Posse from Hell

by Clair Huffaker

The bandits blazed into Paradise with the devil on their tails -- robbing, killing, hating -- destroying what they couldn't take and taking the girl they aimed to destroy with their savage outlaw ways. — Seven men pursued them, led by Banner Cole -- a raw young deputy whose badge was only eight days old. Folks said they were crazy to try it -- crazy with the brand of revenge that gave them the name POSSE FROM HELL.

Genres: Westerns

126 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Clair Huffaker was a U.S. author of westerns and other fiction, many of which were turned into films. His screenplays included such films as "Flaming Star" (1960), "The Commancheros" (1961), "Rio Conchos" (1964), and "The War Wagon" (1967). His TV scripts showed up on "The Virginian", "Lawman" and "Bonanza". Clair wrote screenplays for 3 Euro-westerns, "100 Rifles" (1969), "The Deserter" (1971), "Chino" (1973) and was thanked along with Sergio Corbucci in the 1995 film "Jonathan of the Bears" (1995).

He was married to Norma Lee Fink, a legendary attorney. Their daughter is Samantha C. Kirkeby, a prominent script supervisor who has worked on scores of big pictures including the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy and “3000 miles to Graceland”.

Reviews

[Edwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read many westerns, but when I do I wish that they could be as good as this one. After the town of Paradise is brutally robbed by a gang of fearsome outlaws young deputy Banner Cole and a ragtag and generally inept posse attempt to bring the outlaws to justice. Well paced and action packed the novel is a quick read. Mr. Huffaker is a fine writer with large catalog of novels and TV shows under his belt.

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only 120 pages but a highly entertaining western read. Characters you loathed, not all outlaws. Good guys you felt for when they died. Just excellent.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great western written by a master of the genre. Four escaped killers take over a town and kills the sheriff. The next day the deputy comes back in town, finds out what happened, and forms a possee. Well he tries, seems the town is a little yellow. He is left with seven men of various worth to go after killers.

Highly recommended. Huffaker was a master at taking a small group and having their personalities come through in a believable way.

[Regan MacArthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the movie just a little bit better but I don't feel bad about that because Huffaker adapted it for the screen himself. It's a great story. I'll say the movie's more upbeat and leave it at that.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good simple western read. Would not be top of my list but not bad.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is many years since I read a book by Huffaker but once I'd finished, this one, I realised that I shouldn't have left it so long.

A story which really tore at my heart in places.