Demon's Pass

Sundown Riders #7

by Robert Vaughan, Ralph Compton

THE UNFORGIVING FRONTIER

Parker Stanley's family had a dream: to start a new life in the far west. But en route, a Cheyenne hand slaughtered his parents and abducted his sister, leaving him for dead.

Then a cowboy named Clay Springer rode to the rescue--and came up with an idea. He's got a team ready to deliver goods to the Mormons in Utah, but he's short on funds for supplies. He knows that Parker managed to hold on to his family's savings, so he suggests a fifty-fifty partnership. With a three-wagon, seven-man team, Parker and Clay will traverse the barren land to find a secret mountain pass that will save them 300 miles on their journey.

But out in the wilderness, Parker's sister needs saving, too -- and he has vowed to find her....

Genres: Westerns, Fiction

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

About the author

Robert Vaughan is an American writer. He has also written a series of contemporary and historical romance novels under several pseudonyms including "Paula Moore" and "Paula Fairman". His father served in the military and Robert followed him in the 1950s, entering army aviation. He served until the Vietnam War and won numerous medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with several oak-leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, and several other medals.
His early books reflected his military background: the first novel was about the US Army along the DMZ in Korea, followed by a trilogy set in Vietnam. There are more than 9 million of his books in print under various names. He was inducted into the Writers’ Hall of Fame in 1998.

Reviews

[James Wingerter · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a good book; not great, but not bad either. It’s a little raw at times with mature content, but never goes over the edge. The plot is interesting and the writing style reads easily and flows well. There are many moving parts and it’s interesting, although predictable, to see how they come together in the end. However, the story itself left a little bit to be desired. The characters were a little one dimensional and the dialogue was flat. Some parts of the story are useless to the plot and don’t add any value, some other things are just awkwardly placed and feel like they were forcefully added to resolve the story ending. It was entertaining enough, but it also wasn’t extraordinary. A little basic as far as westerns go. But overall, a good solid book and worth a read, but temper expectations.

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parker and Elizabeth Standley were heading for Oregon with their parents when attacked by Indians and a red headed bearded white man. Parents are killed. Elizabeth is taken captive and is able to pick her own Cheyenne husband. I have never read anything about that before. I did some research and was unable to find anything if this was true or not.

Parker is believed to be dead but isn’t and makes friend was Clay Springer who is taking three wagon loads of goods to Salt Lake City. Parker becomes his partner in this adventure.

Author makes some of the guys taking goods to Salt Lake City stupid when asking why this guy is going to shoot the Indian leader, they have been attacked by along with fifty braves.

Overall, pretty good fast paced story.

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about a Cheyenne attack on a single wagon where the mother and father are killed, the son left for dead, and the daughter taken as a potential member of the tribe. The chapters are divided between the progress of the son and daughter. The boy is 16 and makes it as a man, learning constantly and the daughter uses every opportunity to survive. The characters are well developed and the plot is action filled. This is a very good Western.

[Salty Gizmo · Rating 2 out of 5]

A solid ok book. Don’t hate it but definitly don’t love it. Lacks characterization? The dialogue is flat and each charachter dose not chnage over the course of the book

Kinda Spoilers(?)
Lots of Native American racism which is pretty not cool! The reunion between the two siblings was so …boring? The entire book builds up to it and it’s so anti climatic. Clay morning Marcus was barley mentioned and he hardly seems sad

[Mike Marlee Fischnaller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story full of the challenge of going West in the 1870’s

An excellent book with lots of action and adventure. Highly recommend this story which has Indian fights, outlaws & renegades as well as a great ending.

[Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good three way story, in the true Compton way. A lot of action, also a lot of the trials and problems of hauling wagons West. A fun story.

[Chanler Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

western action book. shallow, but pretty engaging. writer must have been a fan of wagons, and has no idea about how firearms work. 4 starts

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully immersive book with an engaging plot and colorful characters. Its a page turner that I was sad to finish because I was so immersed.
It is ghost written by Dick Vaughn under the umbrella name from the very missed Ralph Compton and is about interconnecting stories of families and loved ones. Indians are depicted well and the people are a reflection of that time.

[Josh H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book was very good, it had many thrill seeking chapters to endure. If anyone was wondering on if they should read this book you definitely should! This is one of the first Ralph Compton books I have ever read and I would probably pick another from him.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner!

Good story of courage against all odds and perseverance! This brother and sister never gave up on finding each other!