Raiders of Spanish Peaks

by Zane Grey

Hoping to cure John Lindsay's illness by moving west, the Lindsay family discovers that the old military post they have been swindled into buying is the headquarters of a band of thieves and cattle rustlers. Reprint.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Romance, Classics

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1931

About the author

Pearl Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the rugged Old West. As of June 2007, the Internet Movie Database credits Grey with 110 films, one TV episode, and a series, Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater based loosely on his novels and short stories.

Reviews

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

To aid the patriarch of the family recover from illness, the Lindsay family purchases the Spanish Peaks Ranch in the West at the site of an abandoned military fort. It soon becomes obvious that the old fort is ideal for both protection and imprisonment.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1940, 'Raiders of Spanish Peaks' is an old school western printed in book form shortly after the authors death in 1939. The plot involves a naive family of 'easterners' buying a remote ranch - the Spanish Peaks of the title - from a crook. They hire Laramie Nelson and his two side-kicks to help them out, and ultimately take on the thieves that have robbed the ranch blind. And of course, as this is Zane Grey, there is romantic interest - his many westerns are called 'western romances' for a reason. A fairly routine western story, and well told. Some parts of the story have aged badly - the casual racism and the treatment of women especially. Women in the plot tend to be stupid, coquettish, and often faint at the merest hint of violence. The racism content, where it occurs, is bad enough and occasionally quite shocking - I cannot excuse all of it for being a product of the time in which is was written. Enjoyable enough.

[Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read most of Zane Grey's books when I was around 17 years old. I am now 77 and have recently reread a few. They are enjoyable for me. Anyone who reads Grey's books should remember they were written in a different time. We are (supposedly) more politically correct nowadays so they contain words we don't use much today. People saw things different during the early 1900s when Grey's books were written. They didn't have TV and movies and the internet telling them what was acceptable and what wasn't. Those who don't like the shooting, killing depicted in those old novels haven't watched today's TV shows such as Bluebloods, Chicago P.D. etc., or watched big city news broadcasts or read the newspaper headlines for many of our big cities.

[Cymiki · Rating 2 out of 5]

The well-to-do Lindsay family purchase a Colorado ranch sight unseen. Learning the ways of the West and code of conduct where the law was based on taking it into one's own hands will appeal to adventurous readers.

[Neville · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disheartened ..form the tender age of 10 or so i have loved zane greys novels but of late i have felt let down it dosent seam to be his work


Iwonder if some one other than zanegrey haswritten this novel and printed zane greys name that is why i have been disheartened

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Zane Grey novels. This one did not disappoint. Thoroughly appreciate his use of feminine heroes right alongside the cowboys, rustlers, riders, & hustlers of his stories. Adds romance without fluff, and paints such a beautiful picture of the West in his narrative.

[Thomas H. McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I young

I read this when I was young. I was taken away with it. I became Hallie then and now. It is a book to cherish. I would recommend it to all western lovers.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raiders

From an old Master Story Teller. The old west, range riders, cattle drives, rustling and an east coast family trying to learn how to survive the west. What could be better?

[Shirley Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good, older book so tried not to take some statements/ name calling so seriously. I liked that they included a lady as a main character/ boss b.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible Audiobook: Finished 9.24.2019

[Dean]

I've read a few hundred books in my day, but this one was an experience.
I couldn't believe how casually and how often the word "nigger" was used, both in reference to a black man, and also the characters using that for the black man's name.
And of course, they referred to Mexicans as "greasers."
Wow.
Also, instead of a character saying something followed by "he exclaimed," Grey has a prolific habit of writing "he ejaculated." That phrase probably showed up more than two dozen times in this book.
Granted, Grey's books spanned from 1909 to his death in 1939 "(Raiders of Spanish Peaks" was published in 1938), and I know times were different, but it's still seems shocking.
To be fair, unlike some of my friends who say these western "horseshit and gun-smoke" books are the best, I never read one. Then, one of my best friends going on 40 years, died. He always bragged how he read the entire Zane Grey collection and loved them. So, in his memory, I decided to read one. My eldest daughter works at the local library and I asked her to bring me one - just grab one at random. It was this one, Raiders of Spanish Peaks.
I know Zane Grey is almost an American icon, along with John Wayne, etc., and I don't want to be negative if I can help it, but I won't be reading another one if I can help it. Now I know where B movie westerns get their scripts. I guess that's how I can best describe it -- if you want to see a great western, something along the lines of True Grit or Unforgiven. Then compare that to some of the old western serials, and you have this type of story/plot/character/writing. It's not so bad as to want to tear your eyes out, but I'll never recommend one.
An old friend of mine who runs a very large used book store, who is a gold mine of literary knowledge, agreed that if you want to read a western, Zane Grey is not the way to go. He suggests Johnstone or L'Amour, saying they're great.

[Marlin Ames · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great western with color! This story has all the western color that a reader of good westerns likes! I admit, I'm a romantic and Zane Grey does a great job with his characters and their involvements...enjoyable read!

I can recommend this story to any honest seeker of western color and flare.. I have enjoyed numerous Zane Grey stories, they're clean and one feels satisfaction from his eloquent descriptive writing.

[Lisa Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has a few holes here and there, but a truly enjoyable romp. It is fun to pick up again from time to time.

[Glen J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zane Grey at his best

Classic western genre. Jane's books are always exceptional; they are filled with wonderful characters and an engaging story. A big American read.

[Carol Burrell]

One of the best Westerns I've read. Couldn't put it down.