Showdown on the Hogback

by Louis L'Amour

Tom Kedrick is hired by a financial syndicate to run off a gang of vagrants and outlaws who are occupying a sizable strip of land that the syndicate has filed, claiming it is unusable swamp. To Kedrick's dismay, these "vagrants and outlaws" turn out to be hard working ranchers and farmers who have improved the lands they have claimed and are determined to resist any effort to disenfranchise them. When Kendrick confronts his employers, he is soon caught between a rock and a hard place--marked for death by both the syndicate's killers and the suspicious farmers. Was ever a gunfighter in a worse predicament?

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Adult Fiction

200 pages, Audio CD

First published March 1, 2005

About the author

Louis Dearborn L'Amour was an American novelist and short story writer. His books consisted primarily of Western novels, though he called his work "frontier stories". His most widely known Western fiction works include Last of the Breed, Hondo, Shalako, and the Sackett series. L'Amour also wrote historical fiction (The Walking Drum), science fiction (The Haunted Mesa), non-fiction (Frontier), and poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into films. His books remain popular and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death, almost all of his 105 existing works (89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction) were still in print, and he was "one of the world's most popular writers".

Reviews

[Malum · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very old Louis L'Amour novel originally published under the pseudonym Jim Mayo in Giant Western Magazine and later rewritten as Showdown at Yellow Butte.

It's your standard "cowboy defending homesteaders" plot and nothing to really write home about, but if you are looking for cowboys shooting at each other then this will scratch that itch.

[Christina Rothfusz · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.

So, I have a bit of a dirty secret - I devoured these western classics when I was younger - yeah, I know a misspend youth! These are now available on audible and I could not resists going back.

I must admit to not enjoying them as much this time round, but still, not all bad.

[Alyx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spent a lot of time building up, and then it all ended very quickly.
As usual, I appreciate the characters of L'Amour, but I really needed another 50 pages to thoroughly carry out the conclusion of this story.

Yet, still an enjoyable read.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Change the weapons, clothes, and speech and this is a Mickey Spillane novel. However, I like the time period, manners, and the mysteries. One of my favorite narrators performing another excellent rendition of a classic author’s work.

[G.K. Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one's a little different for me, but my husband and I had to agree on something for our recent road trip. Listened to the audiobook version, and it was entertaining, if not a little predictable. Had a few moments where I had to suspend belief. 3.5 stars

[Scott Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

L'Amour knows how to spin a tale. Written in the 1950, and recently ported to an audio book, this book stayed entertaining the whole way through. What struck me the most about the writing is how well L'Amour sets a scene. He makes one feel like part of the action, with his attention to just enough detail. Sure the yarn was purely standard fare for anyone familiar westerns. But L'Amour pretty much developed the standard.

Kedrick, a hired man working for a mining company, ends up turning against his employers when he finds out they are up to no good. And caught in the middle is a town full of innocent people who have been unfairly labeled as miscreants and rustlers. Although our hero finds himself outgunned and outlawed, he is never outsmarted as he fights for justice. And, of course, the love of a certain young lady with raven eyes.

Its Jimmy Stewart, fighting against all odds to make sure the good guys win. And who doesn't love a good Jimmy Stewart western?

Thanks for reading.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Louis L'Amour's books they are just exquisite and this is a truly enjoyable read.

[Julie Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Louis L’Amour. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every book I’ve read by him. I love the breathless gunfights, the descriptive scenery and the little bit of romance. This book has all of that. If you’ve read a lot of his books, they get to be predictable, but I don’t read too many in a row, so they’re all good, and I still find myself holding my breath, wondering who’s going to go down next, but knowing in the end, the good guy always wins. The beauty in L’Amour’s stories is getting to that point. You might have an idea of how the story’s going to turn out but there’s always a twist when you least expect it to keep you breathless, and this book was no different. A true master Western writer.

[Shoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I've seen them before. All they need, that kind, is someone to face them once who isn't afraid. He was fast and accurate with his guns so he developed the idea he was tough. Other folks thought the same thing. He wasn't tough. A tough man has to win and lose. He has to come up after being knocked down. He has to have taken a few beatings and know what it means to win the hard way. Anybody can knock a man down. When you've been knocked down at least three times yourself and then get up and floor the other man, then you can figure you're a tough hombre." - Captain Tom Kendrick

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My grandpa often had a Louis L’Amour book on the dash of his truck or tucked into his back pocket. I’m not a fan of westerns, but I decided I needed to see what grandpa loved about these books.
One thing for sure, Mr L’amour knows how to set a scene, I felt I was right there as the bullets flew and the blood welled up! The story had a mystery I enjoyed and I thought about how these stories must have made grandpa get excited and unable to wait for a quiet evening read!

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

In general I love Louis L'Amour books, but this one was missing all the things I love. The hero didn't have any great lines that really made me see what being great was all about. There were lots of loose ends that didn't get wrapped up. Too many people died and there were too many people in the story in general. I couldn't keep track of all of them. So if you're looking for a great Louis L'Amour, choose a different one.

[Rick Farlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHIRP AUDIOBOOK

I thoroughly enjoyed this Louis L’Amour western… There was lots of action, it was a clean storyline about good vs. evil, and the main character (Hedrick) was a man of skill and integrity. The narrator, Grover Gardner, did a very good job of making the storyline characters come to life.

As a solid classic western, I highly recommend this one!

[Ford Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another classic and much like a range war, however this one is about Corporate greed trying to use the law to take away peoples property. Good solid read if your a fan of the westerns, or want a glimpse of early life as American movement expanded across the country.

[Michael McNaught · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun adventure story.

A lot of build up to a final act that wasn't as exciting as the build up to get to that point.

Still a nice, worthwhile read. Would've liked this more if I read this at the age of its target audience.

Listened to this as an audiobook.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The US Government is out to use land to establish a reservation, but good people have occupied and developed the land and established themselves in the town and homeowners. There are crooked agents who want to get rich by making the people leave or pay them to stay.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one because there was a bit of mystery to it that wasn't revealed until the end.

[Lloyd Hinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another satisfying Louis L'Amour story

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of L' Amour's better books.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good clean western. I think they made a movie of this one but I can't find the name. Some good mystery, romance and cowboy action.

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Westerns aren’t really my thing. But listening to Grover Gardner read books is.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good intrigue.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Blackstone audio edition was extremely well done!

[Kristi Cramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the audiobook of this.

[Brian Baughman · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my first L'Amours - on Audible. Everyone knows what these are like lol

[Evita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brain off, yeehaw ON
This read like one of those spaghetti westerns in put on in the background only less boring but more confusing

[Jeff J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gunfighter’s dilemma.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fine story from the master

[Markkorth · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite LL’s.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Showdown on the Hogback
Louis L'Amour

Typical gunplay. Moral of the story. Make certain you know how many shots your opponent has left.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK story