwater Trail (2022) (with Jackson Lowry)
1. The Goodnight Trail (1992)
2. The Western Trail (1992)
3. The Chisholm Trail (1993)
4. The Bandera Trail (1993)
5. The California Trail (1994)
6. The Shawnee Trail (1994)
7. The Virginia City Trail (1994)
8. The Dodge City Trail (1995)
9. The Oregon Trail (1995)
10. The Santa Fe Trail (1997)
11. The Old Spanish Trail (1998)
12. The Deadwood Trail (1999)
13. The Green River Trail (1999)
14. The Dakota Trail (2001) (with Robert Vaughan)
15. The Alamosa Trail (2002) (with Robert Vaughan)
16. The Bozeman Trail (2002) (with Robert Vaughan)
17. The Abilene Trail (2003) (with Dusty Richards)
18. Trail to Fort Smith (2004) (with Dusty Richards)
19. The Palo Duro Trail (2004) (with Jory Sherman)
20. The Ogallala Trail (2005) (with Dusty Richards)
21. The Ellsworth Trail (2005) (with Jory Sherman)
22. The Tenderfoot Trail (2006) (with Joseph A West)
23. Trail to Cottonwood Falls (2007) (with Dusty Richards)
24. The Amarillo Trail (2011) (with Jory Sherman)
25. The Omaha Trail (2012) (with Jory Sherman)
Big Jake's Last Drive (2020) (with Robert J Randisi)
The Badlands Trail (2020) (with Lyle Brandt)
The Kelly Trail (2020) (with Terrence McCauley)
Drive for Independence (2020) (with Lyle Brandt)
Red Trail (2020) (with John Shirley)
The Empire Trail (2021) (with Jeff Rovin)
Too-Late Trail (2021) (with Matthew P Mayo)
Terror Trail (2021) (with Lyle Brandt)
The Saltwater Trail (2022) (with Jackson Lowry)
Trail of the Gunfighter
1. The Dawn of Fury (1995)
2. The Killing Season (1996)
3. Autumn of the Gun (1996)
4. Blood of the Hunters (2020) (with Jeff Rovin)
Broken Rider (2020) (with John Shirley)
Death Valley Drifter (2020) (with Jeff Rovin)
1. The Dawn of Fury (1995)
2. The Killing Season (1996)
3. Autumn of the Gun (1996)
4. Blood of the Hunters (2020) (with Jeff Rovin)
Broken Rider (2020) (with John Shirley)
Death Valley Drifter (2020) (with Jeff Rovin)
Sundown Riders
1. North to the Bitterroot (1996)
2. Across the Rio Colorado (1997)
3. The Winchester Run (1997)
4. Devil's Canyon (1998)
5. Whiskey River (1999)
6. Skeleton Lode (1999)
7. Demon's Pass (2000)
8. Runaway Stage (2002) (with Robert Vaughan)
9. Do or Die (2003) (with David Robbins)
10. Nowhere, TX (2004) (with David Robbins)
11. Bucked Out in Dodge (2004) (with David Robbins)
12. West of Pecos (2005) (with David Robbins)
Tin Star (2020) (with Robert E Vardeman)
The Wolves of Seven Pines (2020) (with E L Ripley)
Never Bet Against Bullet (2020) (with Jackson Lowry)
Lost Banshee Mine (2020) (with Jackson Lowry)
Calvert's Last Bluff (2020) (with E L Ripley)
Prairie Fire, Kansas (2020) (with John Shirley)
Trail's End (2021) (with E L Ripley)
Stagecoach to Hell (2021) (with Terrence McCauley)
Snake's Fury (2021) (with Bernard Schaffer)
The Outlaw Hunters (2021) (with D B Pulliam)
Flames of Silver (2021) (with Jackson Lowry)
The Winter of Wolves (2021) (with Royal Harding)
Ghost Hollow Ranch (2021) (with D B Pulliam)
Snake Oil Justice (2022) (with Jackson Lowry)
1. North to the Bitterroot (1996)
2. Across the Rio Colorado (1997)
3. The Winchester Run (1997)
4. Devil's Canyon (1998)
5. Whiskey River (1999)
6. Skeleton Lode (1999)
7. Demon's Pass (2000)
8. Runaway Stage (2002) (with Robert Vaughan)
9. Do or Die (2003) (with David Robbins)
10. Nowhere, TX (2004) (with David Robbins)
11. Bucked Out in Dodge (2004) (with David Robbins)
12. West of Pecos (2005) (with David Robbins)
Tin Star (2020) (with Robert E Vardeman)
The Wolves of Seven Pines (2020) (with E L Ripley)
Never Bet Against Bullet (2020) (with Jackson Lowry)
Lost Banshee Mine (2020) (with Jackson Lowry)
Calvert's Last Bluff (2020) (with E L Ripley)
Prairie Fire, Kansas (2020) (with John Shirley)
Trail's End (2021) (with E L Ripley)
Stagecoach to Hell (2021) (with Terrence McCauley)
Snake's Fury (2021) (with Bernard Schaffer)
The Outlaw Hunters (2021) (with D B Pulliam)
Flames of Silver (2021) (with Jackson Lowry)
The Winter of Wolves (2021) (with Royal Harding)
Ghost Hollow Ranch (2021) (with D B Pulliam)
Snake Oil Justice (2022) (with Jackson Lowry)
Border Empire
1. The Border Empire (1997)
2. Six Guns and Double Eagles (1998)
3. Train to Durango (1998)
1. The Border Empire (1997)
2. Six Guns and Double Eagles (1998)
3. Train to Durango (1998)
Danny Duggin (with Ralph Cotton)
1. Death Rides a Chestnut Mare (1999)
2. The Shadow of a Noose (2000)
3. Riders of Judgment (2001)
4. Death Along the Cimarron (2003)
1. Death Rides a Chestnut Mare (1999)
2. The Shadow of a Noose (2000)
3. Riders of Judgment (2001)
4. Death Along the Cimarron (2003)
Buck Fletcher (with Joseph A West)
1. Showdown at Two-Bit Creek (2003)
2. Doomsday Rider (2003)
3. Vengeance Rider (2004)
1. Showdown at Two-Bit Creek (2003)
2. Doomsday Rider (2003)
3. Vengeance Rider (2004)
John McBride (with Joseph A West)
1. West of the Law (2007)
2. Shadow of the Gun (2008)
3. Blood on the Gallows (2008)
1. West of the Law (2007)
2. Shadow of the Gun (2008)
3. Blood on the Gallows (2008)
Gunfighter
Return to Gila Bend (2020) (with Carlton Stowers)
Ride the Hammer Down (2020) (with Terrence McCauley)
Dalton's Justice (2021) (with Carlton Stowers)
Face of a Snake (2021) (with Bernard Schaffer)
Hell Snake (2021) (with Bernard Schaffer)
The Devil's Snare (2021) (with Tony Healey)
The Wrong Side of the Law (2021) (with Robert J Randisi)
Guns of the Greenhorn (2021) (with Matthew P Mayo)
Blood on the Prairie (2021) (with Tony Healey)
Die Trying (2021) (with Tony Healey)
Counterfeit Lawman (2022) (with Jackson Lowry)
Thirteen Bullets (2022) (with Sean Danker)
My Brother, My Killer (2022) (with Jackson Lowry)
The Guns of Wrath (2022) (with Tony Healey)
Stagecoach Revenge (2022) (with D B Pulliam)
Return to Gila Bend (2020) (with Carlton Stowers)
Ride the Hammer Down (2020) (with Terrence McCauley)
Dalton's Justice (2021) (with Carlton Stowers)
Face of a Snake (2021) (with Bernard Schaffer)
Hell Snake (2021) (with Bernard Schaffer)
The Devil's Snare (2021) (with Tony Healey)
The Wrong Side of the Law (2021) (with Robert J Randisi)
Guns of the Greenhorn (2021) (with Matthew P Mayo)
Blood on the Prairie (2021) (with Tony Healey)
Die Trying (2021) (with Tony Healey)
Counterfeit Lawman (2022) (with Jackson Lowry)
Thirteen Bullets (2022) (with Sean Danker)
My Brother, My Killer (2022) (with Jackson Lowry)
The Guns of Wrath (2022) (with Tony Healey)
Stagecoach Revenge (2022) (with D B Pulliam)
Novels
Festival of Spies (1973)
Clarion's Call (2001) (with Robert Vaughan)
Blood and Gold (2004) (with Joseph A West)
For the Brand (2005) (with David Robbins)
Guns of the Canyonlands (2006) (with Joseph A West)
Rio Largo (2006) (with David Robbins)
Deadwood Gulch (2006) (with John Edward Ames)
Bluff City (2007) (with David Robbins)
The Bloody Trail (2007) (with Marcus Galloway)
Ride the Hard Trail (2008) (with David Robbins)
The Convict Trail (2008) (with Joseph A West)
Outlaw's Reckoning (2009) (with Marcus Galloway)
The Man From Nowhere (2009) (with Joseph A West)
Stryker's Revenge (2010) (with Joseph A West)
Rusted Tin (2010) (with Marcus Galloway)
The Burning Range (2010) (with Joseph A West)
Stranger From Abilene (2011) (with Joseph A West)
The Ghost of Apache Creek (2011) (with Joseph A West)
Slaughter Canyon (2012) (with Joseph A West)
Tucker's Reckoning (2012) (with Matthew P Mayo)
Down on Gila River (2012) (with Joseph A West)
The Evil Men Do (2015) (with David Robbins)
The Law and the Lawless (2015) (with David Robbins)
Brother's Keeper (2015) (with David Robbins)
Outlaw Town (2016) (with David Robbins)
Clarion's Call (2001) (with Robert Vaughan)
Blood and Gold (2004) (with Joseph A West)
For the Brand (2005) (with David Robbins)
Guns of the Canyonlands (2006) (with Joseph A West)
Rio Largo (2006) (with David Robbins)
Deadwood Gulch (2006) (with John Edward Ames)
Bluff City (2007) (with David Robbins)
The Bloody Trail (2007) (with Marcus Galloway)
Ride the Hard Trail (2008) (with David Robbins)
The Convict Trail (2008) (with Joseph A West)
Outlaw's Reckoning (2009) (with Marcus Galloway)
The Man From Nowhere (2009) (with Joseph A West)
Stryker's Revenge (2010) (with Joseph A West)
Rusted Tin (2010) (with Marcus Galloway)
The Burning Range (2010) (with Joseph A West)
Stranger From Abilene (2011) (with Joseph A West)
The Ghost of Apache Creek (2011) (with Joseph A West)
Slaughter Canyon (2012) (with Joseph A West)
Tucker's Reckoning (2012) (with Matthew P Mayo)
Down on Gila River (2012) (with Joseph A West)
The Evil Men Do (2015) (with David Robbins)
The Law and the Lawless (2015) (with David Robbins)
Brother's Keeper (2015) (with David Robbins)
Outlaw Town (2016) (with David Robbins)
Omnibus
Series contributed to
Ralph Compton Novels
1. Dead Man's Ranch (2012) (with Matthew P Mayo)
2. The Hunted (2013) (with Matthew P Mayo)
3. Double-Cross Ranch (2014) (with Matthew P Mayo)
4. Shotgun Charlie (2015) (with Matthew P Mayo)
By the Horns (2006) (with David Robbins)
A Wolf in the Fold (2007) (with David Robbins)
Blood Duel (2007) (with David Robbins)
Death of a Bad Man (2008) (with Marcus Galloway)
Bullet for a Bad Man (2008) (with David Robbins)
Rawhide Flat (2009) (with Joseph A West)
Bounty Hunter (2009) (with Joseph A West)
Fatal Justice (2009) (with David Robbins)
Death of a Hangman (2010) (with Joseph A West)
North to the Salt Fork (2010) (with Dusty Richards)
The Last Manhunt (2011) (with Joseph A West)
One Man's Fire (2012) (with Marcus Galloway)
Brimstone Trail (2013) (with Marcus Galloway)
Straight Shooter (2013) (with Marcus Galloway)
Hard Ride to Wichita (2013) (with Marcus Galloway)
The Cheyenne Trail (2014) (with Jory Sherman)
Comanche Trail (2014) (with Carlton Stowers)
The Dangerous Land (2014) (with Marcus Galloway)
Vigilante Dawn (2014) (with Marcus Galloway)
Straight to the Noose (2015) (with Marcus Galloway)
Texas Hills (2015) (with David Robbins)
Phantom Hill (2016) (with Carlton Stowers)
Reunion in Hell (2020) (with Carlton Stowers)
Ride for Justice (2020) (with Robert J Randisi)
Frontier Medicine (2021) (with Robert J Randisi)
Shot to Hell (2021) (with Jackson Lowry)
Seven Roads to Revenge (2021) (with Carlton Stowers)
The Hellbound Posse (2021) (with Robert J Randisi)
The Sagebrush Trail (2021) (with Robert J Randisi)
The Reluctant Lawman (2022) (with Craig Barstow)
The Robber Barons (2022) (with Craig Barstow)
1. Dead Man's Ranch (2012) (with Matthew P Mayo)
2. The Hunted (2013) (with Matthew P Mayo)
3. Double-Cross Ranch (2014) (with Matthew P Mayo)
4. Shotgun Charlie (2015) (with Matthew P Mayo)
By the Horns (2006) (with David Robbins)
A Wolf in the Fold (2007) (with David Robbins)
Blood Duel (2007) (with David Robbins)
Death of a Bad Man (2008) (with Marcus Galloway)
Bullet for a Bad Man (2008) (with David Robbins)
Rawhide Flat (2009) (with Joseph A West)
Bounty Hunter (2009) (with Joseph A West)
Fatal Justice (2009) (with David Robbins)
Death of a Hangman (2010) (with Joseph A West)
North to the Salt Fork (2010) (with Dusty Richards)
The Last Manhunt (2011) (with Joseph A West)
One Man's Fire (2012) (with Marcus Galloway)
Brimstone Trail (2013) (with Marcus Galloway)
Straight Shooter (2013) (with Marcus Galloway)
Hard Ride to Wichita (2013) (with Marcus Galloway)
The Cheyenne Trail (2014) (with Jory Sherman)
Comanche Trail (2014) (with Carlton Stowers)
The Dangerous Land (2014) (with Marcus Galloway)
Vigilante Dawn (2014) (with Marcus Galloway)
Straight to the Noose (2015) (with Marcus Galloway)
Texas Hills (2015) (with David Robbins)
Phantom Hill (2016) (with Carlton Stowers)
Reunion in Hell (2020) (with Carlton Stowers)
Ride for Justice (2020) (with Robert J Randisi)
Frontier Medicine (2021) (with Robert J Randisi)
Shot to Hell (2021) (with Jackson Lowry)
Seven Roads to Revenge (2021) (with Carlton Stowers)
The Hellbound Posse (2021) (with Robert J Randisi)
The Sagebrush Trail (2021) (with Robert J Randisi)
The Reluctant Lawman (2022) (with Craig Barstow)
The Robber Barons (2022) (with Craig Barstow)
Ralph Compton recommends
Wind River (1999)
(Little Wolf , book 1)
Charles G West
"Rarely has an author painted the great American West in strokes so bold, vivid and true."
Visitors also looked at these authors