U.S. Marshals

Inside America's Most Storied Law Enforcement Agency

By: Mike Earp, David Fisher

Narrated by: John Pruden

Blending history and memoir, retired U.S. Marshal Mike Earp—a descendant of the legendary lawman Wyatt Earp—offers an exclusive and fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the most storied law enforcement agency in America, illuminating its vital role in the nation’s development for more than two hundred years.

Mike Earp spent his career with the U.S. Marshals Service, reaching the number three position in the organization’s hierarchy before he retired. In this fascinating, eye-opening book, written with the service’s full cooperation, he shares his experiences and takes us on a fascinating tour of this extraordinary organization—the oldest, the most effective, and the most dangerous branch of American law enforcement, and the least known.

Unlike their counterparts in the police and the FBI, U.S. Marshals aren’t responsible for investigating or prosecuting crimes. They pursue and arrest the most dangerous criminal offenders on U.S. soil, an extraordinarily hazardous job often involving gun battles and physical altercations. Earp takes us back to the service’s early days, explaining its creation and its role in the border wars that helped make continental expansion possible. He brings to life the gunslingers and gunfights that have made the Marshals legend, and explores the service’s role today integrating federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the hunt for the most notorious criminals—terrorists, drug lords, gun runners.

Setting his own experiences within the long history of the U.S. Marshals service, Earp offers a moving and illuminating tribute to the brave marshals who have dedicated their lives to keeping the nation safe.

Fascinating, Educational, Entertaining

I loved this because I really did not know the background history of the US Marshals, nor what they did. One review complained about the introduction being long, but I found it very interesting and thorough. I also know I want to listen to this at least two more times to firmly put in my memory where the US Marshals fit in Law Enforcement.

Totally captivated the whole time.

These Marshals have a specific mentality, "grit", that makes them pursue dangerous, wicked people. They do things I would very much try to avoid. Very glad we have people that can be and want to be US Marshals.

The world is getting to be a more dangerous place and people seem more illogical and immoral (they do not seem to understand stealing and hurting other people is wrong).

The experiences exciting, funny, sad. Very sorry for the murder of the author's sister. Horrible.

First read November 2025

Good read

This entertaining book tells a variety of stories about Mike Earp who is a US Deputy Marshall. It is a very insightful read and enjoyable. I have not only listen to it once but have listen to it multiple times. Would recommend highly.

Great book, intro needs serious editing

What did you love best about U.S. Marshals?

The book was exactly what I hoped: chock full of war stories from various marshals covering many different aspects of their work.

Any additional comments?

Why not 5 stars...the introduction, prolog, foreword, and so forth, took almost an hour and a half of this audiobook, and they needed substantial editing. There was much duplication in each of these sections, with dry statistics repeated over and over again. To be fair, each of these had a different author, but an editor should have harmonized them.
It's easy to skip over repetitive stuff in a bound book, not so easy in an audio book, when you can't easily glance over pages.

Eye opening

i loved it. its one of those books that you listen to and are afraid they are going to say "thank you! this has been audible." i was depressed when it ended. i learned a lot and in and interesting way.

Evan Review

if you like a true story about the oldest federal law enforcement agency read this book. It has true stories of what deputy Marshals do in tracking fugitives. It has humor in it but some serious and close calls these deputies go through.