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Allingham
"There will be a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning." -- Louis L'Amour
The place was a giant cesspool turned whirlpool that pulled all the badness of the land into it, until the vortex contained the giant soup of decadence and evil, contained the worst of human kind.
But Hell Street has a new enforcer, a lawman who has honed his skill in Hell’s Kitchen, the meanest of the Five Points district of Manhattan. Will it be enough?
Allingham is the story of one man’s struggle to face down his demons along with the meanest and most degenerate of human kind in the worst town in the last frontier of the West, Canyon Diablo, Arizona Territory.
The place was a giant cesspool turned whirlpool that pulled all the badness of the land into it, until the vortex contained the giant soup of decadence and evil, contained the worst of human kind.
But Hell Street has a new enforcer, a lawman who has honed his skill in Hell’s Kitchen, the meanest of the Five Points district of Manhattan. Will it be enough?
Allingham is the story of one man’s struggle to face down his demons along with the meanest and most degenerate of human kind in the worst town in the last frontier of the West, Canyon Diablo, Arizona Territory.
266 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2013
12 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 9, 2013
It's hard to find a good Western these days. The events and mindset are so far removed from our actual society, it is hard to channel that mentality and pull it off in a believable and unique fashion. Anyone can write another Lone Ranger story, but to create a whole new world of characters and have them interact takes a special talent. Elmore Leonard has this talent. I appreciate his Western much more than Louis L'Amour (whom I have always felt wrote above his target audience). But there is a new author who is putting out some really great Westerns, and writing them quickly. Perhaps you have heard of his Mule Tamer series? If not, you are missing out on some exceptional reading.
The author's name is John C. Horst, and this review is about his current novel, Allingham.
The characters created for this story are superb. The flaws that each one has are so identifiable that everyone who reads this book will find a little bit of themselves in here.
Allingham is a tough as nails, by the book, no BS police officer in Hell's Kitchen in the early 1880's. You get some glimpses into his aloof demeanor and his introverted life style. As these first events unfold, Allingham is subject to a trauma which will ultimately save his life, and his humanity. We see Allingham as a machine: go to work, be efficient, socialize little, go home to a meager existence, repeat. Now he has some small touches of personality which give a glimpse into the man behind the mask.
The trauma he is subjected to, and the coinciding diagnosis are what convinces him to give up his livelihood in Manhattan and head to Canyon Diablo in the Arizona Territory, and to ultimately give up his life. He is so driven to be a successful lawman, that he wants to go out swinging for the fences.
In this cesspool of a community called Canyon Diablo, we have the usual sort of characters: miscreants, whores, thieves, and murders. But behind that, we have people struggling for an existence, children trying to find their way, and mother's looking for a way out.
In this miasma of chaos, Allingham will find a group who will cling to his magnetism. He is the rock that anchors the group and sets about the rebuilding of a town, and their lives. His rag-tag group of Deputies each has their own personal demons, some they can overcome and some that will consume them.
Allingham, too, will find revelations, heartache, and a renewed faith in human kind. He'll find other things too, but that would be a spoiler.
Now I won't go into the intermingling of the characters and dive deep into the plot. If you aren't convinced by now to read it, nothing I can type will change your mind. But hopefully, most of you have already skipped away from my review, headed to Amazon.com and bought yourself a physical or ebook copy of this wonderful book. I understand this may be the beginning of another glorious saga from Mr. Horst. While you are on Amazon, add The Mule Tamer to your cart and get started on a western journey which is on par with The Unforgiven. Gritty, raw, and taste the dust in your mouth.
The author's name is John C. Horst, and this review is about his current novel, Allingham.
The characters created for this story are superb. The flaws that each one has are so identifiable that everyone who reads this book will find a little bit of themselves in here.
Allingham is a tough as nails, by the book, no BS police officer in Hell's Kitchen in the early 1880's. You get some glimpses into his aloof demeanor and his introverted life style. As these first events unfold, Allingham is subject to a trauma which will ultimately save his life, and his humanity. We see Allingham as a machine: go to work, be efficient, socialize little, go home to a meager existence, repeat. Now he has some small touches of personality which give a glimpse into the man behind the mask.
The trauma he is subjected to, and the coinciding diagnosis are what convinces him to give up his livelihood in Manhattan and head to Canyon Diablo in the Arizona Territory, and to ultimately give up his life. He is so driven to be a successful lawman, that he wants to go out swinging for the fences.
In this cesspool of a community called Canyon Diablo, we have the usual sort of characters: miscreants, whores, thieves, and murders. But behind that, we have people struggling for an existence, children trying to find their way, and mother's looking for a way out.
In this miasma of chaos, Allingham will find a group who will cling to his magnetism. He is the rock that anchors the group and sets about the rebuilding of a town, and their lives. His rag-tag group of Deputies each has their own personal demons, some they can overcome and some that will consume them.
Allingham, too, will find revelations, heartache, and a renewed faith in human kind. He'll find other things too, but that would be a spoiler.
Now I won't go into the intermingling of the characters and dive deep into the plot. If you aren't convinced by now to read it, nothing I can type will change your mind. But hopefully, most of you have already skipped away from my review, headed to Amazon.com and bought yourself a physical or ebook copy of this wonderful book. I understand this may be the beginning of another glorious saga from Mr. Horst. While you are on Amazon, add The Mule Tamer to your cart and get started on a western journey which is on par with The Unforgiven. Gritty, raw, and taste the dust in your mouth.
February 7, 2013
Wild wild west. Hellish town. And a hero. Rather ugly one but nonetheless a superman in every sense of the word. Pretty straightforward isn't it? Yet, I got hooked from the very first page. This is a special thing about John Horst. With a smooth narration and very likable characters he manages to catch the reader's attention and holds a tight grip on it right to the end.
March 7, 2013
Allingham is not an easy man to like.He is almost robotic in his approach to life and work.If it doesn't help him in his job, he just ignores it.He has no hobbies and no real friends.He just wants to be a copper in the Hell's Kitchen district of New York City.So when he hears of Canyon Diablo, a cesspool of a town that is running through lawmen like water through a sieve,he doesn't care.But when he receives news that makes him decide to go out west, he takes up what he considers will likely be a suicide mission.He will clean up Canyon Diablo or die trying.Canyon Diablo is an end of the line town in the Arizona territory.While it is stuck waiting for a railroad bridge, the town grows restless and attracts all sorts of bad men.All of the previous lawmen have tried to fight these bad men on their own terms.But Allingham knows bullets and brawn won't do the trick.He must use logic and the tactics he learned in Hell's Kitchen if he wants to manage anything.
Allingham isn't your old style western with a shootout every few pages and a posse chasing after bank robbers.The town isn't clean and sanitized. (Neither are the people for that matter.)You don't have a kindly old doc or a saloon girl who never does anything questionable.What you do have is a realistic setting with characters who are fleshed out and multi-dimensional dealing with problems and situations that take more than an hour or two to settle.They act(and react) with real emotion to what happens.They even grow during the telling of this story.Allingham, while cold in nature, will impress you with his abilities.He is well balanced by the crew he establishes to help clean up the town.It will be hard to not be drawn into his "law family".The interactions between the characters is one of the best features of this story.
There is plenty of action but it is well balanced by both humor and drama.The writing is gritty and earthy without being crude and crass.Neither is it dumbed down as so many books seem to be nowadays.It delivers a more realistic look at the hardships and travails of the time.New York hasn't become a true melting pot yet.The ingredients have all been added, but they still tend to clump together making small units inside the larger.Hostility still runs strong between notherners(the nothern aggressors) and southerners(the rebel dogs) even after all of the years since the war.Men are still being judged, classified, and often denied options because of skin color and religion.Women not only had the fewest options, they were often treated the worst.But despite these and many other difficulties, good men and women would arise.Allingham and his crew are some of these good people.But will they be enough to stop the bad men of Canyon Diablo?
I have been a fan of John Horst since his first novel.I can honestly say this is my favorite of all of his books (so far).It is his first book that is not part of his series.It is a standalone novel. Mr.Horst continues to grow as a storyteller.I highly recommend this book evenif you are not a fan of westerns.This book could easily make you one.
Allingham isn't your old style western with a shootout every few pages and a posse chasing after bank robbers.The town isn't clean and sanitized. (Neither are the people for that matter.)You don't have a kindly old doc or a saloon girl who never does anything questionable.What you do have is a realistic setting with characters who are fleshed out and multi-dimensional dealing with problems and situations that take more than an hour or two to settle.They act(and react) with real emotion to what happens.They even grow during the telling of this story.Allingham, while cold in nature, will impress you with his abilities.He is well balanced by the crew he establishes to help clean up the town.It will be hard to not be drawn into his "law family".The interactions between the characters is one of the best features of this story.
There is plenty of action but it is well balanced by both humor and drama.The writing is gritty and earthy without being crude and crass.Neither is it dumbed down as so many books seem to be nowadays.It delivers a more realistic look at the hardships and travails of the time.New York hasn't become a true melting pot yet.The ingredients have all been added, but they still tend to clump together making small units inside the larger.Hostility still runs strong between notherners(the nothern aggressors) and southerners(the rebel dogs) even after all of the years since the war.Men are still being judged, classified, and often denied options because of skin color and religion.Women not only had the fewest options, they were often treated the worst.But despite these and many other difficulties, good men and women would arise.Allingham and his crew are some of these good people.But will they be enough to stop the bad men of Canyon Diablo?
I have been a fan of John Horst since his first novel.I can honestly say this is my favorite of all of his books (so far).It is his first book that is not part of his series.It is a standalone novel. Mr.Horst continues to grow as a storyteller.I highly recommend this book evenif you are not a fan of westerns.This book could easily make you one.
March 10, 2013
Author: John C. Horst
Title: Allingham
Publication Date: 2013
Number of Pages: 266 pages
Geographical Setting: Arizona
Time Period: mid-nineteenth century
Subject Headings: wild west, police officers, criminals, cowboys
Appeal: fast paced, character driven, dark and graphic
Series: n/a
Summary: John Horst really got in his stride in his latest (and in my opinion, so far greatest) Western novel. This is John's first stand alone novel since his critically acclaimed Mule Tamer series (Amazon top 100 Bestselling Western for the Kindle) and I really enjoyed getting to meet new characters. As usual, Allingham is a masterfully character driven novel. The plot goes in and out, but his wonderful, relate-able characters move the story forward.
Sergeant Allingham, a solitary and generally unlikable police officer, decides to move out west to Arizona when he finds that due to cancer he has only has months to live . His doctor assures him that Arizona's dry heat is much better suited for his condition then the cold unpredictable weather of New York. He figures that being a marshall in the Wild West will give him an easy way out, he can go out in a blaze of glory rather than wasting away in a hospital bed.
Canyon Diablo is more of a challenge then he expected, it is filled with the lowest of men, people shitting in streets, whores, pimps, and gamblers, having the run of a town. In no time at all Allingam gets to work and starts to clean up the town. It's citizens are amazed, they've never had a sheriff that lasted than more a few weeks and they've certainly never encountered anyone that was capable of improving the town. Instead of dreaming about dying in a blaze of glory, Allingham discovers that he's actually starting to enjoy himself and wants to help this town get's back on his feet. For the first time in his life he is happy. He has good deputies working under him and has found himself trying to impress the impossibly beautiful Rebecca Halstead. With everything starting to go so good at the end of his life, nothing can go wrong.... or can it???
Like I said this book is wonderfully character driven. I immediately fell in love with Francis (one of the young deputies) and his funny stories that amused the Marshall and the crew ("I'll be go to hell!"). I even found myself warming up to Allingham who really starts to develop as a character as the story progresses. He starts off cold and impenetrable but as he starts to help Canyon Diablo he lets his guard down and shows us that he really has a heart. I even found myself tearing up at the end.
John C. Horst has done it again. He's created a western that is perfect for everyone because it has a little bit of everything, it has mystery, a little romance, and historical intrigue. Give it a try!!
Title: Allingham
Publication Date: 2013
Number of Pages: 266 pages
Geographical Setting: Arizona
Time Period: mid-nineteenth century
Subject Headings: wild west, police officers, criminals, cowboys
Appeal: fast paced, character driven, dark and graphic
Series: n/a
Summary: John Horst really got in his stride in his latest (and in my opinion, so far greatest) Western novel. This is John's first stand alone novel since his critically acclaimed Mule Tamer series (Amazon top 100 Bestselling Western for the Kindle) and I really enjoyed getting to meet new characters. As usual, Allingham is a masterfully character driven novel. The plot goes in and out, but his wonderful, relate-able characters move the story forward.
Sergeant Allingham, a solitary and generally unlikable police officer, decides to move out west to Arizona when he finds that due to cancer he has only has months to live . His doctor assures him that Arizona's dry heat is much better suited for his condition then the cold unpredictable weather of New York. He figures that being a marshall in the Wild West will give him an easy way out, he can go out in a blaze of glory rather than wasting away in a hospital bed.
Canyon Diablo is more of a challenge then he expected, it is filled with the lowest of men, people shitting in streets, whores, pimps, and gamblers, having the run of a town. In no time at all Allingam gets to work and starts to clean up the town. It's citizens are amazed, they've never had a sheriff that lasted than more a few weeks and they've certainly never encountered anyone that was capable of improving the town. Instead of dreaming about dying in a blaze of glory, Allingham discovers that he's actually starting to enjoy himself and wants to help this town get's back on his feet. For the first time in his life he is happy. He has good deputies working under him and has found himself trying to impress the impossibly beautiful Rebecca Halstead. With everything starting to go so good at the end of his life, nothing can go wrong.... or can it???
Like I said this book is wonderfully character driven. I immediately fell in love with Francis (one of the young deputies) and his funny stories that amused the Marshall and the crew ("I'll be go to hell!"). I even found myself warming up to Allingham who really starts to develop as a character as the story progresses. He starts off cold and impenetrable but as he starts to help Canyon Diablo he lets his guard down and shows us that he really has a heart. I even found myself tearing up at the end.
John C. Horst has done it again. He's created a western that is perfect for everyone because it has a little bit of everything, it has mystery, a little romance, and historical intrigue. Give it a try!!
August 14, 2014
Allingham by John Horst is a western that starts in New York City. John Horst is one of my favorite authors. His books are enjoyable reads that make you empathise with the characters. His characters are very discriptive. The title character is known simply as Allingham, no first or last name, no nationality. He is ugly to look at but he has character. He's a New York City police sergeant working the Hell's Kitchen area. A section of the city with low paid immigrants and low lifes. After a brutal night where his officers and himself are wounded by a knife wielding Italian. The Polishman, Gorski, reads an ad looking for a lawman for a little site known as Diablo's Canyon. When the doctor comes in to see Allingham, he tells him he also has lung cancer and suggest he move out west to a spa where the dry air would be better.Allingham. takes everything calmly and considers the lawman job. The town went thru eight lawmen already, maybe he too would get killed on the job. He sends off his resume and heads out to Arizona. He interviews with Robert Halstead, his daughter Rebecca and Mr. Singh,a Sikh warrior from India. He has the job. The first thing he does is hire deputies. The big Irish twins, Mr. Hoestler and Francis. They tax the brothels and gaming houses. He makes up a list of ordinances to organize the town he arrests cowboys. If they can't pay the fine they're put on public work projects. See how Allingham handles the gunslingers and a band of criminals out to kill them all.
March 5, 2013
Mr. Horst is becoming one of my favorite authors. He has, again, penned an excellent rendition of the wild and wooly west. The main character is a very elusive man. Remaining characters bring his elusive personality to life without even knowing it. I like that it brings in the ethnic characters we seldom hear about and the devotion to these people in his fight for justice. Very good writing. Excellent!
March 12, 2013
A great story of a New York policeman who moved to the Arizona territory to die. Instead of death, he found a purpose to his life and the will to live his life to the fullest. This was a well-written book with a story that kept your attention from the first page. John, your books keep getting better and better. I really enjoy your stories of the Old West.
April 13, 2013
Cracker story. Allingham is an interesting and complex character, a completely different hero. He's fun to ride alongside. The supporting characters are also a varied bunch - full of their own colourful histories. A great story and eagerly await the next in the series.
September 20, 2018
An Easterner, city police officer in the bowels of Manhatten, moved to the mountains of Arizona and becomes theatrical in a highly dangerous place. Can to the Easterner calm the outlaws of Arizona.This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
January 1, 2018
Canyon Diablo
A very good read. John Horst is a great storyteller. I have enjoyed his books for the last several years. I'm moving to the next one with much anticipation.
A very good read. John Horst is a great storyteller. I have enjoyed his books for the last several years. I'm moving to the next one with much anticipation.
May 6, 2018
What a great western!
I highly recommend this book. It is easily one of the best new westerns I have read! If you like the genre, read it, if you like a good book, read it!
I highly recommend this book. It is easily one of the best new westerns I have read! If you like the genre, read it, if you like a good book, read it!
February 27, 2014
I like to vary my reading once in a while, and this one was no exception, its a western, about a New York cop who gets a startling diagnosis of lung cancer, he is told to go to Arizona and dip in the hot springs and he could be healed. He thinks he's gonna die anyway so he finds out their is a town in Arizona that is a hole in the wall full of criminals and bad men, so he thinks this is a way to die for him, so he takes the sheriff's job, finds a few good men as deputies and tries to clean up the town and to get himself killed. It doesn't work, he cleans the town up and a beautiful lady falls for him, he feels ugly with a big nose and huge lips and feels like no one would want him. But he is shy and a good lawman. Then just when he gets the town cleaned up he gets shot and goes to the hospital and the doctor tells him he does not have lung cancer never did, but does have TB. I loved this book by John Horst, he does a great job of telling how the old west was when men lived as they wanted and killed if you looked at them wrong.
August 30, 2014
I didn't see this as others did. The book started out well, grabbing the reader for what sounded like a wild ride. The story moved right along from NY to the very untamed AZ territory. The characters were alive and very realistic. However, midway through it took a turn and never recovered for me. At times I felt it was rambling and I struggled to finish it. Can't explain why, I had to finally skim the last third just to see what the end was.
October 28, 2014
Unusual Western created with a fantastic insight into the history of the old west. The story line was engrossing and the characters were well fleshed out. Really enjoyed this read and have just started the next book Allingham, Desperate Ride. I believe there are only two books in this series but this one is a stand alone and doesn't just drop you off a cliff at the end. Kudos to John Horst for a well written story that got me involved with the characters and plot.
September 13, 2013
I like western movies, but I don't think I've read very many western novels. I enjoyed this story very much. I liked the characters and the setting, and how this experienced big city lawman comes to straighten out the armpit of Arizona. I like this theme, and I really liked the way it progressed. Very good job! I will use this as my Arizona book for my 50 state challenge.
August 19, 2013
This book was a great story. Loved how the characters work together to create a living story. Allingham is a great read and one that I would recomend to everyone. I will now have to find a copy of the next book in this series. John Horst is an amazing author and if you havn't read The Mule Tamer series make it next on your list!
October 5, 2013
A tale that will keep you in suspense. Will Allingham succeed in carrying out his purpose for taking on the role of enforcing the law in the rough railroad town? This is a western, but one that skillfully introduces new themes and a new sort of protagonist to the genre. Recommended. This is the first in a three-volume series.
January 12, 2014
Enjoyable book
Western are not my usual reading category. In fact I cannot remember reading one since I read the Little Britches series many years ago. I received this book free and am happy I did or I would have missed a very enjoyable book. Thank you Mr. Horst, I will be reading your other books and adding Westerns to my reading category.
Western are not my usual reading category. In fact I cannot remember reading one since I read the Little Britches series many years ago. I received this book free and am happy I did or I would have missed a very enjoyable book. Thank you Mr. Horst, I will be reading your other books and adding Westerns to my reading category.
February 14, 2014
A good Western. Not quite a Louis L'Amour Book, but every bit as exciting and interesting as one.
December 4, 2015
Great Western I loved this book defiantly focused more for adults.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews